Dell Selected to Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises for 2008

Dell has been selected by the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as one of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises (WBEs) for 2008.

The annual listing of America's Top Corporations for Women's Business Enterprises is the only award honoring corporations for world-class programs that break down barriers that impede WBEs from gaining fair access to procurement opportunities.

In Fiscal Year 2008, Dell’s spending with women, small and minority-owned suppliers reached over $2.4 billion — a significant increase over the past five years.

Quote:

"We are proud to be selected for this award and recognized for our supplier diversity programs and results. As our customers and workforce become more diverse, it makes smart business sense to grow our relationship with diverse supply chain partners. We have seen that diverse suppliers bring amazing assets and innovative ideas to our corporation." -- Jens Gruenkemeier, Director General Procurement & Global Supplier Diversity.

Background:

• Dell’s procurement spend with women-, small- and minority-owned suppliers gave the organization a seat at the prestigious Billion Dollar Roundtable – and Dell far exceeded the $1 billion threshold for entry.
• Diverse supplier development is an important focus for Dell and it is supported by strong programs such as the Executive Mentor Program. Under this program CEOs of women suppliers are mentored by Dell executives in order to expand their capabilities and partnerships with Dell and other companies.
• This is Dell's first year on the WBENC list, which has 19 organizations on it for 2008.
• WBENC is the leading advocate for, and authority on, Women's Business Enterprises as suppliers and vendors to the nation's corporation. It is also the nation's leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women.