Issue 2 | June 2021
THE STATE OF WBE CERTIFICATION IN CANADA The Suppliers’ Perspective
STIMULATING SMALL BUSINESS PROSPERITY 4 STEPS TO DEVELOPING A SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM IN GOVERNMENT SUPPLY CHAINS
TAKE YOUR BUSINESS TO THE NEXT LEVEL! Tools for Growth The Resource Library for Women Owners Ready To Scale Up Their Business
Get Your Access
Message from the Vice President When the pandemic hit over a year ago, none of us expected it to last this long. We knew that disruption was inevitable but the ongoing lockdowns, border closures, workforce shortages, supply chain disruptions and work from home are still challenging organizations and individuals around the globe. During my 10 years with WBE Canada, I have seen a lot of incredible change, but what excites me the most these days is the resilience and innovation within our Women Business Enterprise (WBE) community. Check out “Determined! Conversations with Canadian WBEs” to be inspired. Our growing community includes WBEs from across the provinces, industry sectors, sizes and scope eager to take part in economic recovery and support corporations and governments with their products and services. It is indeed exciting to watch WBE Canada evolve to now having the largest database of certified suppliers in Canada.
Over the past year we have developed important tools and resources to help you move in the right direction - you will find many of them listed in this issue as you continue reading. I hope that this issue will not only inspire you to start your supplier diversity journey but also guide you in the right direction and together we may continue supporting and uplifting Canadian women-owned businesses.
As we look at reopening the economy and reimagining our workplaces, it is critical for our government organizations and corporations to commit to diversifying their supply chains and creating opportunities for women-owned businesses. This issue of the WBE Canada Magazine is filled with tips and resources to point your organization in the right direction as you embark on a journey to diversify your supply chain. You will also find great tips and insights to enhance existing supplier diversity programs.
Here’s to your success.
MICHELLE BIANCHI Vice President | WBE Canada
As the results of our survey conducted in partnership with the University of Manitoba and the University of Calgary show, Canadian WBEs are ready to offer their competence and expertise. The best time to start a supplier diversity program is TODAY! WBE Canada is committed to your program’s success and will be there with you throughout this journey.
WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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IN THIS ISSUE June 2021 Writers & Editors Judy Carswell, Sharon Ferdinands Contributing Writers Jamie Crump; Kam Raman; Paul D. Larson, Ph.D; Jack D. Kulchitsky, Silvia Pencak, M.A., Mike Pacholok, Catherine Grosz Designers Grassick Graphic Communications www.GrassickGraphic.com WBE Canada Contact Details Editorial queries and submissions marketing@wbecanada.ca General queries - concierge@wbecanada.ca WBE Certification certification@wbecanada.ca Corporate Membership membership@wbecanada.ca Sponsorship - sponsorship@wbecanada.ca ©️WBE Canada, June 2021 https://wbecanada.ca
The WBE Canada Magazine is a quarterly magazine designed to connect our communities, empower Canadian women entrepreneurs and inspire Canada’s corporate and government organizations in their supplier diversity initiatives. To subscribe to the WBE Canada Magazine, click here.
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SOURCING THE NEXT LEVEL IN SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
STIMULATING SMALL BUSINESS PROSPERITY THE STATE OF WBE CERTIFICATION IN CANADA: The Suppliers’ Perspective
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DETERMINED! Conversations with Canadian WBEs
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TIPS FOR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS 4 STEPS TO DEVELOPING A SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAM IN GOVERNMENT SUPPLY CHAINS
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WHO’S WHO AT WBE CANADA SUPPLIER DIVERSITY UPDATE The Journey
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IN CASE YOU MISSED IT
Equality drives innovation Equality is a powerful multiplier of innovation and growth. It inspires creativity and a sense of belonging. At Accenture we’re committed to championing a culture of equality where our people are empowered to be their best, professionally and personally. Because as equals, anything is possible. Learn more at accenture.com/equality
Sourcing the Next Level in Su
T
here has never been a time when sourcing and supplier diversity has received as much attention as right now. Between the supply chain impacts of the pandemic and the global unrest that is causing businesses to take a social stand, the two areas are front and center. It doesn’t matter if your supplier diversity program is just getting started or has plateaued, there are a few things that can elevate what you are doing to turn your program into a huge success.
THIRD PARTY REPORTING
able to plan about 65% of what I ended up sourcing in a given year. The rest came from projects that: ● didn’t make it to sourcing until the last minute ● were an existing agreement that didn’t work out and we had to unwind the solution ● were otherwise an unplanned project.
If you are not already utilizing a third party for your data, give it strong consideration. A third party provides so much more than spend numbers. Manual processes do not scale and take up a lot of valuable resource time. Save your bandwidth and outsource to a company who has this as a core competency. Not only will a third party keep the certificates up to date, but they’ll also provide financial reporting credibility to your data.
The fact is sourcing only knows what it is going to need part of the time. If you don’t source suppliers until you have a need, it may be too late to include diverse-owned businesses. That robs your company of innovation and drags your numbers down.
One of the benefits of a corporate membership with WBE Canada is Supplier Diversity Data Services. This service provides a complimentary data scrub/supplier diversity assessment, analysis of the current vendor list to identify diverse-owned businesses and a detailed tabulation of the results.
When attending events such as WBE Canada’s B2B Matchmaker series, look for suppliers who provide anything your company purchases. Establish a relationship with them, even if you don’t plan to source the product or service for some time. Then when the need arises, you can recommend multiple companies with confidence. Yes, it takes some time, but it is truly the best investment you can make.
SOURCE EVERYTHING ALL THE TIME One of the easiest things to do to drive up spend dollars is to be on the lookout for diverse-owned suppliers for every single thing the company purchases… all the time. Looking for suppliers when you need suppliers is a poor time to be meeting a bunch of new suppliers.
MEASURE ALL ASPECTS OF SUCCESS Spend will always be a priority for supplier diversity, just like savings are for sourcing. That should not be the only measurement of success. Like any good strategy, measurement is key to success. Develop measurements to gauge things like the effectiveness of company outreach, new and ongoing meetings with potential suppliers. Keep track of how many diverse-owned businesses are being invited to bid, making the short list, being awarded a contract and expanding the services they provide.
When I hear talk about procurement giving supplier diversity their upcoming bid list, I wince. I have led a number of procurement groups over the years and one thing I learned is that I served at the pleasure of my executive team. I may have been
4
upplier Diversity Commit to more than the “one supplier on every bid” approach. Develop targets based upon opportunity. If a given category is made up of 40% diverse owned businesses and you have one on your bid list, you are shortchanging both your company and the diverse business community.
by Jamie Crump
of consulting hours, tailored workshops, and other tools that are provided. This advantage renews each year the company is a corporate member. Combined, the approaches and tools give companies a way to increase diversity spend and success to the bottom line.
Finally, commit to publishing the progress. Supplier diversity shouldn’t be a secret. Let the company know what is happening. Measurement allows a dialogue on what is working and what isn’t as well as paving the way for additional needs to move the needle.
Jamie Crump is President of The Richwell Group, LLC, a global consultancy in sourcing and supplier diversity. She is a recognized global thought leader and speaker on both topics. Crump is also the author of Backstage Pass: Pulling the Curtain back on the Business of Supplier Diversity.
If you aren’t sure how to get started on these or other initiatives, WBE Canada has you covered. Corporate membership provides Supplier Diversity Accelerator at no additional cost. This consists
SUPPORTING YOUR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY INITIATIVES
WBE Canada’s Supplier Diversity Accelerator Start Your Journey Today!
WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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RBC believes in full economic inclusion RBC is an inaugural member of WBE Canada. Together, we embarked on a journey for progressive inclusion of suppliers. This is part of RBC's commitment in support of full economic inclusion for all.
rbc.com/diversity
® / TM Trademarks(s) of Royal Bank of Canada.
Stimulating Small Business Prosperity by Kam Raman
Small businesses are the backbone of Canada’s economy and at the heart of our diverse communities.
As we continue to live and work in a time like no other, it has never been more important to be innovative and courageous while advocating for inclusivity and equity. The impact of the pandemic has been disproportionately worse for women and that’s why we continue to stay steadfastly committed to providing access to procurement opportunities for women entrepreneurs. At RBC, we believe in diversity and growth in our workplace and supply chain. Our Supplier Diversity Program has proven to advance inclusion and open opportunities for companies with diverse ownership while enhancing quality, service and overall value to the organization. In normal economies, entrepreneurs need to navigate unpredictable business environments and the pandemic has taken that uncertainty to new heights over the past year. Let’s talk about some strategies to build back small businesses to
not only survive but thrive in the new economy. Three critical areas of focus for any entrepreneur are to build community, to advance digitization and to partner with the right business banker. Building community with your small business means partnering with local associations like the board of trade, chamber of commerce or non-profit association in your market. Organizations like these are passionate about investing in, and improving their communities. And they understand the vital
The pandemic has accelerated consumer demand for digital solutions and delivery. Entrepreneurs that can efficiently pivot into the digital age have proven to be more resilient throughout the past year. The recent federal budget includes provisions to support small businesses in their pursuit to adopt new technologies and digitize to meet customer needs. This includes micro-grants to help with the costs of digitization and support for digital trainers. My advice is to leverage government support programs
Three critical areas of focus for any entrepreneur are to build community, to advance digitization and to partner with the right business banker. role of small business! The other part of building community is nurturing your loyal brand advocates. There has never been a more important time to leverage your most important customers to spread the news about your products or services to their friends and family through social media.
WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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to assist with sustaining your business finances, to protect jobs and to embrace the new digital customer expectations. Engaging with a business mentor to provide business advice, as well as encouragement and support, will help you stay focused on what is required for
Stimulating Small Business Prosperity cont’d
your business to succeed. Motivation, reassurance and advice is more critical than ever as we continue to navigate the pandemic and post-pandemic world. Formal mentorship programs provide learning opportunities and resources and informal mentors like your business banker can provide invaluable financial advice and guidance. “Having the right business banking solution, which includes the right account and advisor available in the digital channel of your choice, can make all the difference,” says Martin Thibodeau, Regional President – British Columbia. “At RBC, our accounts make your day-to-day banking easier and more cost-effective and we have advisors who understand that technology is disrupting business like never before. I invite you to contact your local RBC branch so that we can support your full range of banking needs to help your small business thrive today and tomorrow.”
Kam Raman is the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at RBC in British Columbia with a focus both provincially and nationally. She brings over 25 years of progressive experience in senior leadership and strategy roles within the financial services industry. She has been consistently recognized for her business acumen, communication, collaboration and leadership abilities. Kam is steadfastly committed to fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion for clients, employees and the many communities from coast-to-coast-to-coast in Canada which RBC serves.
Our commitment to supplier diversity is more than just the right thing to do; it allows us to support RBC’s purpose of Helping Clients Thrive and Communities Prosper. I am confident we will come through this stronger with the resilience and optimism of small business entrepreneurs like you taking action to leverage community connection, enhance digital capabilities and engage the right partner. We are in this together.
ENGINEERED FOR
We are in this together. D R I V E N BY D I V E R S I T Y
Toyota’s diverse suppliers — and their inclusive perspectives and progressive capabilities — are essential to our story of creating Mobility for All. ONETOYOTASUPPLIERDIVERSITY.COM
Walsh Canada is part of the international Walsh Group, a fourth generation family-owned construction company. Since 1898, the Walsh Group has provided general contracting, construction management, and design-build services with regional offices across Canada and the US. Women’s College Hospital Redevelopment
U of T Mississauga Mississauga New Science Building
Contact Walsh Canada for upcoming ICI construction projects &
let’s build
together.
www.walshgroup.com 416.849.9099 | tmeana@walshgroup.com
The State of WBE Certifica THE SUPPLIERS’ PERSPECTIVE
By Paul D. Larson, Ph.D., CN Professor of SCM, University of M Jack D. Kulchitsky, Ph.D., Senior Instructor in Marketing, Unive Silvia Pencak, M.A., President, WBE Canada THE STATE OF WBE CERTIFICATION IN CANADA
• to increase sales and profits; • to gain access to large supply chains; and • to meet requirements of corporate or
As of December 2019, there were an estimated 1,226,454 businesses based in Canada. Nearly 74 percent of them were quite small, with only between one and nine employees.1 In 2017, 63.5 percent of Canadian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) were majority owned by men, 15.6 percent were owned by women, and 20.9 percent were equally owned by men and women. By definition, SMEs employ between 1 and 499 people.2 Greater than 92 percent of SMEs majority owned by women have fewer than 20 employees.3
THE SUPPLIERS’ PERSPECTIVE
By Paul D. Larson, Jack D. Kulchitsky, & Silvia Pencak
government buyers.
Thus, it appears that growing the business is the primary motivation for pursuing certification. Almost half of the responding certified suppliers have gained at least some new business since becoming certified. However, while only 33 percent of “small” suppliers (those with less than 10 employees) gained new business, 64 percent of “large” suppliers (ten or more employees) gained new business since certification. There is clearly an opportunity to improve upon the experience of the smallest suppliers.
During the last year, it has become clear that the COVID-19 pandemic has been especially hard on Canadian firms with less than 20 employees, particularly those in service-producing sectors. The pandemic is also exacerbating structural inequalities, with women facing disproportionate levels of unemployment while performing more than their fair share of unpaid child care, elder care and household duties.
A supplier’s duration of certification (i.e. the number of years certified) also appears to have an effect on new business gained. While 79 percent of those suppliers certified for less than one year report no new business, 74 percent of suppliers certified for three to five years indicate gains of some new business. As shown in the table, the percent of certified suppliers having gained new business starts at 21 percent for those certified less than
In the midst of this pandemic, mostly during October 2020, a survey on supplier diversity (SD) in Canada was conducted, with special focus on suppliers majority owned by women. In general, SD extends internal diversity and inclusion (D&I) into the upstream supply chain. It offers firms owned, managed and operated by diverse groups of people (i.e. Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ+ people, people with disabilities, veterans, visible minorities and/or women) equal opportunity to become suppliers of goods and services.
New business gained by number of years certified New Business
Well over half of the survey responses came from businesses certified by Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada). These suppliers were asked about motivators to become certified and perceived benefits of certification. The top three rated motivators were:
<1
1 or 2
3 to 5
6 to 10
Total
None
19 (79%) 9 (47%)
6 (26%) 5 (50%)
39
Some
5 (21%) 10 (53%) 17 (74%) 5 (50%)
37
Total
10
Duration (number of years certified)
24
19
23
10
76
ation in Canada:
REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS The survey results suggest action is needed to advance the inclusion of underrepresented businesses, specifically women-owned businesses, in large supply chains. Action is needed to move supplier diversity forward in Canada. Based on survey findings, we offer the following recommendations.
Manitoba
ersity of Calgary
1. More corporate and government supplier diversity programs are needed in Canada. It is imperative that more organizations join the effort to support the success and sustainability of Canadian Women Business Enterprises.
one year, jumps to 53 percent for suppliers in the 1 or 2 year range, then rises further to 74 percent for suppliers certified for three to five years. This suggests it takes several years of being certified for most suppliers to realize new business growth.
2. Supplier diversity programs are needed in all regions across Canada. Results show that the majority of opportunities - and the majority of certified suppliers - are in Ontario. It would be beneficial to expand programs and opportunities across all provinces and territories.
For more details about the survey results, and access to the full report, visit WBE Canada website here. Paul D. Larson, Ph.D. is the CN Professor of Supply Chain Management at the University of Manitoba. Paul is lead author of Supplier Diversity in Canada: Research and analysis of the next step in diversity and inclusion for forward-looking organizations, published in 2016 by the Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion.
3. Rapid scale up is necessary for start-ups and smaller women-owned businesses. Size and scope requirements in many large organizations act as barriers to entry governments are encouraged to invest in programs designed to help women-owned businesses scale up and be ready to avoid disqualification and disappointment at the starting line.
Jack D. Kulchitsky, Ph.D. is a Senior Instructor in the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary. Jack is the co-researcher on the 2020-21 supplier diversity project, which includes surveys of suppliers and buyers, along with a supplier diversity program content analysis of Canada’s “Best Diversity Employers” in 2020.
The authors encourage diverse suppliers to consider becoming certified. In addition, those suppliers already certified are urged to seek opportunities to serve the growing list of buyers with supplier diversity programs. We also encourage leaders of buying organizations to initiate supplier diversity programs or further advance their existing programs. Finally, it’s time for various levels of government to “get in the game”! We encourage federal, provincial and municipal governwment agencies to fully support the supplier diversity movement. This is about economic prosperity and social mobility for all Canadians.
Silvia Pencak, M.A. is the President of WBE Canada. Silvia is an innovator driving transformation in supplier diversity in Canada with projects like WBE Canada Toolbox, Supplier Diversity Accelerator, Supplier Diversity Data Services and many others, designed to enable and propel supplier diversity forward in Canadian market. Key Small Business Statistics 2020, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Ottawa, 33 pages, https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061. nsf/eng/h_03126.html#how-SME.
1
Huang, Lyming (2020), SME Profile Ownership Demographics Statistics, Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, Ottawa, January, https://www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/061.nsf/eng/h_03115.html#bookmark3-1.
2
WEKH (2020), The State of Women’s Entrepreneurship in Canada 2020, Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub, Diversity Institute, Ryerson University, Toronto.
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WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
For a full list of recommendations, and access to the full report, visit WBE Canada website here.
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The bank for Canadian entrepreneurs. From financing to advice, we offer the support you need to achieve your business goals.
bdc.ca | 1-888-INFO-BDC WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 1 | March 2021
#WBECONFERENCE
Driving Change Through Supplier Diversity
SAVE THE DATE November 9-10 wbeconference.ca WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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Virtual
Determined!
CONVERSATIONS WITH CANADIAN WBEs WBE Canada’s certified WBE community has grown more than 20% over the past year – a year that has experienced incredible upheaval, hardship as well as triumph and head turning innovation. In the past year, WBE Canada corporate and government membership has also grown significantly. The importance and economic realities of increasing supplier diversity and inclusion in Canada’s supply chains is not a new conversation but in the past year, sudden disruptions to the normal flow of goods and services coupled with drastic changes in what products were suddenly in demand definitely resulted in game changers to both buyers and suppliers. We talked to six certified women-owned businesses from across Canada – some have been certified for several years, others less than a year, to find out how they are doing, how they are using the benefits of their certification, what motivates them in their drive to succeed with corporate and government buyers, their tips and strategies to succeed, what they had to do differently as well as how they stayed the course as the pandemic unfurled. In short, what are these six WBEs doing to achieve success and how has certification helped to move their businesses forward through supplier diversity.
CATHY RELLA
Owner and President KOOTENAY KNIT AND APPAREL, British Columbia
WBE Canada: Kootenay Knit and Apparel has a strong focus on not just local and community initiatives, but on speaking to a purpose or supporting a cause. Why are you so passionate about developing that particular aspect of your business? Cathy: Our passion for creating products and programs that support Causes is part of our brand and core values. We believe it is the right thing to do. Now, more than ever, we’re inspired to use our creativity and brand platform to make a difference. Our mantra is “Products with Purpose” and we put our hearts into campaigns that contribute to positive change. The “Pink Mitten Campaign”, which raised $1Million for Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, is an example of our passion to make products that combine creative design with function and meaning.
WBE Canada: What are the key benefits you see and experience as a certified women-owned business including adding the Canadian Women Brand to your products?
WBE Canada: The pandemic has definitely affected the marketing and communication world. How have your clients’ needs changed and how do you manage the continuing changing demands?
Cathy: A key benefit as a certified women-owned business is our direct access to Corporations that are truly committed to diversity, inclusion and women-owned businesses in their supply chains. Another benefit, especially during these challenging times, is the strong sense of community and the ongoing support. Kootenay products are identified with the Canadian Women Brand, which is a distinctive indicator that we are a Canadian women-owned business. A Corporation’s logo on a ‘Canadian Women Brand’ product demonstrates to their employees, customers and shareholders that they support a women-owned business.
Michèle: Initially, Covid-19 brought a huge wave of unexpected work. Now, in year 2 of this crazy pandemic, clients’ needs and budgets are quite different. We manage the change by being extremely proactive in our market and adapting our services to support our clients.
MICHÈLE LEDUC President, ZIPCOM, Quebec WBE Canada: As a successful Communication and Marketing Agency, you have landed many major clients. What is the key to winning contracts with larger corporations when you are up against bigger agencies? Michèle: Better value is a key element. Smaller agencies charge smaller fees because of less overhead while providing the same strategic expertise and creativity as a large agency since most of us spent years in big agencies. A smaller team also means a more personalized relationship – more flexibility and genuine caring for our clients’ businesses. How we decide to position our services is also important. Once we’ve analyzed the need of the large corporation, we might focus our strength on one particular service -- either branding, design, in-store communication or creative translation. WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
JAMIE O’NEILL
Partner, UPRISE CONSULTING, Nova Scotia
WBE Canada: Uprise Consulting specializes in leadership training and business management, working with many clients across all sectors. The pandemic has drastically changed how organizations do business. What are your recommendations for women-owned businesses looking to work with the public sector? Jamie: First and foremost, get involved. The silver lining of this pandemic has been that all events have moved on-line, for free or little cost. Get involved in all local on-line and WBE events that make sense to your business. Secondly, move your business online. Before COVID, 99% of our business was face to face, so we had to pivot, and pivot we did. We now offer training on-line and do meetings through platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams. WBE Canada: What are your Top 3 tips for leaders during these complicated and ever changing times? Jamie: Beware of fake news. Stick to trusted municipal, provincial and federal platforms and trusted news sources. For me personally, I rely heavily on my local Chamber of Commerce to provide me with trusted updates. 15
Roxanne: Be prepared! Thinking ahead and drafting a plan will help when you suddenly need to service the demand on your business. Research tools and technologies that fit your business and try several to determine which is the best fit for your organization. Understanding your current requirements along with looking ahead to future growth to predict what your business and workforce will need to scale is important. When choosing a technology service or software consider the capacity of the provider to incorporate new features, provide you with customer support and work with you as you grow.
You are not alone. Organizations like WBE Canada and local groups offer great online resources and opportunities to connect. If you are an extrovert like me, get out there and join others, safely. Don’t use COVID as an excuse. It would be easy to accept lowered revenues with COVID to blame, but what are you personally doing to chart your new path? Don’t let COVID define your success or lack thereof – drive your success.
ROXANNE WHITING
Owner | Director of Video Interpreting SLIAO INC., Ontario
GERTRUDE BRADBURY
B.Sc. B.Ed. GSC, President LOCKE’S ELECTRICAL, Newfoundland & Labrador
WBE Canada: You have been providing signlanguage interpretation services across Canada for the past 20 years. Are you seeing greater demand for your services especially from larger corporations and government organizations since the pandemic?
WBE Canada: As a major provider of vital assets to the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, what sets you apart when bidding on major projects such as health and education facilities in local communities?
Roxanne: The COVID-19 pandemic caused a change in our economic environment as our inperson interpreting consisted of 40% of our revenues. But this work came to a grinding halt. Communication is critical especially during a pandemic and our services were deemed essential, a lifeline for the Deaf community. To continue our services, we swiftly transitioned to Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) and established a remote workforce. Although in-person interpreting requests decreased significantly, we experienced 43% growth overall. These services are provided to government agencies and other large corporations in the private sector.
Gertrude: Locke’s provides throughout Atlantic Canada comprehensive utility/power construction and maintenance that allow our clients to provide power to their customers/users. We care about the communities in which we work and we support the same through the company by developing and following our corporate Local Inclusion Plan & First Nations Inclusion Plan. We aspire to be an industry leader by developing strong partnerships that provide local communities economic success, social well-being, and we respect the people, culture and land where we work.
WBE Canada: Your business was hit with a sudden increase in demand for your services and the need for technology evolution - what are your tips for businesses that need to scale up quickly?
WBE Canada: What are some of the biggest changes you’re seeing in terms of women entrepreneurs in male dominated industries such as yours, what are your biggest challenges and your biggest inspiration? 16
Gertrude: Biggest challenge – balancing work and family. I was mentored in the business by my father but he always said “If I have taught you anything I hope it is family comes first”. That goes both ways and a supportive family has certainly made the difference in my career.
Aja: Make sure you have a consistent brand, marketing story and quality product in place across all retail channels. To build trust with customers it is important that brand details are coherent and wellpresented whether this be online or offline, and whether they are seeing it on a store shelf, social media or a website. Customers should know it is your brand at a quick glance without even seeing your logo.
Biggest inspiration: I am a member of a WPO chapter and inspiration comes just by being in the room with these women from different sectors keeps everything in perspective – the safe environment provided and support network has definitely allowed me to grow.
WBE Certification helps Canadian Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) get access to corporate and government supplier diversity leaders and buyers in organizations in Canada, the USA and beyond. Certified WBEs belong to a powerful business network and gain a market edge, allowing them to accelerate the growth of their firms.
AJA HORSLEY
There are many benefits to becoming a certified WBE, including access to corporate and government purchasing programs, opportunities to network and build partnerships with buyers and supplier diversity professionals; tools and resources to grow your business including training and education to help you leverage your certification and increase your business capacity and more.
Founder, DRIZZLE HONEY Inc., Alberta
WBE Canada: You founded “Drizzle” out of passion and concern for the environmental impact and sustainability of the beekeeping industry. What was the biggest challenge you faced going from your original concept in 2015 to today where Drizzle is sold across Canada and how did you overcome it?
If you would like to find out more about WBE Canada Certification and if this is the right move for you, visit our website for more information.
Aja: One of the biggest challenges we initially faced when launching was getting our product ready to adhere to regulations set out through the Canada Food Inspection Agency. Because Honey is a raw agriculture product there are multiple steps required to bring a food safe product to market that can be sold across provinces and countries. We had to work hard to find the right product inputs, facility, labels and packaging and be patient as many of these steps had to go through slow government approvals. WBE Canada: Getting your product to store shelves as well as capturing the lucrative on-line market can be a complicated and often tedious journey. What is your key advice to women entrepreneurs seeking success in both retail and on-line markets? WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 1 | March 2021
TIPS FOR SUPPLIER DIVERSITY PROGRAMS Launching a supplier diversity program or looking for ways to grow an existing program? These tips from some of our corporate member representatives will definitely help you in getting closer to your goal!
CAROL ATTAK Senior Manager, Global Supplier Diversity and Sustainability BMO If I had to use one word to describe a “tip” on how to have a successful supplier diversity program, it would be “accountability”. It is the job of the supplier diversity team to educate the business and craft messaging that will resonate with each internal stakeholder, but success comes when everyone is being measured on progress and working together to achieve established goals. This starts with strong executive sponsorship at the top. MAUDE PARISEAU Director, Procurement BDC Be inspired, not intimidated. Yes, some organizations have been part of the supplier diversity ecosystem for many years and have impressive records. However, remember that they have also started from zero, just like you and slowly built up their program. Meet with organizations that have various degrees of maturity in supplier diversity and learn from their own experience.
ADRINA WALKER PSD-Supplier Diversity Analyst | AAC-R&D Chair Toyota Here are my top 5 recommendations on launching a strategic and proactive supplier diversity program: 1. Establish a Business Case and Get Executive Support success starts from within 2. Identify Diverse Suppliers connect and collaborate with inclusive sourcing partners 3. Invest in your Supplier Diversity Program - support the program with people, resources and technology 4. Establish Goals & Best Practices - set KPIs and look to diversity-minded organizations for tried-andtrue guidelines for success 5. Monitor Performance continually evaluate progress to goals across multiple internal and external metrics KRISTIN MALEK Director, Business Diversity CDW We invest a lot of time building partnerships with our suppliers and in working side-by-side with them to serve our customers. It’s a team effort that starts with our CEO, Christine Leahy, and our executive team. From the top down, we’re all in and we’re all in together.
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ASHIFA JUMANI, BSC, SCMA Director, Procurement, Corporate & Customer Solutions TELUS One of the most important things that can contribute significantly to the growth of your supplier diversity program is communication. Keep communicating with internal stakeholders about your supplier diversity program, that is the only way to keep it growing.” REGINALD E. HUMPHREY Director of DEI Partnerships GM One of the key things to keep in mind while developing your supplier diversity program is measurement. Remember to conduct a monthly/bimonthly review cadence with key purchasing leaders using corporate common templates to cover a core set of KPI’s (Spend, Sourcing Opportunities, New Business Awards, RFQ activity, etc.) and also a quarterly review of Program results vs. supplier diversity best practices/peer benchmarking information. This will not only help in measuring the success of your program but also identify gaps for improvement and current status.
4 Steps To Developing a Supplier Diversity Program in Government Supply Chains By Mike Pacholok
Are you looking to introduce a supplier diversity program into your governmental supply chain but are not sure where to start? A supplier diversity program can have a positive impact on your government supply chain. Including small and medium, diverse owned businesses from within your local economy will help introduce new competition and innovation into your supply chain. Additionally, when a local diverse supplier wins contracts, the resulting growth often resounds within that diverse community with increased employment opportunities. Here are some tips that you can use to help you get started.
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First, consider your own data. Understanding how diverse your existing supply chain is, is an important step to help determine a baseline. Your supply chain may be more diverse than you think. You can connect with various supplier diversity certification organizations who can help you with an initial scan of your supply chain. Canadian certification organizations are: •
Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) - women-owned businesses
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Canadian Aboriginal and Minority Supplier Council (CAMSC) - businesses owned by Aboriginal and visible minorities
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Canadian Council of Aboriginal Businesses (CCAB) - Aboriginal businesses
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Canadian Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (CGLCC) - businesses owned by LGBTQ2+
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Inclusive Workplace & Supplier Council of Canada (IWSCC) -businesses owned by people with disabilities and veterans
have a supplier diversity program or identify as a prospective diverse supplier, who you can then introduce to the appropriate certification council. Once you have an understanding of your data, this will support the development of either soft or hard targets within your organization and understand your supplier footprint (ie: number of minority, Aboriginal, women, LGBTQ2+, veteran and disabled vendors).
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Second, it’s important to understand that one of the biggest challenges in government procurement is the requirement to abide by national and international trade agreements. That may prove daunting to a fledgling supplier diversity program. A good way to start is to focus on the procurement below the thresholds of these agreements, where you are able to do invitational procurement. This allows you to work with your organization and invite the appropriate diverse supplier to compete against other suppliers in your supply chain. Or you can decide to only invite diverse suppliers to that particular procurement. For diverse suppliers it gives them an opportunity to learn more about your procurement practices and an opportunity to work with your clients.
These organizations will be able to tell you which companies have become certified as a diversely owned business, meaning a business that is 51% or more owned, managed or controlled by the particular diversity group they represent.
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Third, find a senior leader champion in the organization to help drive the introduction of a supply chain diversity program into your organization. You are going to need
You can also survey your supply chain to identify which of your suppliers are certified diverse, 20
to deploy change management to ensure that your organization understands the value of a supplier diversity program, and having a senior leader championing the program will help.
Mike Pacholok is the Chief Procurement Officer for the City of Toronto with past experience as a municipal law solicitor with an emphasis on procurement law. Under his leadership the City of Toronto implemented Social Procurement policy. The City of Toronto is playing a leadership role for Canadian public institutions that are interested in channeling their procurement needs to help build more equitable communities, deploying a unique strategy that blends elements of the American and European approaches.
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Finally, consider joining any or all of the above noted supplier diversity certification organizations. These organizations provide outstanding support for growing a supplier diversity program and can introduce you to other corporations (both public and private) who are willing to share their ideas and experiences. Becoming involved with certification organizations can help you with direct access to diverse suppliers through data management portals and a variety of interactive events.
Mike is also a winner of WBE Canada’s 2020 Supplier Diversity Leader award and Chair of WBE Canada’s Public Service Development Committee which seeks to increase adoption of supplier diversity in public procurement.
With these tips you are well on your way to starting your program. It will take time but deliberate actions can help you along your journey. Once you have your program established, future opportunities will present themselves including creating a tier2 supplier diversity program, where your general contractors report on their use of diverse suppliers in their supply chain. For now, understand that you’re not alone, there are a lot of resources out there and many organizations are in this space and are willing to share so that we all can expand supplier diversity in Canada.
City of Toronto’s Social Procurement Program Supplier diversity is important to the City of Toronto. The Social Procurement Program aims to achieve inclusive economic growth by improving access to the City of Toronto’s supply chain for diverse suppliers. From 2017 to 2020, the City of Toronto awarded $6.2 million dollars in low value contracts to certified diverse suppliers as part of
IT IS TIME FOR CANADA TO START BUYING FROM CANADIAN WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES.
Become a WBE Canada Government Member WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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4 Steps To Developing a Supplier Diversity Program in Government Supply Chains cont’d the Social Procurement Program. A more inclusive approach to procurement represents a deliberate City of Toronto strategy to support broader City social, economic and workforce development goals, while minimizing, through a carefully crafted policy framework, risks to the City and to the integrity of the City of Toronto’s procurement processes. The Program creates a foundation to shift the City of Toronto’s procurement culture long-term, showing how all City divisions can make a positive impact on the City’s poverty-reduction goals, which is important to the City of Toronto. To learn more about City of Toronto’s Social Procurement Program please click here.
BECOME A WBE CANADA GOVERNMENT MEMBER As a certifying council for Canadian Women Business Enterprises (WBEs), WBE Canada is a strong advocate for including more women-owned businesses in supply chains across Canada and beyond. In addition to certification, we also help develop women-owned businesses and connect
Supplier diversity helps our Clients, colleagues and communities shine. Visit us at sunlife.com
them to opportunities within corporate and government supply chains. Our support for WBEs would not be possible without our work with our buyer community. WBE Canada provides its Members with access to verified WBE database (the largest database of certified businesses in Canada), training and consulting services, networking and matchmaker events and other customized services to support supplier diversity program development and improvement. In November 2020 WBE Canada introduced its Pilot Government Membership program with streamlined membership fees and enhanced support to encourage adoption of supplier diversity in public sector organizations. While adoption of supplier diversity was only at the City of Toronto, BDC and the Government of Canada before the pandemic, we are glad to see increased support for women-owned businesses as we welcomed EDC, City of Brampton, CBC, OPG and CMHC into our Member community. To learn more click here.
Who’s Who at WBE Canada MEET THE WBE CANADA TEAM
These are the faces behind the many programs, projects and initiatives that we have in place for our community.
SILVIA PENCAK President
MICHELLE BIANCHI VP, Operations & Finance
SHARON FERDINANDS Manager, Marketing & Communications
CATHERINE GROSZ Manager, Corporate Membership
JENNIFER POPOWYCZ Manager, Certification
PATRIZIA CAMPBELL Training Coordinator
JUDY CARSWELL Chief Editor
JONATHAN BRADLEY Marketing Admin
KIRA EVONIC Graphic Designer
WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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SUPPLIER DIVERSITY UPDATE: THE JOURNEY By Catherine Grosz
Supplier Diversity first crossed the 49th parallel into the Canadian market in 2004. At that time, corporations taking a hard look at the concept of evolving Diversity and Inclusion initiatives pretty much relegated Supplier Diversity programs to someone who worked the concept from the side of their desk. Best Practices shared amongst American corporations with Canadian affiliations was the extent of the tools and resources that those designated to flesh out a Supplier Diversity Program had in their arsenal. Leading the way were corporations, especially in the Automotive, Telecom and Financial sectors working together, outside their normal competitive models, to create ways of expanding the diversity of their supply chains as a means to ensure sustainability and economic growth in Canada through Supplier Diversity. Forward to 2009 and the birth of WBE Canada. Founded by corporations to provide certification services for their supplier diversity programs and specifically for Canadian womenowned enterprises, it quickly became apparent that not only did corporations (and later government organizations) need to better understand Supplier Diversity, but strategies to build
Supplier Diversity programs needed to be developed and implemented. In essence Supplier Diversity was a blank sheet of paper. The process not only involved councils such as WBE Canada and CAMSC undertaking to find vendors who fit the definition and criteria of a diverse supplier, but how to support Corporate Canada in their Supplier Diversity journey, including understanding what their supply chain needs were, building out policies and procedures across all departments, not just those directly involved in procurement, buy in by their C-Suite, cohesive outreach and buy in by their buyers. All of these conversations were paramount in developing a strategy for developing a best in class supplier diversity program. Fast forward to TODAY. In 17 short years, Supplier Diversity within Canadian corporations and government organizations has evolved remarkably. Today we have experts working together with representation on WBE Canada Committees and Board of Directors, sharing ideas and knowledge so WBE Canada can build the tools and resources to support the supplier diversity programs of North American Corporations and Canadian government organizations and create a need to incorporate best in class Supplier Diversity Programs. Supplier Diversity programs only work when those purchasing goods and services have a healthy, robust, innovative and knowledgeable source of suppliers to access which is why WBE Canada is focusing on the growth of its WBE database (over 25% YOY growth) and supplier development. WBE Canada is also involved with the Supplier Diversity Alliance Canada (SDAC), formed in 2016, to work with other Canadian certification councils including CAMSC, CGLCC, and IWSCC to ensure the collective work being done to grow supplier diversity in Canada has a far reaching economic impact on local and regional communities, national and global markets. 24
Success in how WBE Canada has evolved supplier diversity initiatives can be measured not only in the steady growth in membership and buy in from corporations and government organizations, but in member participation in programs such as WBE Canada’s Supplier Diversity Accelerator and Data Services - tools created to support our members to better understand their Canadian Supplier Diversity footprint, establish and continually uplevel their supplier diversity programs. Our members, no matter what stage their programs are at, can take advantage of training and support programs, vendor validation, and access to essential data, including Tier 1 and 2 spend analysis. The journey to expand supplier diversity awareness and secure corporate and government commitment to implement serious change in how supply chains diversify throughout, while slow to start, is gaining traction. It is programs such as these that will support the growth and sustainability of Supplier Diversity progress in Canada. WBE Canada’s commitment is to empower Canadian women-owned businesses to equal access to corporate and public procurement and equally to create strong supplier diversity programs within Canada’s corporate and government procurement to ensure sustainable economic growth. To further understand WBE Canada’s initiatives to grow and expand Supplier Diversity within Canada’s corporations and government organizations, contact WBE Canada at membership@wbecanada.ca
Catherine Grosz has been integral in helping shape the growth of Supplier Diversity in Canada since 2007 and is a champion amongst her corporate peers and the diverse supplier community. After a long career with BMO, supporting the growth of their Enterprise Supplier Diversity Program, Catherine joined WBE Canada as Manager, Corporate Membership in January 2021. In her role, Catherine supports corporate members in their Supplier Diversity journey, helping develop the tools and resources needed to ensure the growth and sustainability of their supply chains and ultimately a more vibrant Canadian economy.
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY ACCELERATOR Supplier Diversity in Canada is a fairly new initiative in Canada and as an organization supporting Canadian WBEs we are aware of the barriers and opportunities that exist for women-owned business in supply chains. The Supplier Diversity Accelerator Program was designed to assist our Member Corporations with training and consulting, diversity program development and ongoing growth in their endeavours to support Canadian WBE suppliers, equality in the marketplace and faster recovery of the Canadian economy. Want to learn more about this program and how it could help your organization? Contact WBE Canada at membership@wbecanada.ca
The Best-In-Class Supplier Diversity Technology. Take your Supplier Diversity Program to the Next Level!
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY DATA SERVICES
Start Your Journey Today! WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT WBE Canada has been working tirelessly over these past months to ensure that our certified WBE community and corporate and government members have the necessary support needed to advance supplier diversity in Canada. Here are just a few of the major updates you may have missed…
BUYING WITH PURPOSE: HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
WBE CANADA LAUNCHES TOOLS FOR GROWTH A resource library for Canadian women-owned businesses not yet ready for the certification. Our goal is to connect businesses to the resources designed to help them establish and scale up their businesses and uplevel to be ready for corporate and government supply chains. Certified WBEs have complimentary access to these resources, non-certified businesses will be able to access the program at cost. Learn more.
Supporting women-owned businesses can make more of an impact than you know. Today, women entrepreneurs are transforming economies, but they can only do it with your support. Here’s how you can support them.
WBE CANADA WELCOMES TWO NEW BOARD DIRECTORS
WBE CANADA LAUNCHES CANADIAN WOMEN BRAND LOGO TO SUPPORT CANADIAN WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
WBE Canada is pleased to announce that two new directors have joined our Board of Directors - Belinda Chopping from RBC and Janice Tee from Magna International. Read more.
WBE Canada recently launched – Canadian Women Brand – a logo that will play an important role in the recovery and growth of Canadian women entrepreneurs, a logo that identifies that a product or service is made (or offered) by a Canadian womenowned business. Read more.
BELINDA CHOPPING Senior Director Global Procurement Solutions & Services Royal Bank of Canada
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JANICE TEE Senior Manager, Global Human Resources and Talent Management Magna
WBE CANADA AND CLEAR CONCEPT INC. LAUNCH NEW REPORT: DRIVING INNOVATION WITHIN A DIVERSE SUPPLY CHAIN WBE Canada is excited to share a brand new report created in collaboration with Clear Concept Inc., one of our Certified WBE companies. ‘Driving Innovation Within a Diverse Supply Chain’ outlines the countless innovative examples of committed individuals across the WBE community and Corporate Member community who are making a profound impact in advancing women-owned enterprises through supplier diversity. Access the report here.
Transforming procurement and supply chain operations. TELUS is focused on strengthening our strategic relationships with suppliers while innovating to improve our product and service offerings to enhance the customer experience. We continue to launch programs to provide equal access to a supply base reflecting the diversity where we live, work and serve.
WBE CERTIFICATION – EXPECTATIONS VS. REALITY WBE (Women Business Enterprise) certification is an important key to helping women-owned businesses accelerate the growth of their companies, scale up and create a positive economic impact on the communities they are part of. However, it is important to know what it covers and what it doesn’t! Learn more.
For more information please visit telus.com/procurement or email us at supplierdiversity@telus.com
© 2019 TELUS. 19-0564
NEW CORPORATE MEMBERS WBE Canada’s Corporate and Government Membership keeps growing at a remarkable pace. We’re seeing a huge increase in the number of WBE Canada Corporate and Government Members – opening up more doors and countless opportunities to the WBE community. Since March 2021 we’ve welcomed: Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment (MLSE), ArcelorMittal Dofasco, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Ontario Power Generation (OPG), TPS Promotions and Incentives, and Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
WBE Canada Magazine | Issue 2 | June 2021
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IS YOUR SUPPLY CHAIN DIVERSE AND INCLUSIVE? Is Your Organization... READY
INTERESTED
EAGER
to include Canadian Women Business Enterprises in its supply chain?
in developing your own supplier diversity program in the upcoming 12 months?
to benefit from resources and support to streamline and shorten the implementation process?
Inclusion of women-owned businesses in your supply chain is a smart business choice!
Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) EARN LESS THAN HALF the revenue of comparable male-owned businesses. OPEN your procurement opportunities for Canadian WBEs and be part of the solution
BECOME A MEMBER
