For LaKendria Robinson, the director of the Tampa Bay Super Bowl LV Host Committee’s Business Connect program, the pandemic has “been both a blessing and a curse.” The program was created to ensure local companies — particularly those at least 51% woman-, veteran- or minority-owned — are part of the bidding process for Super Bowl-related contracts. Super Bowl LV is scheduled to be played Feb. 7 at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa.
One of the Business Connect program’s key mechanisms is networking — getting vendors in the same room, so they can potentially develop strategic business relationships that will endure long after the Super Bowl has left town. The COVID-19 crisis sacked those plans.
“We haven’t been able to physically meet with all of our vendors,” Robinson says. “The pandemic happened as soon as we selected our vendors.”
That was the curse. The blessing? Being able to transform Business Connect into an ongoing educational program via monthly webinars that allow vendors to meet, virtually, with key NFL contractors.
“We got every single NFL event contractor to hold individual workshops with the business lines that they directly buy from,” Robinson says. “Vendors had an opportunity to talk to the contractors, ask them questions, understand their procurement process, understand their timeline and then receive some really good tips and advice on how they could be successful in bidding with them.”
As employers, understanding and addressing mental health needs are crucial steps in the journey for equitable workplaces. To move from awareness to action and create lasting change, we must prioritize DEI and remember that those struggling with mental health conditions deserve fairness, justice, and equitable access to opportunities, like anyone else.
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With Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day taking place during March, there’s no better time to talk about an essential facet of DEI, equity,
What do the best-performing, longest-lasting brand presences have in common? Their inclusive social media strategies reflect the consumers they are trying to reach. Read these DEI tips to improve your brand’s presence.
How can an organization embrace change and survive in the future? Taking actionable steps to ensure a safe and inclusive environment for all individuals could be key to companies’ long-term prosperity–and should be on every leader’s resolution list for 2023.
To build a supportive and inclusive workplace culture, leaders must incorporate DEI into aspects of employees’ daily routines! A diversity and inclusion calendar is one
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