Leonard J. Smith is the Supplier Sustainability and Inclusive Growth and Governance Director at the Southern Company. Smith is a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in electrical engineering, as well as an MBA and significant experience working in law. In his more than 20 years with the Southern Company, he has helped to develop a “Move to Equity” framework that ensures equitable access for suppliers. He also engages in risk mitigation and strategic development for business operations as well, helping to ensure that diverse suppliers can make the most of the opportunities that are granted to them.
To this end, Smith is also responsible for setting up a Supplier Diversity Business Development Program that is committed to providing high quality mentorship to suppliers involved in both current and future projects. Always bearing in mind Martin Luther King Jr’s question “what are you doing for others?” Smith has used his vast experience to do pro-bono legal work and other services for underserved communities throughout Alabama and the Florida Panhandle.
Favorite Quote:
“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?' ” — Martin Luther King