Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Latesha Isbell Howard. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Latesha, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think Corporate America gets wrong in your industry?

Economic equity is a concept that most of us struggle with, especially in Corporate America. We equate superficial supplier diversity goals with equity. The average corporation spends a token 10% of their total budget with diverse suppliers (minority-owned, women-owned, veteran-owned, and LGBTQ-owned). This statistic is even more dismal when you consider what percentage of these dollars are spent with black-owned businesses (according to McKinsey & Company, Fortune 500 companies spend about 2% annually on minority owned suppliers).

For a corporation to move the needle, it’s critical for its commitment to supplier diversity to be embedded in every area of the company culture. Everyone from the board of directors, senior leaders, and front-line managers need to be held accountable. Supplier diversity needs to be a part of the company strategy with specific goals and tracking. Another often overlooked area is the company’s policies and processes that are barriers to success for diverse small businesses (payment terms, insurance requirements, etc). Most corporations lack “intentionality” which is why their supplier diversity initiatives are missing the mark.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Minority women face a 90% wealth gap due to disparities in earnings, entrepreneurship, access to capital, and so many other areas. Having personally overcome poverty and lack of knowledge about entrepreneurship and financial literacy myself, I know their struggles intimately. This lit a fire in me to become an economic equity advocate. I am unapologetic about the need for social change, greater inclusion, and equity. My business development firm, Savvy Diva Enterprises, helps minority women to start and scale their business by providing advocacy, education, resources, and access to capital.

Imagine being a poor black girl growing up in an environment surrounded by poverty and violence… Now envision attending a scholarship banquet at one of the most elite private clubs in town, surrounded by wealthy black women in fur coats stepping out of $200,000 cars. That was the day that changed my view of the world. That moment gave me hope that my life could be different. That day lit a fire in me to learn how to create wealth, keep it, and pass it on to the next generation. I passionately share what I’ve learned (that they didn’t teach us in school) with my community. Helping minority women-owned businesses with their business development allows me walk in my purpose daily.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

I’m so glad that you asked this question, because I’ve just recently made 2 big pivots in my business.

So many clients that can’t afford my high-ticket 1-on-1 corporate and government contract consulting services have asked me to offer a more affordable group coaching program. Well, my 12-month Align. Accelerate. Ascend! mentorship program is now officially open for registration! I have literally packed everything but the kitchen sink in this program to help my clients to successfully position their business to secure corporate and government contracts, sponsorships, partnerships, and even business funding. It’s time to level the playing field and close the wealth gap.

The other huge pivot was the launch of Savvy Diva Enterprise’s corporate division, Evolution to Equity. We help corporations to intentionally deploy DE+I in corporate strategy and implement supplier diversity initiatives to provide a fair opportunity for underrepresented businesses, while improving their business performance as well.

We are now able to help small businesses to become qualified diverse suppliers for corporations and prepare these corporations to partner with small diverse businesses.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I didn’t realize until just recently that my corporate career and eight years of entrepreneurship experience complement each other so well. As a mid-level manager within a Fortune 500 company, I have the privilege of awarding $60-65 million in contracts annually. This combination offers a unique perspective on both sides of the contracting process. Having an insider perspective as a corporate buyer provides the expertise to help other small diverse businesses to effectively compete for corporate contracts and exceed the company’s expectations when they win them. I know what they are looking for in suppliers. I can help my clients to navigate this complex landscape with competence and confidence.

The other thing that has helped to build my reputation is authenticity. I genuinely want my clients to win! They are savvy enough to know when someone doesn’t have their best interest at heart. The outcome is that 90% of my clients are referrals, which affirms that I’m not only achieving results but have also earned the trust of my clients.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesavvydiva.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_savvy_diva/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SavvyDivaEnterprises
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latesha-isbell-howard-economic-equity-advocate/
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheSavvyDiva
• Other: https://bit.ly/savvydivamentor

Image Credits
PLIA/Marcus January