The Real Impact of Supplier Diversity: How RBC Continues Increasing Procurement Opportunities for Women Business Enterprises

Supplier diversity and inclusive business practices are core to RBC’s business strategy and central to their commitment to helping communities prosper. As a founding member of WBE Canada, RBC has been championing diverse suppliers and ensuring that they receive fair representation in RBC’s sourcing processes. By ensuring that diverse suppliers have access to procurement opportunities, RBC is able to provide improved quality of services to their organization and customers.

When COVID hit, it decimated economies, especially small businesses. However, it also created new jobs, new industries and new opportunities for businesses. It was inspiring to witness the continued commitment of corporations like RBC to support women-owned businesses, even in the midst of a pandemic. One such business to have benefited from this commitment was EnviroServe, a certified WBE company.

EnviroServe Chemicals and Cleaners is an environmentally friendly solution company with special focus on specialty chemicals and cleaners. As a certified WBE, Tamar Matossian, President of EnviroServe, is quick to share that as an entrepreneur you have to keep ahead of the opportunities and maximize the WBE certification. For EnviroSeve, it definitely has opened doors to many opportunities such as their current relationship with RBC.

During WBE Canada’s 2020 Annual Conference we had the opportunity to have Kiruba Sankar, Global Leader, CSR on RBC’s Global Procurement Team and Tamar Matossian, President, EnviroServe Chemicals and Cleaners, interviewed by Tony Chapman, host of Chatter that Matters podcast.

RBC believes that diversity and inclusion is at the core of innovation, drawing on the talents of everyone, giving you a competitive edge. Being a small business means you have to meet the challenges, be persistent, have all the tools in your arsenal to see the opportunities and seize them. As more and more Canadian corporations and government organizations commit to expanding their supply chains to include diverse businesses, one of the biggest assets you can have is certification which opens the doors to opportunities and success.

Is your business majority owned, managed and controlled by a woman/women? Learn how to certify your business as WBE (Women Business Enterprise).

About WBE Canada

Women Business Enterprises Canada Council (WBE Canada) is a Canadian non-profit organization working closely with corporations and governments advocating for inclusion of Canadian Women Business Enterprises (WBEs) in supply chains across Canada and abroad. To ensure diversity in supply chains WBE Canada works closely with its Corporate and Government members to provide necessary training and support to help establish and develop supplier diversity initiatives. Explore our Corporate/Government membership here.