• Creating a Personal Brand that Takes You in the Right Direction

Creating a Personal Brand that Takes You in the Right DirectionAt some point in their career, many leaders decide they need to brush off their current image and find a new or stronger direction. It is really about reinventing a personal brand, in order to advance in a way that better reflects passio...

• Workforce Development: What’s In It for Industry?

Workforce Development: What’s In It for Industry?Workforce development is a concept that gets a lot of attention today because it implies jobs, employment, sustainable wages and a host of other positive results. It also evokes an image of people sitting in training classes or working in trade appren...

• Building a Business Case for Strategic Supplier Relationship Management

Building a business case for investing in strategic Supplier Relationship Management (SRM) can be challenging. It is a matter of measuring value through quantification of financial and relationship results.- By Sherry Bloom

• Supply Chains and Environmental Sustainability in Emerging Economies

Global companies are increasing their presence in emerging economies, assuming new supply chain risks and environmental sustainability challenges.

• Aligning Minority Supplier Development with Procurement Trends and Issues

Aligning Minority Supplier Development with Procurement Trends and IssuesImprove the Effectiveness of your Programming by Linking it with Current Challenges

• Bringing Entrepreneurial Veterans into the Supply Chain

Veterans must find a way to transition into civilian life as productive citizens. Many call upon their entrepreneurial spirit and start businesses with the goal of entering government and corporate supply chains..

• The Value of Strategic Supplier Relationship Management: Building the Business Case

Formal supplier relationship management (SRM) systems are becoming more popular in the market place. With the advent of web-based technologies and cloud computing, the stand alone system is no longer the only option. Businesses can now build end to end SRM systems for evaluating and managing their...

• Charging Up the Electrified Vehicle Industry with Supplier Innovations

Automakers are committing to mass-producing electrified vehicles, and to achieve this, they need the help of innovative suppliers. This is an industry on the cusp of major growth, that openly invites new technologies for hardware and software.-- By Wilfred SmithThe electrified vehicle industry has ...

• Developing A World-Class Supplier Program Requires Commitment and A Vision to Be The Best

Developing A World-Class Supplier Program Requires Commitment and A Vision to Be The BestBusiness owners work hard to make gains and strive to be the best. But how do they know whether their work is paying off? How can they tell whether they are getting closer to being the industry standard, or whet...

• Making the Transformation Journey to a Culture of Change Mindset

Making the Transformation Journey to a Culture of Change MindsetTransforming the organizational culture that makes the customer the center of everything the company does and produces only happens when champions of change are developed from top to bottom. There are tools to guide the disruption towar...

• Federal Reserve Supplier Diversity Policies Accelerate Success

Federal Reserve Supplier Diversity Policies Accelerate SuccessThe Federal Reserve supplier diversity effort is accelerating with spectacular results. It is an excellent time for qualified diverse suppliers to join the acquisition system.

• Outsourcing Risks Overcoming Barriers to Achieve Great Results

Start by finding partners to build long-term relationships

• The Entrepreneur’s Guide to Prosperity™ Building A Relationship With Your Financing Source

Building a banking relationship is a large part of financing your small business. By building this relationship, you are laying the foundation for the financial future of your business. - By Morris Bocian

• How Industry Trends Are Driving Energy Companies’ Supplier Needs

Despite the current troubled economic times, it makes sense to do business with the energy industry.

• Both Sides Now … Financial Services Industry Opportunities for MWBE Customers and Suppliers

The financial services industry is going through a major shake-up initiated by the recession. Its focus is on rebuilding customer brand loyalty and strengthening sustainability, and that equates to MWBE opportunities. - By James Hsu

• Women Suppliers Bring Essential Qualities to Corporate Clients

The business environment has transformed into one where networking and collaboration skills are essential, and environmental sustainability and social consciousness must be core corporate values. Women suppliers can bring the right values and focus to strengthen the corporate client's supply ch...

• Taking Advantage of Supply Chain Segmentation in The Technology Industry

Companies, especially those with global supply chains, are moving toward supply chain segmentation for more effective management and higher profitability. Suppliers who understand this trend are in a better position to take advantage of the segmentation for business growth. - By James Hsu

• Digital Opportunities for Suppliers in the Energy Industry

The energy industry is being disrupted by technology across operations and infrastructure. The reality is that the industry is playing some catch-up, and that creates supplier opportunities. - By Donna Benjamin

• Expand Business Through Bonding to Win Government Contracts

Companies doing commercial jobs that require specific performance usually need some type of bonding before a contract will be awarded. Bonding is always required for public works for federal, state and local jobs. Though the bonding process may seem a bit intimidating at first, it is really only a t...

• Aging Workforce and Adapting to Change

Aging Workforce and Adapting to ChangeKeeping/adding older workers is good for business

• Leading—Edge Suppliers Drive Transformation in the Insurance Industry

The insurance industry is ripe with supplier opportunities as companies transform their claims processing to achieve operational excellence, and products and services to enhance their competitive advantage. Technology is at the heart of the transformation. - By Donna Benjamin

• Guanxi: The Business of Relationships in China

Guanxi: The Business of Relationships in China - by James HsuUnderstanding the nuances of Guanxi in Chinese business culture can make all the difference whether or not you are successful. It applies not just to business but all aspects of life.

• Developing a structure to help small businesses manage more effectively

Developing a structure to help small businesses manage more effectivelyA Strong Board is Essential in Realizing the Vision of the Company

• Energizing Diverse Suppliers: AGL Resources

Energizing Diverse Suppliers: AGL ResourcesAGL Resources — positioned to become one of the nation’s preeminent distributors of natural gas — is no stranger to the massive uptick in green thinking throughout the energy industry. Though the Georgia-based company has deep roots and is parent to the st...

• Opportunities and Challenges of Integrating Alternative Resources

The days of abundance within the earth are behind us and so it’s now necessary to explore our options when it comes to alternative energy. We’re all looking for green and cheap sources that fulfill all our needs; wind, hydro, geothermal, and coal are examples, but how viable are they in today’s glob...

• Integrating SRM and Strategic Sourcing to Improve Global Procurement

SRM is a natural element of strategic sourcing because the objective of both is to develop suppliers who bring high value to the organization. - By Debra Jenkins

• Crowdfunding: Giving Minority Businesses Hope

The fact that the U.S. Department of Commerce Minority Business Development Agency felt compelled to prepare a January 2010 report “Disparities in Capital Access between Minority and Non-Minority-Owned Businesses: The Troubling Reality of Capital Limitations Faced by MBEs,” is disturbing. Given the ...

• Entering Supplier Joint Ventures With Eyes Wide Open

Joint Ventures offer remarkable opportunity for two or more companies to leverage their strengths and minimize weaknesses. In doing so, new value is created.

• Negotiating a Supplier Contract Through the SRM Lens

Contract negotiations with a supplier is the point at which a business should begin building a positive relationship for the long term. The negotiation process is about much more than price. It is about developing a collaborative association to create value for the supplier and buyer. - By Lena Hara...

• Capitalizing on Synergies between Supplier Diversity and SRM

By definition, strategic suppliers are key to an organization’s ability to succeed. In a multicultural, global business environment, organizations should emphasize the ‘R’ in SRM and nurture strategic relationships with diverse suppliers. - By Sharon Ross

• Streaming Real Life with Technology

Live streaming is the new social media phenomenon. As the digital generation embraces social streaming with gusto, what’s in it for business? Answer: Plenty! - By Karen White

• More to Procurement than Procuring: Creating Supplier Social Groups

The use of social media as a business technology for innovation and problem solving is growing. It is natural they are turning to supplier social media groups to take advantage of the synergy of supplier relationships. - By Joshua Ferdinand

• Social Media and Supplier Diversity Make Innovative Partnerships

Social media is transforming supplier diversity by deepening corporate-supplier partnerships through increased connectedness. It is also increasing opportunities on both sides of the equation. - By Valerie Gomez

• Strategies for Closing the Gap Between Sourcing and Procurement

If the right hand of sourcing and the left hand of procurement don’t know what each is doing, a costly gap with lost opportunities develops. The key to closing the gap is Supplier Relationship Management. - By Sherry Bloom

• Nigeria: Does Newfound Stability Spell Newfound Opportunity?

Nigeria: Does Newfound Stability Spell Newfound Opportunity?Investors Have to Weigh the Risks Carefully

• Minority Supplier Opportunities in the Cloud

The cloud is much more than a workspace for minority suppliers - it can also be an opportunity space. Cloud computing is a major IT systems trend that top corporations are very interested in exploring. As more nimble adaptors than many would-be competitors, minority firms have the ability to look ...

• Leveraging the Procurement Process Through Category Management

At the heart of procurement category management is teamwork. Category management relies on cross-functional teamwork to leverage full organizational capabilities, and heading the effort is procurement. - By Gerald Donald

• Sustainability in the Financial Industry Supply Chain

Sustainability in the financial industry has a much broader definition than in other industries. This equates to greater supplier opportunities to contribute to social and environmental impacts. - By Wilfred Smith

• Creating Long-Term Supplier Relationships of Value Through Negotiations

Creating Long-Term Supplier Relationships of Value Through NegotiationsNegotiating with a critical supplier can be turned into an opportunity to create value through a long-term collaborative strategic supplier relationship. The key is to get the partnership going on solid ground from day one of the...

• Diversity & Ethics are Hallmarks of KPMG’s Culture

It takes some courage in this age of financial crisis, regulation, and sophisticated technology to operate an audit, tax and advisory services firm. Yet that is exactly what global giant KPMG International successfully accomplishes in 156 countries by relying on over 152,000 professionals, while mai...

• CEO Turns Passion for Keeping People Safe into Successful Business

Arbill’s mission is helping family members return home safely each day. Thousands of workers have done just that thanks to Arbill’s product innovations.

• A $13 Trillion Market Opportunity Waits For Firms Who Embrace Accessible Design

One in four adults in the United States is living with some form of disability, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As these adults encounter marketing content online, it’s essential that business campaigns include accessible design in order to reach this segment of the p...

• Building a Culture of Continuous Process Improvement

What do Toyota, the United States Marine Corps and Minority and Women’s Businesses (MWBEs) have in common? The answer is they have benefitted from continuous process improvement (CPI). The goal of this business approach is to create an organization in which every function and process performed is al...

• Risks of Network Sharing: How Can It Impact Your Ability to do Business?

Network sharing is not a new concept, but it’s an expanding one. It refers to multiple businesses accessing share network bandwidth usually to connect to the same server. Originally a shared server involved partitioned file storage but a single operating system and application program. Like most tec...

• Finding The Foothold With Financial Companies

A Challenging Economic Landscape Hasn’t Reduced the Need for Diverse Suppliers

• How will MWBEs Benefit from the New Tax Bill?

How will MWBEs Benefit from the New Tax Bill?The new tax bill, H.R. 8, the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, is both excoriated and applauded. The new tax bill increases taxes on individuals, much to their dismay; but it also has a number of business tax provisions that extend and/or enhance pop...

• Workforce Development: What’s In It for Industry?

Workforce Development: What’s In It for Industry?Workforce development is a concept that gets a lot of attention today because it implies jobs, employment, sustainable wages and a host of other positive results. It also evokes an image of people sitting in training classes or working in trade appren...

• IT and Business Process Outsourcing Minority Companies are Exploring New Approaches to IT and BPO

Minority Companies are Exploring New Approaches to IT and BPO. By Shaniqua Thomas

• Balancing Strategic Sourcing With Supplier Diversity

Procurement professionals are faced with the challenge of securing business savings using a variety of strategies. These strategies include: establishing quality competitive bidding standards, analyzing product specifications, global sourcing and working with business departments to blend procuremen...