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7 tips to EASILY increase diversity spend
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A MUST HAVE for
-Chief Procurement Officers
-Procurement Teams
-Supplier Inclusion Professionals
-Chief Equity Officers
-Chief Procurement Officers
"Diverse spending is crucial to economic growth."
How can you elevate your impact with our GUIDED approach?
Business Academy | Cohort | Center of Excellence | Workshops
Our GUIDED content has been sponsored by billion-dollar brands and other renowned companies
“The feedback for Top Shelf Retail is incredible.
I can’t say enough how thrilled I am to be a part of this. Melanie, fantastic job!”
~Pete Raffone, former Regional Director, Walgreens
Guided Business Plan designed a cohort-based training program for consumer goods producers.
Hi, I'm Melanie Rae. Founder of Guided Business Plan. May I introduce myself to you?
3 GUIDED ways to create a pipeline of project-ready vendors!
Diverse Vendor Group Training
Individual Mentoring to Close a Deal
Protect Your Supply Chain with GUIDED Continuity Statements
Diverse Vendor Group Training
It's frustrating to connect with a vendor who can do the work but does not have a Capabilities Statement...or an Intro Video...or a website...making it harder for you to refer them to your colleague who needs to hire a vendor yesterday!
Create a signature diverse vendor training program to develop a pipeline of project-ready vendors - they understand your industry and how to navigate your procurement standards.
Check out cohort-trainings BELOW that Guided Business Plan has designed.
WATER INDUSTRY
"You elevated our program. I never imagined it could look like this."
The California Water Association hired us to develop W.A.T.E.R. which has become a coveted year-long program for 6-, 7- and 8-figure business owners to learn how to navigate the water industry. Graduates have earned millions in contracts in California and beyond.
RETAIL INDUSTRY
"When I come back next year..." said a retail industry giant about returning to speak at WBDC's Top Shelf Retail program sponsored by Walgreens. Participating retailers included Starbucks, Target, TrueValue and more have returned for annual cohorts.
Guided Business Plan wrote and designed an 8-week cohort for small consumer goods producers to learn how to pitch to mass retailers. Several graduates are on new shelves!
AFFINITY GROUPS
"This is an amazing resource" exclaimed the Director of Global Supplier Inclusion for one of the most recognizable brands in the world. He had just checked out WBEC-Pacific's WE-Xcel Vendor Lookbook that showcased 25 Black women who graduated from a 8-session course to learn how to improve their Proposal Toolkit to impress corporate clients. Sponsors include Lyft, Google, Comcast, T-Mobile, Delta and more.
Sponsor Individual Mentoring to Close a Deal
Procurement and Supplier Inclusion...you just met a vendor who fits what your colleagues are looking for but they don't have a Capabilities Statement or other key elements of a Proposal Toolkit. There are a handful of other who could use a little more...refinement. But you DON'T HAVE THE TIME FOR EVEN 15-MIN CONVERSATIONS TO HELP THEM.
You're already juggling outreach, internal inclusion champions, reporting, etc. You don't have the time to mentor individuals...we do!
Sponsor a GUIDED Plan with Peers membership for one or more diverse vendors on a monthly basis and see immediate results!
GUIDED Plan with Peers is a community for diverse vendors with SMALL teams but BIG ambitions.
Protect Your Supply Chain with GUIDED Continuity Statements
Don’t let one of the vendors you hired or referred be the cause of costly and embarrassing shut downs.
Sponsor training for your suppliers to actually develop a CONTINUITY STATEMENT in a few hours.
RISK REQUIREMENTS
The events of 2020 set off a chain reaction of high-stress events around the world. Risk managers don't want that to happen again. Many are evaluating Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3, AND Tier 4 suppliers and weeding out the ones that don't have a business continuity plan.
CONTINUITY STATEMENTS
Sponsor a 2-hour virtual GUIDED Continuity Statement workshop to discover what's really going on with your suppliers and the challenge they face...that could directly impact your projects!
YOU'LL BE IN GOOD COMPANY
We are a repeat WBENC WeThrive instructor... receiving rave reviews from WBEs who said "this session was the important one for me". We have a long list of "thank you testimonials we can share with you. NAVOBA, NAWBO, and the California Water Association and others also hosted it.
International standards for inclusion could apply to your company…get ahead of the ISO 30415 by offering training now!
We make buying from diverse suppliers easy and GUIDED!
Why our GUIDED approach?
Supplier Inclusion Professionals
Imagine saying YES to a diverse supplier program that leads to hundreds of jobs created in the area your company serves.
With just a few discovery meetings, we can transform your advice and how-to into a sought-after supplier inclusion training program that guides hundreds of diverse vendors.
It’s a pretty easy process. We Listen.
We Design.
We Facilitate (if you want us to).
You report back phenomenal results!
Guided Business Plan's
Capabilities Statement
We make buying from diverse suppliers easy and GUIDED!
“WE-Xcel [a GUIDED course] gave me the tools and the confidence to effectively market my skills for contracts with Fortune 500s and major corporations. Anyone who is serious about taking their business to the next level needs to take this course- it is a game-changer!”
Stephanie Belton
The A-List Network, LLC
Melanie Taught This Course
“It would have been impossible for me to offer this cohort if I did not have the GUIDED Business Plan™ materials. One of our survey comments was ‘Best educational program I ever experienced. Very organized with valuable information that we could take action on. Loved it.’”
Entrepreneur Educator
Teaching A Government Contracting Cohort
Licensed a GUIDED curriculum
“The materials, the presentation, and especially the examples. It is extremely helpful to have examples that highlight the how and why the particular "fill in the blank" is worth thinking about. The presenter [Melanie] was OUTSTANDING; clear, well organized, delightful, and brought in diverse perspectives.”
Mirette Seireg
MPATH
Turn Current Commitment from your Executives into Sustainable Inclusion Growth Strategies
7 tips to increase diversity spend and strengthen your supply chain
1. Quarterly Reports for Internal ChampionsGather information for your reports throughout the year by setting up post event forms that take 10 minutes to fill out after each event. It’s a quick survey to enter the key details of the event. Use Google forms for free or programs like Typeform, Wufoo, and SurveyMonkey. Share with your "buying" colleague and inclusion champions via newsletters to inspire outreach to diverse vendors.
2. Project-Ready Vendors Checklist
Share a checklist of what “project-ready vendors” look like for your organization and share it with any community-based organization you sponsor to expedite referrals.
3. Expedite Capabilities Statement Completion
Asking vendors for their Capabilities Statement and then having to explain what it is and then wait for days or weeks for them to send one to you delays your ability to forward an introduction to a buyer. Share your email and will give you a free GUIDED Capabilities Statement tutorial for you to share with vendors.
Want details for the FOUR remaining tips listed below PLUS ideas for a Project-Ready Vendor Checklist?
Please share your email now.
4. Business Disruption Prevention
5. Meeting Diverse Spend Mandates
6. Finding Vendors in a Clutch
7. Keeping Your LinkedIn Profile Personal
Before and After Biz Coach - Melanie Rae
Check out our GUIDED difference with these
Before and After 60-Second Pitches
Melanie coached a group of women pursuing corporate contracts during a recent cohort. For some of them, it was their first time navigating corporate procurement.
BEFORE
BUYER CONFUSION -
"what value do they offer us?"
"what value do they offer us?"
AFTER
BUYER CLARITY -
"when can we meet?"
Que's Before
Que's After
Within a one-hour session, we helped Que write a new script that showcased her true value and personality. This video wowed corporate buyers. Imagine how many prospects would have moved on if they only saw her BEFORE video because they did not understand the value that she brings to the table.
Jamita's Before
Jamita's After
Jamita’s BEFORE video was solid but it did not distinguish her enough from other vendors that offer IT systems improvement. The second one showed more confidence as she described how her company solved an extremely costly and high visibility challenge. The listener has an idea of her unique capabilities, who has trusted her and what she can deliver.
Meet Our Guides
Our Guides and Experts Impress With Our Unique Delivery Style
Melanie Rae
Founder + AuthorLead Guide
The Before and After Biz Coach who has helped thousands of business owners create tools to SEE and REACH their success destinations. Creator of the national GUIDED Business Plan training platform.
Yvette Harris
Work Session Guide
Proposal Writing/Mindset
U.S. Air Force Veteran Dr. Harris earned her doctorate in Education Leadership. She assists small businesses with writing County, State and Federal proposals.
Karina Passi
Work Session Guide
Lean 6 Sigma, Systems
U.S. Air Force Veteran, Aircraft Mechanic, Operations Consultant and Lean 6 Sigma certified, Karina helps companies "find a better way to get things done."
Meet Others On Our Team
Ashley Warfield
Cohorts + Management
Kim Scott
Community + LMS
Angela Mayeda
Carlos
Tech + Support
Jevaughn
Visuals + Stories
Janine
Digital + Strategy
“I found the SWOT Compass to be incredibly valuable. I appreciate that Melanie took a standard analysis and built upon it substantially with real business questions and concerns to consider."
TaChelle Lawson
Fig Firm
“Every session, I have been incredibly impressed by the quality presentation, the outstanding facilitation and CWA member participation. This has been so helpful!”
Scott Kuethen
Amtec Human Capital
Attended water industry course
“Melanie, is so knowledgeable and such a patient and articulate presenter.”
Kathie Tetreault
Saddleback Surveys, Inc.
Attended workshop for business continuity and CWA W.A.T.E.R. cohort
"Melanie had high energy and engagement for 3 straight hours...AMAZING!" Wendi
Wendi Brown, Army Reservist
iSupportYou, LLC
Attended corporate contracting course
"Melanie is an outstanding facilitator!"
Tracy Porter
Premiere Solutions & NFL Alumni
Attended water industry course
“This is the BEST working meeting EVER!”
Pamela Isom
ICE Solutions
Attended corporate contracting course
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GUIDED Continuity Statement workshop
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer onsite and virtual meetings?
We specialize in offering virtual training; however, we may participate in hybrid training where the first and/or last session is held onsite.
Can you create on-demand content?
Absolutely. We offer recorded and non-recorded pricing to reach a larger audience.
Can we sponsor individuals to attend your training if we cannot host an entire cohort?
Yes, one, two, five...ten. We offer volume discounts and add-ons so they learn what you need them to know.
What makes this program different?
Your leader is an instructional designer with more than 20 years of experience translating concepts for adult learners. You can't get the same type of energy and inspiration from simply watching a video from a stranger.
Can you offer training to organizations we sponsor?
Yes. We work directly with corporations to translate what they want diverse vendors to know. Our training may be offered to companies you select or held publicly with not-for-profit organizations.
Guided Business Plan can create a group training that resolves the gaps in onboarding new vendors!
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