Get Your Foot in the Door as a Diverse Supplier to Large Companies

When a small business lands a contract with a large company, it can lead to big changes. Research from the Women’s Business Economic National Council found several years ago that, within two years of adding their first corporate client, female entrepreneurs experienced an average increase in revenue of more than 200%. More small businesses understandably want a piece of that action and many diverse founders are optimistic that the doors to corporate America are finally opening wider.

More than 95% of U.S. Corporations have a supplier diversity goal today and 80% mention supplier diversity in their annual reports. Numerous companies have publicly shared their desire to significantly increase products and services procured from diverse businesses and are working to develop opportunities for underrepresented founders. To date, 28 retailers have signed on to the?Fifteen Percent Pledge ?committing to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned brands in recognition of Black Americans making up 15% of the U.S. population.

But while many large companies are now actively seeking new relationships with minority-owned businesses, they need to know how to find you, and you need to know how to create successful working relationships with multinationals. The Monica Motivates?Fifth Annual Global Supplier Diversity Conference (GSDC) being held September 22nd, is the place to hear directly from company executives what they expect from smaller vendors, and to learn from other entrepreneurs already engaged in such relationships. This year’s hybrid conference will be hosted at the Porsche North America Headquarters in Atlanta, GA, along with a virtual audience online.

A little matchmaking needed

Both small suppliers and large companies benefit when they work together. Diverse suppliers gain a significant new revenue stream and greater visibility, and large organizations gain greater supply chain competitiveness, resiliency and flexibility; access to greater innovation; an introduction to new markets; and the ability to fulfill their social commitments to support more diverse communities.

Still, small startups and major multinationals don’t typically run in the same circles and it can be difficult to find one another or to break into long-standing customer-supplier relationships. You don’t always speak the same language and expectations and modes of operating can be quite different. But once a relationship is established, both parties benefit.

In a recent survey of small and midsize business suppliers by American Express, respondents said networking plays a huge role in enabling small businesses to land such coveted contracts. That includes making personal connections with procurement professionals. The Monica Motivates Global Supplier Diversity Conference (GSDC) is a powerful platform that introduces diverse suppliers to representatives of major companies, and enables you to hear directly from corporate executives how to navigate through their organizations to land profitable, sustainable contracts.

The Global Supplier Diversity Conference (GSDC) advantage

Imagine pulling up a chair with a corporate executive ready to share exactly what they are looking for from diverse suppliers. They will tell you the types of goods and services they are seeking. They’ll explain what you can do to get on their radar, how to pitch your company, who you most need to build relationships with in a large organization, and even how to service their business once you land a contract so you can keep it and build on it. Those are the unique insights you will gain as a participant in our?Fifth Annual Global Supplier Diversity Conference ?September 22, 2022 open to all registrants virtually and for invited guests in person at the Porsche North America Headquarters in Atlanta.

We will personally select 75 outstanding, high-potential small business owners to participate in this boutique conference experience in person while virtual attendance is open to all. Both in-person and virtual participants will be immersed in critical content curated to the needs of diverse small business owners and delivered by experts in their fields. Our impressive roster of speakers includes senior executives from Microsoft, AT&T, The Coca-Cola Company, Santander US, Capital Group, US Small Business Administration, GA Department of Administrative Services, and highly successful small business owners with a broad range of expertise.

The on-site agenda will combine a detailed curriculum and candid insights with numerous touchpoints that allow for meaningful personal interaction, including opportunities to pitch your business to corporate decision makers. Virtual attendees will gain all the same great content and experience live Q&A and engaging panel discussions with industry leaders.?VIRTUAL REGISTRATION ?for the conference is now open so reserve your spot now. In-person registration is by invitation only.

Every year, this full-day, complimentary conference grows larger and even more impactful as a vehicle for launching new vendor partnerships and increasing the number of successful diverse small business suppliers. As a participant, you will learn how to:

• Build a strong presence and position in your field so companies can easily find you.
• Understand and articulate your value proposition and connect it to the needs of specific companies.
• Make data-driven decisions.
• Compete effectively in the RFP process.
• Forge strategic partnerships that fulfill the interests of both organizations.
• Scale your business beyond local markets.
• Activate a strategic framework to close deals.

By using these strategies, and building on the relationships forged through your GSDC experience, you will have the framework, skills and connections to take advantage of the growing opportunities emerging today between diverse suppliers and corporate America.?REGISTER TODAY ?to secure your complimentary participation to attend remotely and learn live from your office or home.