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My wife Meschelle and I have raised foster kids for over 20 years. These are kids were constantly told “No” or “You can’t do X,Y,Z,” or worse. But we showed them that they can be anything they want to be, as long as they have the passion, commitment, and determination to never give up.
I have seen the importance of this firsthand, not just in the foster parent role, but from the obstacles I have faced and the challenges faced by those like me. Growing up, I was told I couldn't achieve my dreams, but I refused to believe it. Now, it's my mission to ensure that others from diverse backgrounds are given equal opportunities in the business world. I am driven by the belief that corporations should follow through on their promises for DEI and make a real impact. Not only because it’s right to do, but because diverse businesses deliver the innovation solutions they need to succeed.
Despite the challenges, I am encouraged by companies that walk the walk, creating programs to level the playing field. I am dedicated to driving change and holding corporations accountable for diversity and inclusion commitments because I know that this will also help the corporations succeed and grow our economy so that we can all rise together.
So how can we do this? Based on my decades of experience, I have outlined one immediate action companies can take and the steps to do it successfully: create an inclusive Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
A seat at the table
As leaders within our respective fields, it is crucial that we make a concerted effort to ensure that our RFP process is inclusive and representative of the diverse communities we work within. In my role as a leader with the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) Minority Business Enterprise Input Committee (MBEIC, pictured above), I work closely with corporations that embrace supplier diversity–MBEs small and large–and have dedicated my professional experience to a very personal objective: seeing more diverse-owned businesses succeed.
One fundamental way to do this is through supplier diversity, which means actively seeking out and doing business with Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), LGBT Business Enterprises (LGBTBEs), and other diverse suppliers. Seek out diverse suppliers as you put out an RFP, and prioritize reaching out and inviting these companies and the different organizing bodies to ensure there is a seat at the proverbial RFP table for anyone who could be a fit.
In my role as Senior Advisor for Strategic Growth at Social Driver, I was invited to speak at Webflow Conf in San Francisco last November, a convening of low-code and no-code Webflow developers, innovators, companies, and agencies. They asked me to address the importance of equity and diversity in technology. We all are working to have better practices and prioritize diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in our hiring and culture building to ensure we reflect these values. Simultaneously, we also need to consider the vendors we use. It is essential to drive measurable business impact while creating a representative and inclusionary community.
Webflow and Social Driver have partnered to provide world-class solutions to some of the largest corporations in the world, while simultaneously supporting those companies’ supplier diversity efforts. Expanding and improving relationships with diverse suppliers is one of the keys to empowering the next generation of innovators and creators. By effectively collaborating with people of all backgrounds and identities, we can advance DEI and accessibility as core components of our organizations and industry culture.
It's important to note that diversity is notoriously underrepresented in the creative and tech fields. For example, just over a third of tech jobs are held by women, only 7% of workers identify as Black and only roughly 8% as Hispanic. This highlights the need for proactive efforts to create and lead practices centered on equity to combat racism and inequality.
Leading by example
To truly lead the field, it's vital that we define, measure, track, and analyze the effectiveness of our short to long-term goals, establish benchmarks, report on our progress, and identify any gaps and opportunities for future impact and improvements.
As we move forward, we must ask ourselves the following questions:
I am inspired by what I am seeing from some companies and individuals who are are asking themselves these questions and walking the supplier diversity walk. To name a few:
Steps you can take
By prioritizing supplier diversity, empowering diverse-owned businesses and making DEI a core component of an RFP process, we can ensure that our teams and our vendors are representative of the diverse communities we serve and that we are creating opportunities for everyone to succeed. As you begin to craft an RFP, consider taking the following actions:
And finally, as you continue to create a more inclusive RFP and procurement process. Consider these additional steps:
We've made remarkable progress in supporting diverse-owned businesses and advancing equity. I’m just the messenger here to underscore that we can celebrate progress while striving for increased impact. Companies that include diverse-owned businesses in their RFP processes not only walk the walk - but they end up getting the best possible vendor to achieve their business goals. Together, let's keep pushing forward to achieve these win-win scenarios for small businesses and corporate partners. I’d love to hear about your wins and ideas!
