Creative Use of Your NAWBO Connections

I recently sold the bank regulatory compliance consulting practice that I started 11 years ago, and itt’s time to decide what my company’s next business venture will be. I’m leaning toward a more non-traditional business, such as manufacturing or construction. But with so many choices, how do I narrow them down? I decided to make creative use of my NAWBO connections by calling the contacts I have made over the years with our NAWBO Corporate Partners, and scheduling appointments with their supplier diversity managers. Conducting informational interviews with supplier diversity managers at the major corporations in the Metroplex seems like a good way to identify existing needs; they should know what products or services their company buys but has difficulty finding minority- or women-owned businesses to supply. What a way to expedite my market research! It’s a win for the Corporate Partners, too, if my new business venture can help them reach their minority- and women-owned business purchasing goals.

Our Chapter "slogo" is “NAWBO Creates Connections,” and my President’s theme for this year is “Create Connections to Make a Difference.” What creative ways have you found to use your NAWBO connections? Please take a minute to write to me (dianemccartney@yahoo.com)to let me know. We’d like to share member and Corporate Partner success stories in future issues of this newsletter, as examples of how to make creative use of NAWBO connections.

NAWBO Creates Connections--so use them!

Diane McCartney
President, NAWBO Dallas – Fort Worth Chapter