2024 WBE Hall of Fame Awards Program Presenters from left: Tom Trotter, Billy Bryant Schultz and Terri Quinton.
Accepting for Toyota, Jason Lynch, General Manager – Operations and Strategic Sourcing
Toyota’s Supplier Diversity Program, launched in 1989, is integral to the company’s core values and business strategy. The program fosters economic sustainability for diverse entrepreneurs, drives competitive advantages, and contributes to delivering exceptional mobility experiences for customers through innovation. Toyota’s CEO, Tetsuo “Ted” Ogawa, emphasizes that diversity and inclusion are essential for the company’s success, aligning with their commitment to respect for people. Toyota ensures its supply chain reflects the diversity of its employees, suppliers, and the communities it serves.
The company actively develops and educates diverse businesses through initiatives such as the Toyota Mentorship Program, which has supported 37 women business enterprises since 2015. Toyota also organizes an annual “Opportunity Exchange,” where suppliers connect with diverse businesses to meet Tier II spending targets. In 2023, Toyota spent $4.4 billion with over 245 diverse suppliers at the Tier I level, further working with Tier I suppliers to support and hold them accountable for engaging Tier II diverse suppliers.
WBE HALL OF FAME HONOREE
