After assuming the position of Supplier Diversity Manager at American Family Insurance in 2020, Anisha Jackson launched the Supplier Diversity Program. Within a year, the program received numerous accolades from various groups, including Top Corporation of the Year from the North Central Minority Supplier Development Council. Anisha achieved rapid success by focusing on more than reaching spending goals. She truly “leans in”, by taking the time to understand the challenges and systemic barriers faced by diverse suppliers and empowering them with tangible opportunities for growth. Anisha’s philosophy is that when corporations and other organizations provide equitable opportunities for growth to diverse suppliers, the whole ecosystem grows–validating the importance and impact of a supplier diversity program.
The need to address persistent racial inequities in society inspires Anisha’s efforts. She is working to address and correct the systemic gaps at the ethnicity level, to assist diverse businesses and development growth. Anisha credits strong support from the company’s CFO and executive leadership team for her ability to make significant progress in implementing supplier diversity alongside the DE&I strategy.