76 PROFESSIONAL WOMANS MULTICULTURAL MAGAZINE WWW.PROFESSIONALWOMANMAG.COM
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
ECONOMIC EQUITY HAS WAITED LONG ENOUGH. IT'S TIME.
Over the last 50 years, the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) has certified more than 15,000 Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs), which now account for $400 billion in economic output. But we can't wait another half century to go the same distance. That's why we're bringing together top corporate, MBE, civic, policy, and thought leaders to seize this unprecedented moment to build unstoppable momentum for true economic equity. Will you be among them? The movement accelerates October 30 - November 2. Join us at the 50th Anniversary 2022 NMSDC Conference & Exchange in New Orleans.
Advancing Economic Equity Together National Minority Supplier Development Council
OCT 30 - NOV 2, 2022 NEW ORLEANS
It's time
to Disrupt
our own status quo.
Register today: nmsdcconference.org
better. We want to expand our partnership to pharma- cies, other big box stores, retailers, health and beauty specialists, convenience stores, grocers and even cruise ships. This last WBENC conference in June this past year was my fifth suppler diversity conference with WBENC. I think the greatest takeaways were what come out of the matchmaker meetings. This year, for example, the matchmaker meetings allowed my supplier diversity connections to pitch my product to their other connections. Its true that you do business with those you know, like and trust. That just speaks highly of my team and the product I have created.
Starting YOUR Certification Journey
When you are applying for certification, keep all of the items you need for certification, including per- sonal documents, in one central place. It will save you from having to scramble later. Once certified, make sure you organize your materials into labeled folders by year to distinguish your initial certification infor- mation and your renewal information for the future. Don't wait until the last minute to research a flight or to turn in your materials. Dont stop networking and assume that WBENC will make the connections for you. Being certified is what you make it, so if youre willing to put in the work, it will pay off in a very big way. Its a network of incredible business women. Its like a business sisterhood. Thats the reason why I sit on the board called the forum, and Im always amazed by these women, their accomplishments and how much they are willing to teach others how to become a billion-dollar company. And if youre wondering how you can get contracts in big box stores like I did, then I have one piece of advice: Just keep knocking. You never know when a side door opens. Large corporations are not a quick sale, but a slow burn. Get to know everyone in the supplier diversity world, because its small and where they are today might not be where they are tomorrow. Unless you have some- thing they must have right now, you have to under- stand how many people want to do business with them and how many other people they are trying to get back to. Be persistent, but not pesky. For more about Dr. Darna and NoMo Bands, visit NoMoNausea.com.
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