Increasing Procurement Opportunities: Certification as a Way to Grow Your Business The Finance Cafe

In this episode Shannon will sit down with Stephanie Fontaine, the Regional Director for Canada and the US at WEConnect International, to discuss the importance of inclusive supply chains, connecting access to capital for women-owned businesses, barriers women-owned businesses face and how we can drive change to move the needle.

WEConnect International is a global organization whose mission is to help drive money into the hands of women business owners by enabling them to compete in the global marketplace. Stephanie provides leadership for the North American market and helps women-owned businesses leverage certification and corporate supply chains as tools for growth.

Following a decade in the corporate world, where she held operational, sales and procurement roles, Stephanie used her knowledge and expertise to assist some of North America’s largest corporations to fulfill their objective of a more diversified supply chain. Through building programs and facilitating connections between buyers and suppliers, Stephanie has championed supplier diversity and inclusion efforts and has been a driving force for increased awareness, collaboration and innovation in the space.

Stephanie is a well-known leader in the supplier diversity community, having worked closely with entrepreneurs, corporations, not for profit organizations and government to increase procurement opportunities and visibility for diverse suppliers.



Resources



Connect with WEConnect International

Twitter: @WEConnectCanad1 and @WEConnection

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WEConnection

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/weconnect-international



Connect with Stephanie

Twitter: @SKFontaine

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephaniefontaine



References

Member buyers of WEConnect International

Rise2theChallenge Member Commitments

Certification Application

Council on Scaling Women-Owned Businesses Report

Bias in Supply Chain Video

Success Stories



Sponsor

For more resources and information for women entrepreneurs be sure to connect to our incredible podcast sponsor the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub 



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