en
Washington, DC
WASHINGTON DC, June 8, 2021—WEConnect International announced the addition of 10 new member buyers to its rapidly growing community of now 122 corporate leaders committed to prioritizing inclusivity and supplier diversity. The newest members span a wide range of key industry sectors from retail to real estate, including Baker Hughes; BASF; CBRE Group, Inc.; CDW Corporation; Fidelity International; Freeport-McMoRan; Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; Kohl’s; Mondelēz International, Inc.; and NIKE, Inc.
WEConnect International has expanded its network of member buyers by one-third, adding 38 new member buyers in the past year and signaling an increased recognition of the importance of gender inclusive sourcing. As more companies proactively seek supplier diversity and inclusion strategies that address gender gaps in local and global value chains, WEConnect International makes it easier for supply and demand to connect by matching buyers with suppliers from its robust network of 12,000 registered women-owned businesses based in over 120 countries.
“I’m thrilled that so many corporations are leveraging our peer network and global database to find innovative women suppliers, resulting in more money in the hands of women, who in turn reinvest into their families, employees and communities—bolstering inclusive economic prosperity for everyone,” said Elizabeth A. Vazquez, CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International. “The benefits corporations reap are many, including increased access to the best total value solutions, improving economic output and job creation, and attracting and retaining top talent.”
New WEConnect International Global Members include:
Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is an energy technology company that provides solutions for energy and industrial customers worldwide. Built on a century of experience and with operations in over 120 countries, our innovative technologies and services are taking energy forward—making it safer, cleaner and more efficient for people and the planet. Visit us at bakerhughes.com.
BASF
At BASF, we create chemistry for a sustainable future. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. More than 110,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers in nearly all sectors and almost every country in the world. Our portfolio is organized into six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. BASF generated sales of €59 billion in 2020. BASF shares are traded on the stock exchange in Frankfurt (BAS) and as American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the U.S. Further information at www.basf.com.
CBRE Group, Inc.
CBRE Group, Inc., a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm (based on 2020 revenue). The company has more than 100,000 employees serving clients in more than 100 countries. CBRE has been recognized one of Fortune’s Most Admired Company in real estate for three consecutive years, and an industry-top brand by the Lipsey Company for 20 consecutive years. CBRE serves a diverse range of clients with an integrated suite of services, including facilities, transaction and project management; property management; investment management; appraisal and valuation; property leasing; strategic consulting; property sales; mortgage services and development services. www.cbre.com
CDW Corporation
CDW Corporation is a leading multi-brand provider of information technology solutions to business, government, education and healthcare customers in the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada. A Fortune 500 company and member of the S&P 500 Index, CDW was founded in 1984 and employs over 10,000 coworkers. For the trailing twelve months ended March 31, 2021, the company generated Net sales of approximately $19 billion. For more information about CDW, please visit www.CDW.com.
Fidelity International
Fidelity International offers investment solutions and retirement expertise to institutions, individuals and their advisers around the world. We bring together savings and pensions expertise with world-class investment choices – both our own and those of others – to help our clients build better futures for themselves and generations to come. As a private company we think generationally and invest for the long term. Helping clients to save for retirement and other long term investing objectives has been at the core of our business for 50 years. We do this by developing specific retirement needs focused investment solutions for clients, their advisers and the defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes around the world whose assets we manage. We are responsible for total client assets of USD $706.3* billion from over 2.52 million clients across Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, South America and Canada. *All data as of 31 December 2020. www.fidelityinternational.com
Freeport-McMoRan
Freeport-McMoRan is a leading international mining company and operates large, long-lived, geographically diverse assets with significant proven and probable reserves of copper, gold and molybdenum. Our portfolio of assets includes the Grasberg minerals district in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits; and significant mining operations in North America and South America, including the large-scale Morenci minerals district in Arizona and the Cerro Verde operation in Peru. Our metals play an essential role in global economic growth, the transition to a low-carbon economy and technologies to improve quality life. We have partnered with WEConnect International on our women’s economic empowerment initiatives for many years and look forward to our membership further supporting our efforts to source more women and minority-owned businesses. To learn more about Freeport-McMoRan, go to fcx.com.
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP
Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global law firm with a long track record of successfully advising the world’s leading national and multinational corporations and financial institutions on ground-breaking and business-critical challenges. Our team of more than 2,800 lawyers and other legal professionals delivers global results from our 28 offices worldwide. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise and business know-how means our clients can rely on us when it matters most. www.freshfields.com
Kohl’s
Kohl’s is a leading omnichannel retailer. With more than 1,100 stores in 49 states and the online convenience of Kohls.com and the Kohl’s App, Kohl’s offers amazing national and exclusive brands at incredible savings for families nationwide. Kohl’s is uniquely positioned to deliver against its strategy and its vision to be the most trusted retailer of choice for the active and casual lifestyle. Kohl’s is committed to progress in its diversity and inclusion pledges, and the company’s environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) stewardship. www.kohls.com
Mondelēz International, Inc.
Mondelēz International empowers people to snack right in over 150 countries around the world. They are leading the future of snacking with iconic global and local brands such as Oreo, belVita and LU biscuits; Cadbury Dairy Milk, Milka and Toblerone chocolate; Sour Patch Kids candy and Trident gum. They are one of the largest snack companies in the world with global net revenues of $25.9 billion and net earnings of $3.4 billion in 2018. www.mondelez.com
NIKE, Inc.
NIKE, Inc., named for the Greek goddess of victory, is the world’s leading designer, marketer, and distributor of authentic athletic footwear, apparel, equipment and accessories for a wide variety of sports and fitness activities. Operating segments for the Nike brand are: North America, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Greater China, Asia Pacific and Latin America. Wholly-owned subsidiaries include Converse Inc., and the Jordan brand which designs, markets and distributes casual footwear, apparel and accessories. The company was founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight in 1972 and is headquartered in Beaverton, Oregon. www.nike.com
About WEConnect International
WEConnect International is a member-led, global non-profit that brings motivated, large corporate, multilateral and government buyers together with qualified women-owned suppliers around the world. It works with over 120 multinational buyers, with over $1 trillion in annual purchasing power combined, that have committed to sourcing more products and services from women-owned businesses based in over 120 countries. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers and certifies women’s business enterprises based outside of the U.S. that are at least 51% owned, managed and controlled by one or more women. For more information, visit www.WEConnectInternational.org.
For more information or media interviews, please contact, Rebecca Pearson, Chief Marketing Officer, at rpearson@weconnectinternational.org or +1-703-297-5113.
For corporate membership, contact Michael Tobolski, VP of Member Development, mtobolski@weconnectinternational.org, or online at https://weconnectinternational.org/en/corporate-membership/membership-opportunities.
For details on Registering Your Women-Owned Business or becoming a certified Women Business Enterprise, please contact Melanie Oliver at registration@weconnectinternational.org.
