The program is tailored to meet the needs of SMDB leaders and their teams in mid-to-senior level management positions, who see executive education as an investment, and not a time-wasting cost. The firms we work with aspire to grow their organizations in scope and scale.
Each Performance Lab is taught by either a current Fortune 1,000 business leader, business school faculty member or a noted practitioner from the field of business management. SDI remains committed to researching and recruiting distinguished professionals to aid in this journey.
SPRING (FIRST IN-RESIDENCE SESSION, MARCH 16 – 17 2022)
Participants work with the SDI team on projects that will contribute to the operational improvement of the participant’s organization. The projects are to be initiated and completed during a three (3) month period, in conjunction with an assigned SDI advisor.
SUMMER (VIRTUAL, JUNE 15 – 16 2022)
Participants present updates, challenges and key learnings regarding their projects to classmates and members of SDI, while receiving feedback and guidance on how to address any potential challenges. During this session, participants will receive guidance regarding Course #2. The projects are to be initiated and completed during a four (4) month period, in conjunction with an assigned SDI advisor.
FALL (VIRTUAL, OCTOBER 19 – 20 2022)
Participants present updates, challenges and key learnings regarding their projects to classmates and members of SDI, while receiving feedback and guidance on how to address any potential challenges. During this session, participants will receive guidance regarding Courses #3 and #4. The projects are to be initiated and completed during a four (4) month period, in conjunction with an assigned SDI advisor.
WINTER (SECOND IN-RESIDENCE SESSION, FEBRUARY 22 – 23 2023)
Participants present their final improved projects to classmates, business management practitioners and members of SDI. During this session, participants will receive guidance regarding Courses #3 and #4. Participants will also take part in a formal graduation ceremony.
Curriculum during these sessions will address key areas for the business leader and their teams. To ensure success of the Performance Labs, SDI surveyed suppliers, supplier diversity professionals and procurement team members at Fortune 1,000 enterprises and SMDBs from all sectors, to better identify the courses that would add the most value to both SMDBs and procurement teams. The courses below were identified as either “critical” or “important” by these audiences including:
- Enterprise Level Presentation Techniques (Course #1, March 2022)
- Procurement Practices (Course #2, June 2022)
- New School Negotiations (Course #3, October 2022)
- Strategic Planning (Course #4, February 2023)
Applicant Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the Performance Lab at the Supplier Diversity Institute, on the date of their application the applying Small and Medium-sized Diverse Business must be:
Currently certified as either a small or diverse business by a recognized national or state diversity certifying agency, including, but not limited to, the following diversity classifications:
- * Minority Business Enterprise (MBE)
- * Women Business Enterprise (WBE)
- * Disabled Person-Owned
- * US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce (USPAAC)
- * Veteran-Owned
- * LGBT-Owned
- * HUB (Historically Underutilized Business) or
- * HUBZone (Historically Underutilized Business Zones)
- Have a minimum of $300,000 in revenue (documented by a current IRS filing);
- Have a minimum of three (3) full-time employees; and
- Have been in business for a minimum of three (3) years (documented by a state filing)
More than half of the full program price of $12,000 is charitably underwritten by the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement at the University of Texas, the participant fee of $5,000 covers the balance of tuition, quarterly advisory and performance coaching, materials and meals for two (2) attendees from the same participating company. The 2022 – 2023 Performance Lab is limited to twenty-five (25) companies. For those SMDBs seeking monthly advisory and performance coaching from Performance Lab advisors, the participant fee is $10,000.
For eligible SMDBs located in the state of Texas, potential scholarships for the Performance Lab at the Supplier Diversity Institute may be applied for with the Communities Foundations of Texas at: https://www.cftexas.org/bank-of-america-small-diverse-scholarships
For more information about the Performance Lab or the Supplier Diversity Institute, please contact: Christopher “Chris” Boles at: christopher.boles@austin.utexas.edu
Applications for the 2022 – 2023 Performance Lab are due on November 30th, 2021.