Session Proposal Categories

• Closing the Access Gap – From global markets to public policy and capital to contracts, MBEs are facing access barriers that must be solved to close the equity gap. At the same time, corporations need access to MBEs in emerging industries, those that can scale for contract success to fulfill a number of equity and spending pledges. Your proposal should identify barriers to and solutions for closing the access gap. 

• Closing the Knowledge/Skills Gap – MBEs must be ready to capitalize on emerging markets and the green economy while also passing the torch to the next generation. They need the knowledge and skills to build relationships, fill their sales funnel, and win contracts. At the same time, corporations need to further their DEI and ESG initiatives, move beyond supplier diversity to business diversity, and train the next generation of procurement professionals. Your proposal should provide practical advice and training for closing the knowledge/skills gap.

• Closing the Relationship Gap – From mergers and acquisitions to joint ventures and strategic alliances to MBE-to-MBE contracting building strategic relationships is the key to an MBE's success. At the same time, it is vital for corporations to follow through with their commitments to MBEs, work with them and other partners as industries shift, and build long-lasting relationships with NGOs and others to further DEI and ESG initiatives. Your proposal should focus on closing relationship gaps within the NMSDC community.

• Closing Other Gaps – If you have an interactive and informative proposal that doesn't fit into one of the categories above, we still want to hear from you! Your proposal should identify the gap and potential or tested solutions for closing it.