Building Impactful Business Diversity Programs Inclusive Business and Supplier Diversity Strategies

Learning Objectives and Expected Outcomes

Through hands-on activities like role-playing, decision-mapping, and strategy development, participants in the business and supplier diversity course will gain the tools to implement a sustainable, diverse business model within their institution’s procurement or supply chain division. You will learn to set procurement goals for MWBE’s, how business diversity interacts with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) priorities, and how to facilitate contracting opportunities for MWBEs in sectors like financial services, asset management, and information technology.

After completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Explain best practices around identifying, hiring, and retaining diverse professional services firms.
• Describe how establishing a business diversity program within their organization could reinforce its efforts to grow the brand, further its mission, and accomplish key objectives.
• Develop a top-down strategy to integrate hiring diverse professional services firms into their vendor selection and procurement processes.
• Identify performance indicators to monitor progress and measure success.
• Utilize a custom playbook of impactful business diversity strategies, including real-world case studies and a glossary of key terms from relevant sectors.

In addition to in-person lecture and activity sessions, the interactive course provides participants with a playbook of strategies and best practices for building impactful and sustainable business diversity programs at corporations, nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions. The unique playbook contains a glossary of key terms from relevant sectors—procurement, DEI, ESG, asset management, financial services, and information technology—so participants can better understand how to diversify professional services opportunities and communicate this impact with decision-makers. The playbook also contains real-world case studies drawn from the experiences of the day’s presenters to be used for navigating vendor contracts within the professional services arena.

UChicago’s Associate Vice President of Business Diversity Nadia M. Quarles, a widely regarded thought leader and diversity, equity, and inclusion visionary strategist, consults on effective, inclusive business strategies and leads the business diversity processes at the University of Chicago. Through Quarles' direction, UChicago has become a model institution for business diversity success that has driven sustainable growth while boosting access to and opportunities for diverse and innovative business relationships.

Meet Your Business and Supplier Diversity Instructors

Over a full day of supplier diversity training, Quarles and a team of professionals in procurement, business development, corporate social responsibility, technology, and asset management, will teach you how to implement a business diversity program to empower you with the knowledge and skills to articulate the ROI, while building diverse community partnerships and wealth equity for minority and women-owned businesses. 

These titles cover a range of roles that impact business and supplier diversity, from managing supply chains and distribution to strategic sourcing positions. Depending on the organization and its specific needs, job titles may vary, but these are common positions in the field that can benefit from our supplier diversity program.

Please follow these steps to ensure that you successfully register for the course:

• Log into UChicago's course registration portal by creating an account using a valid username and password.
• Navigate to the "Course search" tab and search for "Inclusive Business and Supplier Diversity Strategies" or by Course ID "BUSD11001A."
• Once you locate the course, click on "Add to Cart" to include it in your course selection. Make sure to check the course schedule, prerequisites, and class capacity before proceeding.
• Review your course selections and click on "Proceed to Checkout" to complete the registration process.

^{Note: that registration for courses opens during specific periods. Ensure you check the schedule on our website for upcoming deadlines, especially if you want to secure a spot in this high-demand class.}

Why Hiring Diverse Businesses Matters

Seeking training for how to diversify your business management processes is much more than a socially conscious move. It can build value for your organization in many ways, including:

• Improved job performance: Training in business diversity can help individuals improve their job performance by developing a deeper understanding of concepts, methods, and best practices to a sustainable business diversity program. This can lead to more efficient and effective processes and better decision-making.
• Career advancement: Training in business diversity can help individuals advance their careers by demonstrating their knowledge and skills in the field. Employers often value employees who have demonstrated a commitment to professional development and have acquired relevant certifications and training.
• Increased efficiency and cost savings: Training in business diversity can help organizations improve their business management processes, resulting in increased efficiency and cost savings. By learning how to negotiate better contracts, evaluate suppliers, and manage relationships with vendors, individuals can help their organizations save money and operate more effectively.
• Compliance with regulations and standards: Many industries and government agencies have regulations and standards that govern procurement processes. Training in business diversity can help individuals and organizations understand these regulations and standards, ensuring that they are in compliance and avoiding potential legal or financial penalties.
• Enhanced vendor relationships: Good vendor relationships are essential for successful procurement. Training in business diversity can help individuals develop the skills to manage these relationships effectively, improving communication, reducing conflicts, and fostering long-term partnerships.