As the CEO and President of the Houston
Minority Supplier Development Council
(HMSDC), Ingrid Robinson believes that
successful organizations view supplier
diversity as an integral and strategic component
of their supply chain practices. She has integrated
diverse suppliers into the non-traditional supply
chain sourcing areas of two Fortune 500 supplier
diversity programs. Ingrid adheres to the principle that
diverse suppliers should become essential long-term
partners of companies that are not easily downsized
out of a business with changing market conditions
or replaced as buyers change. She created the first
supplier diversity program in a major law firm and
oversaw the use of MBEs in building the first major
sports facility in Houston.
HMSDC launched the “Pathways to Excellence:
Business Sustainability” training module this year.
This innovative program approach enhances a business’s
ability to engage with Supplier Diversity and
Sustainability Officers, positioning them to compete
for more contracts. She believes in data driven decision
making. Her organization leverages data and
technology to improve efficiency and automate manual
tasks, freeing team members' time to engage in
advocacy efforts at all government levels, from local
school boards to the US Congress.