The Billion Dollar Roundtable was created in 2001 to recognize and celebrate corporations that achieved spending of at least $1 billion with diverse-owned suppliers. The BDR promotes and shares best practices in supply chain diversity excellence through various means such as the production of policy papers, webinars and summits. In discussions, the members review common issues, opportunities and strategies. BDR encourages corporate entities to continue growing their supplier diversity programs by increasing commitment and spending levels each year. The BDR inducts new members annually.
June 30, 2023
BILLION DOLLAR ROUNDTABLE TO CONTINUE TO ADVANCE PRINCIPLES OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY DESPITE CONTENTIOUS SUPREME COURT DECISION ON AFFIRMATIVE ACTION
The Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc. (BDR) during its more than 20-year history has been focused on embracing and empowering diverse business enterprises through corporate supply chain engagement. The BDR does this by sharing best practices through membership of major U.S. corporations from wide-ranging industries and providing thought leadership in supplier diversity to address economic disparities.
The Supreme Court’s decision to eviscerate long-held principles of affirmative action in higher education admissions is already resonating adversely throughout society. While supplier diversity is a voluntary corporate imperative that has enjoyed remarkable success and enthusiastic participation for more than a half century, the Supreme Court’s ruling on affirmative action undoubtedly will have sweeping implications for other categories of business and for marginalized groups.
As a collective organization of major corporations, the BDR is as determined as ever to advance its important work to support diverse businesses and embrace the notion of fairness and equity in American society. The BDR will continue to work ardently with like-minded advocacy organizations to ensure supplier diversity and business inclusion remain at the forefront of our efforts.
Shelley Stewart Jr.
Chairman
Sharon H. Patterson
President, CEO and Co-Founder
On behalf of the Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc.
ABOUT THE BILLION DOLLAR ROUNDTABLE
The Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc., created in 2001, is a non-profit organization that presently comprises 35 Fortune-level corporations that each voluntarily spend $1 billion or more annually on a Tier 1 basis with diverse suppliers as a condition of membership. The BDR recognizes and celebrates corporations that achieve this status and promotes and shares best practices in supply-chain diversity excellence. BDR member companies address current issues and devise strategies related to supplier diversity to advance supply- chain opportunities for both corporations and diverse suppliers through positive economic impact. The BDR is publisher of the title “Supplier Diversity Best Practices: Building Excellence to Improve the Supply Chain Matrix.” Learn more about the important work of the BDR. Go to https://billiondollarroundtable.org/.
