Michelle Sourie Robinson
President
Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council

Michelle Sourie Robinson is the President & CEO of the Michigan Minority Supplier Development Council (MMSDC), a non-profit organization dedicated to creating and developing successful business relationships between minority business enterprises (MBE) and multinational corporations. Founded in 1977, MMSDC certifies minority businesses, assists in their development, and connects them to the organization’s network of corporate members who are eager to do business with them. Annually, the MMSDC helps facilitate $36 billion in spend between corporations and certified minority owned businesses.

During her five-year tenure Michelle has crafted an organizational strategic plan, developed new processes and systems, infused professional talent and raised more than $1.7M in funding from new sources to drive cutting edge programs, ranging from workforce development to one-on-one MBE professional consultations. In addition, she has spearheaded the creation of a partnership with leading Silicon Valley incubator, Plug and Play to build a global mobility incubator in Michigan that brings together multiple Fortune 1000 with qualified global set-ups.

Prior to joining the MMSDC, Michelle was the Founder of Give & Receive, an innovative non-profit organization that acts as a matchmaker, connecting individuals and businesses to various charities. The impact was far-reaching; in fact, one non-profit Give & Receive helped to launch has now taught more than 600 African girls a research-based leadership curriculum via a multi-year academy. Based on her own family’s experience, Michelle has also founded Anoxic Brain Injury Advocates (anoxicbrain.com) to provide resources and advocacy for patients and their families as she educates Congress, as well as medical and insurance providers.

In her corporate career, Michelle served as Director, Supplier Diversity at The Home Depot where during her thirteen-year tenure she led several areas of the organization through successful growth and change processes. Michelle entered Home Depot as a Buyer, eventually being promoted to a position with direct responsibility for over $1 billion dollars in annual sales. She was then asked to lead the company’s Learning department and spearheaded the restructure and repositioning of Training & Development for the organizations’ 315,000 employee population.

After successfully establishing a new Learning department, Michelle moved on to create the company’s first supplier diversity department and supporting strategy, gaining notable industry recognition within the first year and continuing the momentum throughout her tenure. Under Michelle’s leadership, The Home Depot was the recipient of numerous accolades and Michelle herself was selected as Advocate of the Year for the Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council in 2007, 2008, and 2011 – a first as no one had ever won the award three times.

Michelle’s accolades include the coveted Trumpet Awards High Tea and High Heels Distinguished Woman Honoree, Crain’s Business Most Influential Women, Texas Women’s Business Alliance Soaring Heights Advocate Award, Real Times Media 2018 Woman of Excellence Inductee, National Association of Minority Contractors Advocate Award, Atlanta Tribune: The Magazine Super Woman of the Year, 2018 National Minority Supplier Development Council’s Vanguard Award and the National WBE Hall of Fame.

A proud Oklahoma native, she earned her B.S. in Organizational Administration from Oklahoma State University and holds a J.D. from the University of Kansas. Michelle has served on several boards, including but not limited to National Minority Supplier Development Council Executive Committee in her role as Chair of all Regional Presidents, as well as Women’s Business Enterprise National Council for which she was Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee, National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, and Diversity Information Resources as Vice-Chair. She is active within her church and community where she chairs the strategic planning committee for her church, serves on the Howard University School of Communications Board of Visitors, Southern University MBA Advisory Board, and is an active member of Leadership Atlanta.