This breakout session will explore an impact model of cross-sector collaboration that improves supplier access and accelerates procurement inclusion. Drawing from best practices at the Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at Harris-Stowe State University, the session will demonstrate how academic institutions can serve as launchpads for small business integration into procurement ecosystems.

 

Session Description: It’s time to take action. Artificial Intelligence (AI) doesn’t have to be overwhelming—it can be a powerful, practical ally for business leaders across the supply chain. In this engaging session, certified Grow with Google Coach Keisha Mabry Haymore will demonstrate how AI-powered tools can help companies simplify operations, strengthen connections, and drive resilient growth. Instead of theory, you’ll see AI in action—from generating ideas for supplier communications to drafting content that supports expansion strategies. Attendees will walk away with simple, real-world prompting techniques they can apply immediately to streamline tasks, optimize processes, and explore growth opportunities. The Takeaway: You’ll leave with the confidence to put AI to work—faster, smarter, and in ways that help your business thrive in today’s ever-changing supply chain landscape.

How companies are adapting to policy change while deepening pipelines.

Great collaboration doesn’t happen by chance—it’s built through clarity, intentionality, and trust. In today’s fast-paced, high-pressure environments, diverse teams often struggle with misalignment, miscommunication, mistrust, and competing priorities. But with the right mindset and tools, your team can rise above the tension and become a force for innovation, cohesion, and impact. Participants will walk away with tools and strategies to break down silos, foster unity, and lead their teams with greater clarity, trust, and creativity—resulting in stronger engagement, faster decision-making, and better execution across the board.

Corporate buyers demand more than products—they want suppliers who are clear, capable, and contract-ready. In this interactive session, you’ll learn how EOS can help your business scale with focus and discipline. Through a hands-on workshop using the Vision/Traction Organizer™ (V/TO), you’ll begin building an actionable plan to sharpen your vision, strengthen partnerships, clarify how you are different, and prove your readiness to thrive in a converging industry.

Frameworks for long-term engagement between buyers and emerging suppliers.

Driving Change 

Most business owners create great messaging but struggle to reach the right customers, leaving money on the table by positioning for only one customer type. This interactive workshop reveals the three customer types in every marketplace and teaches how to position your expertise to capture all three revenue streams.

Participants will navigate software to determine their scalability readiness after a brief discussion on the topic. Based on their results, we will actively build a supplier growth system and outline capital strategies in the Miro software.