Exclusive Video: The Supplier Diversity Forum - P&SC LIVE
As the world’s fastest-growing procurement and supply chain event, Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE 2023 was a disruptive learning and networking event that showcased some of the industry’s top speakers across innovation, thought leadership and strategy.
The Supplier Diversity Forum
Introducing themselves to the audience, Jim Townsend, Procurement Specialist, and Jean Chawapiwa, Head of Member Services at MSDUK outlined their background in procurement, their experience in leading supplier diversity programs, and their involvement in community engagement.
The importance of leadership
During the panel, the two emphasised the significance of leadership engagement especially from the CEO and CPO when it comes to driving supplier diversity through an organisation, as well as the benefits of such as strategy including access to innovative suppliers and diverse ideas.
"If a CEO doesn't believe it, don't bother doing it,” said Townsend. “Part of the CPO’s role is to act as an ambassador on the subject and drive the agenda at the board level and the executive level,” he added.
Supplier diversity disparities across global markets
When it comes to supplier diversity disparities across global markets and how multinational organisations can strike a balance in their approach, Chawapiwa emphasises the importance of local champions in global organisations and collaborations with diverse suppliers in order to understand market nuances.
She also highlights the need to invest in targets and mentorship programs to support diverse suppliers, emphasising the need for collaboration and understanding market opportunities.
Townsend concluded the discussion by stressing the need for a clear policy, leadership support, and the elimination of conscious biases if organisations are to overcome the challenges when implementing supplier diversity programs.
He too highlighted the need for internal champions in driving diversity initiatives within organisations, as well as the need for engaging executives.
"The onboarding can be very complex in an organization, so all of the mentoring and coaching is important and we do some of that,” said Chawapiwa. "So having those internal champions who want to do supplier diversity and want the organisation to do supplier diversity can be a big a huge way forward as well,” she added.
To watch any of our other speakers from Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE 2023, click here.
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