As procurement works to have more spend under management, convincing business units to give up control is one of today’s biggest headaches, especially in non-mandated environments. So, how can you sell procurement and create a campaign to build credibility and showcase the value you can add to their unit? Where do you begin to build and foster relationships with internal stakeholders? What types of collaborative efforts can you implement to work with them instead of against them? What are the best approaches to take against reluctant stakeholders? How do you reinforce the importance of “playing your position”?

Over the past few years, discussions surrounding supplier diversity have become quieter. Is it because supplier diversity mandates no longer exist? That companies have all achieved excellence in supplier diversity? Has supplier consolidation impacted supplier diversity? This panel will discuss how to maintain a strong supplier diversity program, best practices for sourcing diverse suppliers in 2015, and how to evolve your supplier diversity initiatives.