MBN USA

October 28, 2021

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

UnFollow View Profile Send Message Copy Link

Stellantis — formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles — is a 2001 BDR charter member

“Our company has learned a lot from our fellow BDR members across industries and has taken some of the best practices and implemented them in our program. This continued learning and partnership with our BDR peers is priceless in developing a world-class supplier diversity program.” — Bashar Cholagh, head, supplier diversity and purchasing communications

Q: When did your company begin its supplier diversity program?

A: 1983.

Q: Can you tell us a bit about your supplier diversity program history?

A: 2021 marks 38 years for Stellantis’ strong commitment to the intentional inclusion of minority-, women-, veteran-, disadvantaged- and disability-certified owned businesses — along with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender- or LGBT-certified owned businesses — in sourcing opportunities.

Since 1983, Stellantis N.A. — formerly Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, or FCA — has purchased nearly $90 billion in products and services from these diverse businesses. We firmly believe diverse suppliers are a great source for innovation and cultural input into the design and manufacturing of our products, which allows us to better address customer needs and stay ahead of the competition.

We are very proud of the strong foundation our supplier diversity program is built on and look forward to reaching new heights in our efforts to provide development and sourcing opportunities to diverse suppliers.

Q: Why did your company decide to become a BDR member?

A: Stellantis was [one of] the inaugural corporations to BDR back in 2001.We strive to be a leader in the supplier diversity

space and help to grow the knowledge, focus and commitment of other corporations. We use BDR to support its members and share best practices, so that we all can work together to develop innovative programming to drive more equity for all.

Q: Besides having a $1 billion annual spend with diverse suppliers, what does it take to be a BDR company?

A: Relentless commitment and focus to support the growth of diverse small businesses. This is only possible when the leadership of your corporation is also aligned with this goal. Once you have executive buy-in, you need the partnership of your purchasing directors to support the mission and goals. Once you have this alignment, the rest is diverse, small-business development, mentorship and advocacy to form a robust pipeline for your supply chain. Finally, the last ingredient is accountability by setting goals and measuring performance for your internal leadership team and your Tier I suppliers.

Q: How has your company benefited from BDR membership?

A: Our company has learned a lot from our fellow BDR members across industries and has taken some of the best practices and implemented them in our program. This continued learning and partnership with our BDR peers is priceless in developing a world-class supplier diversity program.

Q: What are some best practices or lessons learned you can share with companies striving to reach the $1 billion diverse spend mark?

A: Establish a Tier I supplier accountability program by giving your Tier I suppliers a spend percent target to achieve among diverse Tier II suppliers. You should always ensure that the dollars you are spending with your Tier I [suppliers] are being shared with diverse Tier II small businesses to drive more equity.

Q: What advice do you have for MBEs interested in doing business with your company?

A: First things first — register your company on our portal at supplierdiversitystellantis.com.

Then, be prepared when we reach out to you for an informational meeting. You should have a robust, clear and concise capabilities presentation. It should include the core competencies of your business as well as your revenue size, facility locations and summary of customers and projects you have completed.

Always remain patient and keep good relations with all the representatives you meet. The opportunities may not happen immediately so remain “patiently persistent and prepared.”

To learn more about Stellantis’ supplier diversity program, visit supplierdiversitystellantis.com.