WHY DE & I INITIATIVES IN SUPPLY CHAIN MATTER

AS LAWSUITS IN THE US SEE DIVERSITY & INCLUSION PROGRAMMES UNDER ATTACK , WE HEAR THIS MONTH WHY DE & I IS SO IMPORTANT TO SUPPLY CHAINS Diversity , equity and inclusion ( DE & I ) initiatives are intended to promote supply chains that are representative of the societies they serve . But now , it seems , this drive to redress societal imbalances in supply chain might be facing a problem . In the US , multiple lawsuits have been filed against companies whose DE & I policy sees them hiring minorityrun businesses as supply chain vendors . Such minorities include women , those with disabilities , ethnic minorities and military veterans . Companies including Comcast and Starbucks are among a dozen organisations facing lawsuits relating to vendorrecruitment programmes . But those who understand the importance of diversity will not be swayed by such adverse opinions or legal pressure . In this issue , we hear from Javette Hines – Head of Supply Chain Development , Inclusion & Sustainability at Citi – on what a sustainable supplier DE & I programme looks like , and why it matters . “ Supplier diversity is a strategic business imperative ,” says Hines . “ It ’ s akin to our employee and customer bases . When we have diversity in those areas we ’ re assured not only economic growth but also the opportunity for continued advancement , innovation and creativity .” Quite .

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Supply Chain Digital Magazine February 2024 | Page 7

“ Supplier diversity is a strategic business imperative ”

WHY DE & I INITIATIVES IN SUPPLY CHAIN MATTER