WECONNECT INTERNATIONAL IN AUSTRALIA – MEET-THE-MEMBER FOR WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES IN SYDNEY

WEConnect International partnered with Johnson & Johnson and MSD (Merck) in Australia to host a Meet-the-Corporate-Member session for women-owned businesses in Sydney October 18. Over 50 attendees participated in an inMastteractive discussion with WEConnect International’s corporate members. Topics included: utilizing the WEConnect International membership; tips on how to work with and pitch to corporates; what to avoid; and answers to burning questions on the RFP/Q/I process.

Women-owned businesses also benefited from a session on building their personal brand, led by MSD’s Zarli French, Senior Manager External Affairs and ANZ MSD Women’s Network Lead. Participants also gained insights into Johnson & Johnson’s journey and approach to diversity and the benefits of supplier diversity and inclusion, as presented by Sue Martin, Managing Director, Johnson & Johnson Medical and Michele Blanshard, General Manager, Cardiovascular and Specialty Solutions (CSS).

23 women-owned businesses had the opportunity to pitch their businesses to procurement representatives from 6 WEConnect International corporate members: Citi, J&J, Mastercard, Microsoft, MSD, and Westpac.

Key takeaways from the event included: the need for increased interaction between women-owned businesses and procurement staff across member (and other) companies to promote better understanding of what it takes to become a vendor; and a better understanding of what certification with WEConnect International entails. The discussions between self-registered businesses also resulted in some great new conversations and potential partnerships.