On this episode of Breaking Barriers, Building a Higher Ground, I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam Moore and Cloe Guidry Reed about the future of supplier diversity in 2024. In the rapidly evolving world of supplier diversity, Adam and Cloe delved into the emerging trends and challenges that businesses should prepare for in the coming year.

Cloe Guidry Reed is a distinguished figure in the supplier diversity sector, known for her strategic leadership and innovative approach at Higher Ground. With a rich background in business and diversity initiatives, Cloe has been instrumental in shaping the conversation around economic inclusion and supplier diversity. Her expertise drives impact and fosters a culture of organizational diversity and equity. Cloe is highly sought after for her insights on emerging trends and her commitment to sustainable practices.

“Harder conversations… It goes back to positioning your team as a potential revenue generator. If you’re not doing that, you’re really not doing a good job promoting the team.” – Adam Moore

Today on Breaking Barriers, Building a Hire Ground:

• Technology’s Role: Embracing the potential of AI and technology to streamline and enhance supplier diversity programs to meet compliance goals and reporting needs.
• Strategic Partnerships: The importance of aligning supplier diversity initiatives with business goals and objectives to demonstrate value back to the organization.
• Supply Chain Shifts: Anticipating an uptick in onshore manufacturing and the impact on pricing and inflation while companies hold steady in response to the upcoming election year.
• Industry-Specific Conferences: Supplier diversity professionals should be intentional about attending conferences and building partnerships with industry-specific suppliers.
• Intentionality and Education: The value of intentional attendance at conferences, focusing on educational sessions, and building connections within the community.
• Economic Landscape: Understanding the potential impact of economic conditions, regulatory changes, and the need for supplier diversity practitioners to drive strategic impact within their organizations.
• Messaging and Perception: Addressing messaging challenges in the renewable energy sector and the urgency of addressing climate change.
• Collaboration for Progress: The future of supplier diversity initiatives will require collaboration across industries and political lines to ensure market readiness and the widespread adoption of inclusive practices.

Contact Adam Moore and Cloe Guidry Reed on LinkedIn for more insights and updates on supplier diversity and economic inclusion.

Resources Mentioned:

To learn more about efficient supplier diversity programs and inclusive workforce development, visit Hire Ground.

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led, LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started, please visit us @ hireground.io today!

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February 2021 was Black History Month, a movement that is not and should not be confined to one month of the calendar year. Despite the best intentions of many companies to promise change in the workplace for the better, Black History Month’s message can easily get lost regardless of the many corporations pledging to make a positive change in their industries. In the last year, the Black Lives Matter movement has gained worldwide coverage helping to pull focus on Black history and the Black contribution to American society. With the whole world watching, it is more important than ever for corporations to stay true to their word when they say they are doing all they can to create fairer opportunities for all.

In today’s episode, we want to keep the conversation of Black History & Culture going beyond a month of celebration to stay intentional with the essential and ongoing change across our society. We discuss the ways businesses can tangibly support Black culture, minority employees, and minority suppliers. We explain why it’s important to recognize the differences each person can bring to your business and why the fashion to ‘not see color’ is unhelpful when you have a mix of cultures and backgrounds that you should try to understand and celebrate. We also look at the evolution of America and just how black people have been an integral part of the building of our nation, how they have been overlooked in the past for their contributions, and of course, why we celebrate the changes that have happened, are happening, and have yet to come.

“What actually makes us stronger as friends and co-hosts is realizing those differences, celebrating them, and not being ashamed to talk about them.” – Adam Moore

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Why intentionality HAS to follow corporate statements that promise meaningful change
• How Affinity groups (BRGs) can create safe spaces for dialogue between minorities and their employers
• Why ‘not seeing color’ doesn’t work for healthy diversity
• The Black creators, contributors, and inventors behind the technologies we use today
• Why Juneteenth is a Black holiday for some parts of the US more than others
• How Hire Ground can help you help your employees volunteer for equality initiatives
• How to approach ‘difficult’ conversations on diversity
• A moment for Vernon Jordan the black businessman and civil rights activist who sadly passed away this month

Connect with Hire Ground:

• Hire Ground’s Website
• Hire Ground on LinkedIn
• Hire Ground on Facebook
• Hire Ground on Twitter
• Cloe Guidry-Reed on LinkedIn
• Adam Moore on LinkedIn

This podcast is brought to you by Hire Ground

Hire Ground is a technology company whose mission is to bridge the wealth gap through access to procurement opportunities. Hire Ground is making the enterprise ecosystem more viable, profitable, and competitive by clearing the path for minority-led, women-led LGBT-led, and veteran-led small businesses to contribute to the global economy as suppliers to enterprise organizations.

For more information on getting started please visit us @ hireground.io today!