OPEN to all women business owners who want to learn more about the tremendous opportunities to open doors and to access more business with “Big Brands”. This session offers an opportunity to connect with corporations and engage with those championing inclusive procurement and supplier diversity. Learn more about the organizations that certify businesses as diverse suppliers, including:
WBE Canada / CAMSC / CGLCC / WBENC / NWBOC / WEConnect International
Moderator: Betty Wood, Founder/Principal, W. Consulting
PANEL 1: The Advocates – Tools, Techniques, and Avenues to grow your business
Learn from experts how they support sellers’ efforts to increase their business opportunities
- What is supplier diversity and the Supplier Diversity Advisory Council, Canada
- How to find your business ‘fit’ in the supply chain
- How supplier diversity can assist businesses to target and prepare to pitch major corporate buyers
- Hear from a successful entrepreneur how she has used supplier diversity as the cornerstone to grow her business
Panelists:
- Mary Anderson, CEO, WBE Canada
- Daphne Shih, CAMSC, Director of Sponsorship & Marketing
- Marla Kott, CEO, Imprint Plus
PANEL 2: The Buyers – Is your company a ‘fit’ as a supplier for your target?
Hear from the buyers about how they advocate for sellers and what they look for
- How they work within their companies/organization
- Their role to pre-qualify suppliers for opportunities
- Overview of what you need to do to be an attractive supplier
- How to connect with their company/organization to position your business for opportunities
Panelists:
- Catherine Grosz, BMO Financial Group, Manager, Supplier Diversity & Procurement
- Madeleine Baker, Manager, Technology Strategy, Procurement & Supply Chain, TELUS
- Sheri Spinks, Data Communications Management, Director of Strategic Procurement Services
- Tara Hartley, OSME, Regional Director, Pacific Region, Office of Small and Medium Enterprises Public Services and Procurement Canada / Government of Canada
Q&A’s are followed by…
2:45 – 4:00 Business Opportunity Roundtables
This segment of the workshop is an ideal opportunity for business owners to meet in small roundtable groups with buyers of ‘Big Brands’, and supporting experts.
Each round table host who was not part of the panel, will provide:
- An overview of their company/organization
- Their commitment to supply chain diversity, and
- How to do business with their company/organization.
Round Table Hosts:
BMO, TELUS, WBE Canada, Data Communications Management, OSME, Enterprise Holdings, Imprint Plus, CAMSC, and other corporations invited (TBD).
