Radical Collaboration at the EMSDC ROAR Conference
After an amazing April ROAR in Pittsburgh, The EMSDC’s “Return On All Relationships” Conference returned to Philadelphia on October 3rd, 2024. Hosted and presented by Independence Blue Cross, and built around the theme of Radical Collaboration, this hot ticket event not only provided an opportunity for networking between certified MBEs, Corporate Members, and Resource Partners but also offered a valuable assortment of workshops and esteemed speakers committed to supplier diversity. Here is a sample of just a few, in case you missed it, and a recap of important information for those who were there!
The Power of the Affiliates
Did you know our MBEs may reach out to the Presidents of other regional councils to do business outside of Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware? Talk about Radical Collaboration! This breakfast keynote discussed unlocking the full potential of your affiliations as a certified MBE by harnessing the entire NMSDC network to forge new paths for growth and opportunity. The Power of the Affiliates was packed with advice from the leaders of affiliate councils that extend beyond our region, including Terrence Clark (NYNYMSDC), Peter Hurst (GNEMSDC), Sharon Pinder (CRMSDC), and our very own President and CEO, Brian K. Oglesby. These and other councils share a common goal and collaborate on a monthly basis, leveraging ideas on how to close the wealth gap, promote MBE-to-MBE connections, and influence congressional leaders to make a difference.
Unlocking Growth with Capabilities Statements
This informative workshop was led by Chuck Stefanosky, Supplier Diversity Director at Independence Blue Cross, and Gene Waddy, CEO of Alpha Business Solutions. Focused on the power of a strategic capability statement, each speaker offered critical advice for MBEs. Stefanosky strongly recommended limiting it to one page, stating that, if your capability statement is too long, no one will read it. Keep it crisp and concise, including the name of your company, what you do, your vision, the solutions you provide, and clear contact information. According to Waddy, the most valuable commodity an MBE has is time, so use it effectively. Noting that capabilities statements live on whether or not you are in the room, he recommends crafting a doc that is easily digestible and readable. In other words, use decent-sized fonts and don’t overcrowd the page.
Humanity Centered Design + AI
In this breakout workshop, Adam Paulisick, “serial entrepreneur,” Adjunct Professor of Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University, and Founder and CEO of maad labs, discussed the endless possibilities of using Artificial Intelligence to develop new products, enhance existing services, and revolutionize the way small businesses operate in today’s dynamic market. According to Paulisick, AI is not going to take your job but someone using AI will. Timely topics included Chat GPT, how to effectively phrase prompts to achieve relevance and the right tone, setting context, how AI affects digital advertising, why adversarial info is more powerful than positive info, defining stakeholders, creating storyboards, and practical strategies for integrating AI into the creation of customer-focused solutions.
Don’t miss out on EMSDC events, and opportunities for growth and engagement! Stay connected with us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and Threads, and donate to The Eastern Minority Supplier Development Council to help us in our mission.
The mission of the EMSDC is to stimulate and support economic development with minority-owned businesses throughout Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware, in an effort to initiate growth and opportunity through Supplier Diversity channels. As an affiliate of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC), we certify and connect MBEs with member corporations that are committed to supplier development and want to purchase their products, services, and solutions.