MBN USA

September 27, 2021

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SDIs delivers outsourcing solutions for Fortune 500s

SDI International Corp. is one of the largest diverse and woman-owned procurement outsourcing program providers to primarily Fortune 500 companies worldwide. The company specializes in managing and optimizing nonstrategic spend.

At the helm of the 29-year-old global company is Carmen Castillo, president and CEO.

The company’s source-to-pay, procure-to-pay and source-to-contract delivery models are designed to support SDI’s customers’ needs. These delivery models are embedded in the company’s automated managed services platform that supports labor, services and goods spend on an enterprise level.

“We saw a lot of efficiencies when we developed a software for this purpose, and our business has quadrupled,” Castillo said. “Now, we manage about $3.6 billion annually for our clients.”

Although SDI began as a staffing agency, Castillo quickly saw the increasing move from paper to computers. She took the leap and began moving SDI into more global markets.

“We already had offices in Canada and a small presence in Europe. As the company began to grow, there were global companies with suppliers worldwide, and they were very impressed a Latina-owned woman’s business was able to really service them and their businesses in many countries,” she said.

SDI manages global agreements with companies like IBM, Lenovo and Schneider Electric. SDI has multiple locations across the U.S. and Canada, and global Centers of Excellence in several European countries, India, China, Japan, Central and South America and South Africa.

“Latinas work very hard. When you are an immigrant, it puts you in a different category. You have to work harder and think bigger. When I had the vision of going global and realizing that technology was here to stay — and that it would change lives — I realized we needed to adapt very, very rapidly,” Castillo said.

“The most important thing for me is that I hire the smartest people,” she added. “One thing I always ask when I interview at the executive level is to show me they are smarter than me. If you’re not smarter than me, I don’t need you at that level. I realize my capabilities and limitations, and so I have to hire smart.”

Castillo is also a staunch proponent of paying it forward and corporate social responsibility. She takes on groups of mentees each year to share her insights and experience, focusing on hiring, retention, business development and international expansion.

She is the immediate past chair of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and is currently vice chair of the International Women’s Entrepreneurial Challenge Foundation, which offers networking and cross-collaboration opportunities for leading women business owners, as well as education and guidance to help them expand their markets across borders.

Castillo is also involved in community affairs, corporate social responsibility and business development organizations that further the entrepreneurial efforts of minorities and women worldwide.

She has accumulated several industry awards and honors throughout the years, most recently being named a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Castillo is also a member of Concordia Leadership Council, a global organization and roster of former heads of state, leaders in industry and policy experts who offer strategic guidance to expand their communities through experience and programs.

To learn more about SDI, visit sdintl.com.