MBN USA

October 04, 2021

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Suarez-Rodriguez's vital ‘5 Ps’ for MBEs

Raul Suarez-Rodriguez is director, global economic inclusion and supplier diversity at Merck & Co. Inc. He is responsible for driving diverse supplier inclusion, innovation and economic growth.

Before Merck, he was supplier diversity manager for CVS Health Corp., where he led its Health Supplier Diversity Program to best-in-class by being inducted into Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc. BDR celebrates companies that spend at least $1 billion annually with diverse companies. He has also been the recipient of several top awards, including National Minority Supplier Development Council Inc.’s Corporation of the Year Class II in 2020, DiversityInc. Top Companies (No. 10) for Supplier Diversity and America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises.

Suarez-Rodriguez is recognized for his creative and innovative thinking and transformation efforts in supplier diversity. Most recently, he was recognized as the Supplier Diversity Advocate of the Year by Disability: IN for his work around disability-owned business enterprises. He also serves as Disability: IN Procurement Council co-chair. Also, the Greater New England Minority Supplier Development Council recognized him as a Shining Star. He co-led the Retail Industry Group, driving change and strategy, while advocating for diverse businesses to become strategic partners in the global economy for major retail companies.

Q: Can you tell us a little about your background?

A: I was born and raised in Cuba and immigrated to the United States at the age of 19. I had no idea that the challenges I faced — including the language barrier — would eventually become assets. I started in the restaurant business but knew that I needed a professional transition.

I currently serve as director, global economic inclusion and supplier diversity at Merck, which I joined in 2018. In this role, I’m responsible for driving diverse supplier inclusion, innovation and economic growth through the lens of the company mission by partnering with internal business leaders and external advocacy groups to grow mutual value and create a lasting impact on the business and communities where we live and work.

Q: What attracted you to the supplier diversity arena?

A: Being an immigrant and having faced the challenges of coming from another country, it helps me relate to the diverse supplier business community because I know what they go through. My work in supplier diversity, therefore, is personal and meaningful; diverse business owners that I work with on a day-to-day basis transcend the job. To me, they are familia.

Q: What are you most proud of about Merck’s supplier diversity program?

A: There are many aspects of my company’s supplier diversity program that make me really proud. One is the top-level commitment from our senior executives. Supplier diversity is a key business imperative that we have been practicing for more than 35 years, and it is a global inclusive approach to economic inclusion and supplier diversity.

Second is the economic impact we are driving through our program. In 2020, our expenditures in the U.S. with diverse suppliers exceeded $2 billion, representing more than $4.5 billion in economic impact and sustaining/creating more than 30,000 jobs.

Third is our innovative approach to diverse supplier development. This year, we launched our very first Advanced Leadership Program for Diverse Suppliers in collaboration with Drexel University and Diversity Alliance for Science. For more information, visit lebow.drexel.edu/companies-recruiters/corporate-and-executive-education/programs-individuals/merck-drexel-advanced-leadership-program.

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

A: Understanding our “Five Ps” is vital:

• PEOPLE: Know the players.

• PROCUREMENT: Know the process.

• PIPELINE: Know the research.

• PRODUCT: Know the initiatives.

• PROFIT: Know the business.

Q: What’s your vision for the future of minority business development and supply-chain diversity?

A: The vision for the future of minority business development is strong and should be focused on revamping Tier II efforts. Therefore, inclusion and utilization of diverse suppliers in Class I and II is possible, giving them an opportunity to develop and learn about the corporation.

In addition, opportunities to create a business incubator is an excellent means for minorities to network and develop the business, as well as divesting a corporate division or business to a minority supplier while the corporation assists in managing the business for a short period of time before transferring ownership to the minority business owner.  

To learn more about merck, visit merck.com.