On his third attempt to conquer Everest, George Mallory was asked why he was climbing the 29,008-foot peak. His response was, "because it is there."
What does a 1924 quote about climbing Mount Everest have to do with your supplier diversity initiative? It is a fair question.
To start, supplier diversity is not a new challenge. While the origin of today’s diversity efforts began with the civil rights movement in the 1950s, it was not until the race riots in Detroit in 1968 that General Motors launched what many consider to be the first supplier diversity program. Soon after GM, other auto industry giants and companies from different sectors, such as IBM, followed suit by introducing their diversity programs.
The second point, which is the focus of this post, is why, since its inception, supplier diversity success has evolved at what some consider to be a glacial pace and what you can do about it.
At the Foot Of The Mountain
“I'm an ordinary guy who has been fortunate enough to have some very extraordinary experiences, both personally and professionally. In my most recent book, I share my journey to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and the struggles to reach the highest point on the African continent. Along the way, I learned a great deal about myself, my team, and what it takes to overcome big challenges. You can join me on my Kilimanjaro adventure in the pages of Kissing Kilimanjaro: Leaving it All on Top of Africa.” - Daniel Dorr
Have you ever stood at the foot of a mountain? For me, that question is more literal than figurative, but you can envision what I mean.
Taking Your Supplier Diversity Initiative Beyond The “Because It’s There” Stage
On his third attempt to conquer Everest, George Mallory was asked why he was climbing the 29,008-foot peak. His response was, "because it is there."
What does a 1924 quote about climbing Mount Everest have to do with your supplier diversity initiative? It is a fair question.
To start, supplier diversity is not a new challenge. While the origin of today’s diversity efforts began with the civil rights movement in the 1950s, it was not until the race riots in Detroit in 1968 that General Motors launched what many consider to be the first supplier diversity program. Soon after GM, other auto industry giants and companies from different sectors, such as IBM, followed suit by introducing their diversity programs.
The second point, which is the focus of this post, is why, since its inception, supplier diversity success has evolved at what some consider to be a glacial pace and what you can do about it.
At the Foot Of The Mountain
“I'm an ordinary guy who has been fortunate enough to have some very extraordinary experiences, both personally and professionally. In my most recent book, I share my journey to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro and the struggles to reach the highest point on the African continent. Along the way, I learned a great deal about myself, my team, and what it takes to overcome big challenges. You can join me on my Kilimanjaro adventure in the pages of Kissing Kilimanjaro: Leaving it All on Top of Africa.” - Daniel Dorr
Have you ever stood at the foot of a mountain? For me, that question is more literal than figurative, but you can envision what I mean.