Bristol Myers Squibb is an American pharmaceutical company where global diversity and inclusion is a priority. Their culture of caring extends beyond their patients and employees to suppliers and their communities.
Supplier diversity, the sourcing of products and services from diverse suppliers, has always been a priority for Bristol Myers Squibb. The goal is clear – select suppliers that represent the diversity of their employees and the communities where they live and work. Bristol Myers Squibb recognizes and tracks at least twelve different supplier diversity certification categories. One of these categories is disability-owned business enterprises (DOBEs), and includes subcategories, veteran-owned disability-owned business enterprises (V-DOBE), and service-disabled veteran disability-owned business enterprises (SDV-DOBE). DOBEs are certified for-profit businesses that are at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by a person with a disability.
Bristol Myers Squibb’s Director of Global Supplier Diversity, Rondu Vincent has “made it his business” to learn from and partner with the underrepresented disabled community. For him, diversity isn’t just a buzzword, but a way of life. Proudly proclaiming he is living the dream, Rondu leads with a positivity driven by his encouragement of authenticity and the ability to be one’s true self. Over a decade ago, he found a calling to use his background, who he was, where he came from, and his strategic sourcing expertise, to make a difference in the supplier diversity community. His work in the community has provided multiple opportunities for diverse suppliers with an equal voice at the economic table.
Bristol Myers Squibb has long participated in Disability:IN’s Supplier Diversity Program, and in 2019, Rondu was in a supplier diversity mentorship program where corporate representatives are matched with supplier mentees, providing sustained advice and guidance over a twelve-month period. He was matched with supplier mentee, Artura Taylor, CEO of Taylor Distribution Group.
Taylor Distribution Group (TDG) is a certified woman-owned, minority-owned, and disability-owned business that specializes in the distribution of safety PPE, scientific and industrial commodities, and pharmaceuticals, serving corporations nationwide. TDG has a total of eight different national and regional supplier certifications, including woman-owned and minority-owned. Prior to becoming a DOBE, Artura had never identified herself as someone with a disability “…because of my ADHD and partial deafness, I know I have my own challenges. But I didn’t know I would qualify.” TDG became a certified DOBE in 2016 as Taylor not only saw the value of diverse certifications, but also the potential of connecting with inclusive companies like Bristol Myers Squibb, that accepted and supported all certifications.
Through the Disability:IN Supplier Diversity program, Rondu was able to guide Artura in the specifics of the pharmaceutical industry. Over time, they formed a strong bond, excitedly discussed opportunities, and generated a positivity larger than life.
“There is no stigma, no need to put on a different face to fit in. The level of access we have been granted to various corporate leaders has been truly phenomenal and influential in helping us to strategically grow our business and achieve our mission.” – Artura
In 2019, Bristol Myers Squibb won the Disability:IN Inclusion Award for Top Corporation for DOBE, demonstrating outstanding inclusion of Disability:IN certified disability-owned businesses (including businesses owned by service-disabled veterans), and for its demonstrated commitment to disability business inclusion in their supply chain processes and corporate supplier diversity programs. Their goal to be powerfully diverse and broadly inclusive has enabled them to better meet patient needs, achieve business objectives, and connect with the broader community.
Bristol Myers Squibb is IN. Are you IN?
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