To elevate Supplier Diversity from an initiative to an enterprise-wide imperative, Genne McDowell, Global Director for Supplier Diversity and Social Responsibility at Dow, has spearheaded the translation of supplier diversity impact through innovative measures of economic development and community impact such as GDP, job creation, wages and benefits that are now publicly reported by Dow. She also led an enterprise-wide change management strategy that stood up business unit, function and regional Supplier Diversity Champions who partner with procurement in developing and realizing diverse business opportunities. She has grown Dow’s program to $335 million in certified diverse spend and small business spend where Dow businesses operate and expanded Dow’s Accelerator Development Program for diverse businesses to a global program for the first time in 2024. These efforts were key to successfully gaining the support of Dow’s Board Compensation and Leadership Development Committee to include spend with certified diverse businesses in the plan for the 2024 Performance Award bonus program for Dow people leaders.
Supporting diverse suppliers includes understanding their development needs and ensuring they have access to needed resources and visibility. To expand the impact of supplier diversity, Genne collaborates and partners across industries to advance supplier diversity globally and foster opportunities for underrepresented and underserved owned businesses. She is also chair of WeConnect International’s first-ever Chemical Industry Group.