With over three decades of experience in corporate leadership, entrepreneurship, and serving the Supplier Diversity community, Ana Maria Lowry and Susan Bailey Schramm created this book to begin a dialogue. The purpose is to:

a) provide a vision for what is possible to achieve with a Trusted Diverse Ecosystem, and

b) invite readers to personally assess the current stage of their own organization's Workforce DEI and Supplier Diversity programs.

They believe a Trusted Diverse Ecosystem is the solution for corporations and government agencies who aspire to foster a "best company to work for" environment, whether in their workplace or as a supplier of products and services. It can provide their organization with a larger pool of talented employees and suppliers. The outcome is the creation of small businesses and jobs. This leads to a stronger economy, stronger communities and families, and a reduced need for public assistance programs. A Trusted Diverse Ecosystem is a win-win for everybody: employers, employees, corporations, government agencies, and suppliers.

The Authors outline the need for a Trusted Diverse Ecosystem and the stages to get there. With this awareness, you will begin to develop your own strategy to be part of a Trusted Diverse Ecosystem. It represents a real opportunity for you to intentionally develop diverse talent in your workplace and in your supply chain and to create a more resilient organization.

Your personal leadership will be crucial to the success of your strategy. It requires a growth mindset with an intentional plan to drive toward a specific path. Ana Maria and Susan propose that the Maturity Stages of a Trusted Diverse Ecosystem described in this book can serve as your path forward.