Closing Wealth Gaps: Supplier Diversity & MWBE Success

Supplier diversity isn't charity—it's the fastest path to closing the racial wealth gap. Two leaders running billion-dollar procurement programs reveal exactly how it works.

Dr. Darcel Webb (Director of Supplier Diversity/HUB Program at UT Southwestern & ACCA President) and Indria Hollingsworth-Thomas (South-Central Regional Senior DEI Manager at JE Dunn Construction) don't just talk about equity—they control the corporate access that makes or breaks minority- and women-owned businesses (MWBEs). In this conversation, they break down how strategic procurement transforms equity goals into contracts, revenue, and generational wealth.

From HBCU foundations to billion-dollar construction projects, these leaders share the insider strategies that help MWBEs compete, win contracts, and scale. Whether you're a business owner trying to break into corporate supply chains, a supplier diversity professional building programs, or a DEI leader proving ROI, this episode delivers actionable intelligence on turning policy into economic power.

What You'll Discover:

- How supplier diversity programs directly close the racial wealth gap through economic empowerment

- The insider strategies MWBEs need to compete for and win corporate contracts

- What procurement officers actually look for when evaluating minority-owned suppliers

- How to build supplier diversity programs that deliver measurable equity results

- The role of HBCU networks and intentional partnerships in creating business access

- Real examples from UT Southwestern and JE Dunn Construction procurement

Key Moments:

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XX:XX – The Direct Link: Supplier Diversity to Wealth Gap Closure

XX:XX – What MWBEs Need to Know About Corporate Procurement

XX:XX – Building Supplier Diversity Programs That Deliver Results

XX:XX – How HBCU Roots Inform Economic Equity Leadership

XX:XX – UT Southwestern & JE Dunn: Real Procurement Impact Stories

XX:XX – Strategic Partnerships That Create Tangible Business Opportunities

XX:XX – What "Making Black History Today" Means to You

This is Making Black History Today—conversations with leaders turning equity commitments into economic transformation.

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