In conversations with our corporate members, MBEs, and our partners, I’ve been asked the same questions that cut deep:
- “Has supplier diversity hit a plateau?”
- “What’s the next evolution?”
- “What should we call this work now, when the words supplier diversity feels politicized?”
These are fair questions—especially when some corporate members recently introduced various terms to replace supplier diversity with “small business engagement,” “sustainable sourcing,” or “responsible procurement.” Others shy away from any label that might provoke cultural or political debate.
Over five decades ago, NMSDC’s founders did more than champion supplier diversity—they institutionalized it. They gave it structure, standards, credibility—and helped thousands of companies build it into their business DNA. Today, as the landscape shifts, our stakeholders are once again looking to us—not just to protect the mission, but to modernize the supplier diversity. A new brand. A new meaning. A renewed purpose.
Last week, while attending the WBENC conference to support our peer organization and connect with our shared corporate partners and M/WBEs, I had a moment of clarity.
WE Connect International held a gathering at the WBENC conference, where they discussed Impact Sourcing, and the term resonated deeply. It truly captured the essence of what we’ve been doing all along.
Impact sourcing isn’t charity—it’s smart, strategic business that transforms supply chains from transactional to transformational by channeling spend into businesses rooted in community—driving innovation, resilience, and best value for corporations while creating broader economic impact.
It ensures corporate spend uplifts underutilized communities and fuels job creation where it’s needed most—while also strengthening supply chain resilience and unlocking new growth opportunities for corporations by investing in emerging markets. It transforms procurement into a driver of economic inclusion, market expansion, and long-term competitiveness.
At NMSDC, our economic impact data confirms this: in 2024, Our certified MBEs drove nearly $600 billion in annual output and supported 2.2 million jobs. That’s not theory. That’s impact.
So perhaps Impact Sourcing is the evolution. A phrase that centers on the outcome, not the debate. A brand that reframes the work, keeps the mission intact, and opens new doors for business leaders who believe in supplier diversity but are seeking language that resonates across their organizations.
I floated this idea to a few partners and corporate leaders at the WBENC conference, and the response was immediate and affirming. I am sharing their thoughts in this month’s video.
I think Impact Sourcing may be the next evolution—not to erase supplier diversity, but to reframe it in language that opens doors, not shuts them. Impact sourcing is more than tracking spending; it’s about measuring true economic value—job creation, community revitalization, and opportunity generation in places we often overlook, yet where their future customers and markets are growing. It’s a shift from transactional metrics to transformational outcomes—a win-win for business and society.
And as we look to the future, I want to pause and honor two leaders who helped build the path we walk today:
David Feldman of Chevron, who recently retired after 43 years of steadfast leadership, stood firm in his belief in equity and opportunity—through every challenge and every change.
And Malik Murray of Ariel Investments, who left us far too soon. A quiet force of purpose and integrity, Malik believed in impact over legacy—and his example continues to open doors and guide us forward.
Let me leave you with this:
Ask your teams, your leaders, your suppliers, your boards—
Who are we empowering with our spending?
Who are we still leaving behind?
Let’s make our supply chains a force for innovation, impact, and growth—for everyone.
Onward,
Ying McGuire
CEO and President
NMSDC
