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: 

  1. 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. 
  2. 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. 
  3. 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