Marti Powers, Head of Shell U.S. External Relations,
accepts on behalf of Shell from Pamela Prince Eason

With a supplier diversity practice dating from 1973, a founding member of Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance and Women’s Business Enterprise Council South, and as a 14-year Women’s Business Enterprise National Council Top Corporation for WBEs, Shell has a strong supplier diversity history. But more importantly, Shell recognizes that a changing world brings new business challenges, and what got you here won’t necessarily get you to the next level.

Over the last few years, the company has retooled its supplier diversity strategy with strong C-suite and senior executive leadership, doubling down on its investment in development and capacity-building for WBEs, while building up internal focus on strategic supply chain inclusion to connect WBE’s to real opportunities.

Shell has created innovative educational opportunities, such as training sessions prior to events hosted by WBENC and its regional partner organizations, coffee talks between WBE groups and Shell executives and the Find Your Fit campaign that offers information on the energy supply chain. All are focused on making WBEs better with Shell or better because of Shell.

Recognizing the long term need for more WBEs with a strong technical foundation to grow in the energy industry, Shell was the catalyst for the 2012 restart of the WBENC Student Entrepreneur Program with a focus on STEM students.