The United Nations estimates that 1.3 billion people globally live with a disability, yet the pool of certified Disability-Owned Business Enterprises (DOBEs) doesn’t currently reflect this significant portion of the world’s population. Disabled business owners have been reluctant to disclose their disability status for a multitude of reasons, much less certify their businesses as disability-owned. As more corporations are including DOBEs within their supplier diversity and inclusion initiatives, the need to increase the number of contract-ready DOBEs is a top priority. This session highlights best practices for identifying potential DOBEs currently in respective corporate supply chains and attracting new suppliers eligible for DOBE certification.
Learning Objectives:
- Gain insight into the challenges that impact supplier self-disclosure and effective solutions that can be implemented to increase voluntary disclosure and the pursuit of certification.
- Discover the elements of the new DOBE I.D. Toolkit developed by Disability:IN and innovative approaches to identifying and engaging with Disability-Owned Business Enterprises.
- Learn practical techniques for sharing resources with procurement and sourcing teams, prime suppliers, Employee/Business Resource Group members, and other key stakeholders that will help to increase DOBE spend.
Moderator:
- Casey Oakes – Head of External Relations; Supplier Inclusion & Sustainability at Google
Panelists:
- Heather Cox – President at Certify My Company
- Meredith Melecki – Senior Manager, Global Supplier Diversity at Dell
- Nadine Mullings – Senior Manager, Supplier Inclusion at Walmart Inc.
- Raul Suarez-Rodriguez – Director, Global Economic Inclusion & Business Diversity at Merck