Embracing technology to gain visibility and drive accountability, Kenyatta Lewis, Executive Director of Supplier Inclusion, Sustainable Procurement & Training at MGM Resorts International, in partnership with the company’s analytics team, developed dynamic business intelligence (BI) tools to gain visibility into sourcing bidding paths. Working with the chief procurement officer, she set a stretch goal of 60% inclusion in primary sourcing paths, which was exceeded through tracking and holding others accountable to achieve measurable progress. Gap areas became targets for an 8-month Supplier Diversity Mentorship Program that included a curriculum on operational efficiencies, leadership, and financial management and paired supplier business leaders with MGM Resorts executives. Of 105 graduated suppliers, 63% are doing business with MGM Resorts.
Kenyatta is proud of the BI dashboard mapping that captures the buying patterns of the executive and center of excellence business units. Executive-reviewed scorecards ensure accountability and encourage leaders to take ownership of their opportunities to impact diverse businesses, MGM Resorts, and communities. Kenyatta works closely with the executive-led Supplier Inclusion Task Force, comprised of 15 executives who do not work in procurement, to increase the engagement of leaders across the operation. Task Force members are ambassadors for supplier diversity who change the status quo.