INTEL SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PANEL DISCUSSION

Corporate Member Intel, in association with WEConnect International in India, held an event on supplier diversity in New Delhi on June 13, 2016.

Frank Sanders, VP Corporate Strategic Procurement, Intel, attended the event and reaffirmed the commitment of Intel’s leadership towards the company’s supplier diversity mission. Anubha Grover, Supplier Diversity head, Intel India, announced that Intel will sponsor the WEConnect International certification fee for ten women entrepreneurs, as well as spend $10million with women’s business enterprises by 2020.

The program included an update on WEConnect International in India’s activities, as well as insight to WEConnect International certified entrepreneur Ambika Sharma’s experience with supplier diversity. Ambika, founder of Pulp Strategy Communications, highlighted the importance and impact of capacity building and mentoring.

This was followed by a panel discussion on the Role of MNCs and government in supplier diversity. Vijay Ganapathy, COO, Thinkthrough Consulting, moderated the session  with Frank Sanders, VP Corporate Strategic Procurement, Intel; Madhu Madhurakavi, Director- Sourcing, Benetton; Aarti Bindra, Founder, ACPL; and Nishta Satyam, Head- Strategic Partnerships, Policy Impact and Public Relations, UN Women, serving as panelists.

According to Nishta, UN Women is “…delighted that the work Intel has been doing and its global leadership is actually promoting supply chain diversity, while other companies are taking little steps to promote diversity at work force.” She went on to “congratulate them for the wonderful work they are doing.”

Aarti shared that while the WEConnect platform helps its members connect to the right set of people in the procurement departments of various companies, it is up to the women business owners to have a product or service that adds value to target corporation.

Frank shared this viewpoint, stating that the importance of women suppliers being selected by Intel is based on their ability to add value to Intel and not solely to achieve their diversity targets.