Breaking Barriers, Building a Hire Ground

“The intersection between caring for the environment and managing your company in a sustainable, ethical way is called corporate social responsibility.” – Elba Pareja-Gallagher

Elba Pareja-Gallagher is an Environmental, Social, and Governance expert, sustainability consultant, and keynote speaker. Elba is the founder and Principal of Sustainability Navigator, which offers coaching and mentoring to small, minority-owned businesses on following ESG regulations in the sustainability sector. She is also the founder and Executive Director of ShowMe50% Women Leading, an organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in companies. Prior to founding Sustainability Navigator, Elba served various roles at UPS for over 26 years: Director of Finance, U.S. Product Performance and Sustainability Director, and Stakeholder Engagement.

Elba joins us today to outline key ideas on sustainability for small- and medium-sized businesses. She describes how she learned about ikigai and how she came to the ESG industry after a career in finance. She explains why small- and medium-sized businesses need to be able to clearly demonstrate their commitment to sustainability practices. Elba also highlights the challenges these businesses face when implementing ESG and sustainability practices and shares the first steps for jumpstarting sustainability programs.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Elba’s background and how she began her journey in ESG

Connect with Elba Pareja-Gallagher:

• Sustainability Navigator

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Your network is your net worth.” – Shakeia Kegler

Shakeia Kegler is the Founder & CEO of GovLia, a company that helps state and local government agencies effortlessly implement and manage supplier diversity programs. Their goal is to expedite supplier diversity efforts without the traditional, time-consuming, paper-based processes. Before founding GovLia, Shakeia served for five years in the Navy as Aviation Ordnanceman Petty Officer 2nd Class. Following her career in the military, Shakeia also worked as a specialist in the government contracting department. The opportunity led to starting GovLia in 2017.

Shakeia joins us to discuss how GovLia helps supplier diversity efforts through government contracting support. She recounts her experience in the Navy as well as what it was like to transition back to civilian life. She describes the difficulty of small businesses getting awarded government contracts, especially if these businesses are minority-owned. Shakeia also explains what small businesses can do to make themselves look better than the competition when applying for government contracts.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Shakeia’s experience in the Navy’s purchasing department

Connect With Shakeia Kegler:

• GovLia

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“We are committed to inclusion, but sometimes, using jargon can exclude people from participating.” – Adam Moore

There are a plethora of buzzwords and industry terms in the supplier diversity world. As a professional industry, we tend to throw around terms and concepts that could be overwhelming not only for seasoned supplier diversity professionals but also for business owners who are new to supplier diversity practices. We can also expect new concepts and terminologies to emerge as the industry continues to evolve. Whether you’re a veteran supplier diversity professional brushing up on your supplier diversity terms or a new business owner trying to implement supplier diversity programs, you’re in the right place.

In this episode, we define supplier diversity terms both old and new. We discuss common myths and misconceptions about diverse and small businesses. We explore set-aside programs and how they’re taking hold in the private sector. We reveal the number one risk to any business today. We also highlight what diverse spending is and how it can impact the generational wealth gap and explain why every small business needs to reach out to their local SBA office.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• What ESG means in business and supply chain

Resources Mentioned:

• National Minority Supplier Development Council

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Goals and metrics are your North Star—if you don’t have them, you have no idea what you’re navigating to.” – Adam Moore

Supplier diversity is rapidly becoming a necessity for every business in the modern corporate world. Tapping into diverse talent is crucial to staying innovative and competitive while simultaneously meeting your organizational goals for inclusive economic impact. But how is a successful supplier diversity program started and maintained? What does it take to develop and sustain strong procurement practices and align your company’s values with a more diverse and inclusive mindset? 

In this episode, we outline how organizations can build supplier diversity programs from the ground up. We explore how identifying the goals of a supplier diversity program impacts support, buy-in, and success. We discuss strategies for updating an existing supplier diversity program in a company. We also highlight the supplier diversity manager’s role as a changemaker and relationship-builder and share best practices for establishing connections with other supplier diversity professionals.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Starting or relaunching a supplier diversity practice or program

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Supplier diversity is an intentional program that reaches out to diverse suppliers. It is about working with your business units to ensure they build relationships with and include suppliers owned by diverse persons.” – Adam Moore

You may be hearing a lot of talk about supplier diversity programs these days. You may also have heard about how implementing them is crucial to success, especially in today’s market and corporate environment. But do you actually need one? What are supplier diversity programs and what can they do for your company’s innovation and quality goods and services?

In this episode, we outline the fundamental reasons businesses need to build a supplier diversity program, especially in the context of the contemporary corporate environment. We discuss how consumer pressure is driving demand for DE&I, ESG, and CSR from companies and how supplier diversity can bridge that gap. We explore how supplier diversity officers act as a business’s first line of risk mitigation. We also discuss how diverse suppliers stepped up and fulfilled product demand during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and underscore how supplier diversity professionals act as conduits between a company and the communities they want to connect with.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• What supplier diversity is and why it’s vital to companies today

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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“Diversity, equity, and inclusion is beneficial for an entire business; for everyone.” – Jackie Ferguson

Jackie Ferguson is the Head of Content & Programming and Co-Founder of The Diversity Movement, a full-service DEI consultancy that provides diversity and inclusion content such as courses, videos, webinars, and podcasts. As Head of Content & Programming, Jackie manages all the content her company produces, especially when customizing them for each client. Her passion for diversity and inclusion started from her youth, having been an advocate for human rights and equality for more than 20 years. Jackie is also the host of the Diversity Beyond The Checkbox podcast, a show where they share diverse perspectives from business leaders. 

Jackie joins us today to discuss how their company enables organizations to apply a DEI program and make sure their program is not entirely foreign to the company culture. She shares how the company was founded and why they pivoted away from providing elearning courses. She describes the challenges companies and organizations face when it comes to applying DEI programs. She explains some of the complexities involved in customizing a DEI program for a client. Jackie also discusses where she found her passion for DEI and her life as an activist.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• What is The Diversity Movement, and why the founders started the company.

Connect with Jackie Ferguson:

• The Diversity Movement

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

“If we can create a culture where everyone feels like they belong, then we’re going to have a much more successful supply chain.” – Chloe Guidry-Reed

Relationships are the key to any successful business, but what happens when one party in the relationship has all the power? The power dynamics of big companies and corporations often put smaller suppliers in a precarious position. Big companies can use their financial clout to demand more and more from suppliers, driving down the supplier’s profit margin. Consumers are beginning to hold companies to a higher standard and demand that they treat everyone in the supply chain ethically. So what code of conduct should big companies be held to in order to demonstrate respect for their suppliers?

Today, we flip the script on big companies and suggest a code of conduct they should adopt to treat their suppliers ethically. We discuss the unspoken rules of corporate culture suppliers must be aware of before entering into a contract with any business. We examine the RFP process and underline how it affects competitiveness between suppliers. We emphasize the need for respect and communication between companies and suppliers and how large companies can use mentorship programs to support small and diverse companies. We also discuss how small suppliers can kickstart change by uniting with other small suppliers.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• How to set the ground rules for a buyer’s code of conduct

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.

“Being open is the sign of a curious mind, and a curious mind is not going to stop until it gets the information it needs to make a difference.” – Joset Wright

Joset Wright Lacy is an attorney, executive coach, diversity consultant, and founder and President of Waypoint Strategies LLC. Through Waypoint Strategies, Joset provides coaching and consulting services with a focus on building leadership skills. She has over 30 years of experience leading public, private, and non-profit organizations. Prior to founding Waypoint Strategies, she served as the President of the National Minority Supplier Development Council from 2010 to 2017. Joset received her Juris Doctor degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Anthropology from Denison University.

Joset joins us today to share her thoughts on driving change for supplier inclusion. She describes her professional journey from practicing as a lawyer to working in the supplier diversity industry and explains the interplay between diverse suppliers, businesses, and the ability to drive change and impact in a community. She discusses generational shifts in the workforce and how they drive demand for diversity and inclusion in companies. Joset also highlights the roles of commitment, empowerment, and accountability in driving inclusive procurement and outlines how professionals can bridge the gap between younger employees’ demand for DE&I and consensus.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Joset’s background and career path in supplier diversity

Connect with Joset Wright:

• Joset Wright 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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

“Corporations have to begin to hold the boards accountable to be that bridge to small and diverse suppliers.”  – Nedra Dickson

Nedra Dickson is the Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability Lead at Accenture, one of the world’s largest professional services companies focusing on strategy and consulting, operations, technology, and interactive services. Nedra promotes and leads Accenture’s efforts to maximize procurement opportunities with small and diverse businesses across 17 countries. She also holds several board seats within the supplier diversity community, including board memberships in the Women Business Enterprise Council, the Georgia Minority Supplier Diversity Council, and the Supplier Diversity Leadership Council for The Conference Board.

Nedra joins us to discuss what companies should measure to gauge the progress of their supplier diversity programs. She explains the expanse of Accenture’s supplier diversity program and its international reach. She describes the complex processes involved in navigating another country’s laws and legislations for their programs. Nedra also shares how being a board member of various councils made her appreciate her role.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• What Accenture is and Nedra’s role in the company

Connect with Nedra Dickson:

• Accenture

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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

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Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

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“We have to keep that cycle of money going through our small and diverse business communities because they’re the ones creating jobs.” – Vickie Irwin

Vickie Irwin is the General Manager of Supplier Sustainability and Equity at Southern Company, one of the largest energy providers in the country. Southern Company owns various electric utilities, natural gas distribution utilities, fiber optics, and wireless communications across multiple states. As General Manager, Vickie is responsible for building relationships that support the growth and development of small, diverse businesses. She is also a CPA and Project Management Professional who specializes in helping diverse companies partner with corporations.

Vickie joins us today to share how Southern Company promotes supplier diversity and discusses its supplier sustainability practices. She describes her role as General Manager of Supplier Sustainability and Equity. She explains how small businesses are driving half the jobs created in the US. She discusses the different cores that make up supplier sustainability and equity. Vickie also divulges the company’s ESG goals and what’s in store for Southern Company.

This week on Breaking Barriers:

• Who Vickie is and what it means to have sustainability and equity at Southern Company

Resources Mentioned:

• Milhouse Engineering & Construction

Connect with Vickie Irwin:

• Southern Company 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!

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review wherever you get your podcasts.

Apple Podcasts | TuneIn | GooglePlay | Stitcher | Spotify

Be sure to share your favorite episodes on social media and join us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. 

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