Minority business owners from around the nation looking to take their businesses to the next level gathered in Atlanta (Oct. 21-25) for the annual National Minority Supplier Development Council Week.The conference featured representatives from national and global companies like Amazon, Apple, Walmart, Salesforce, and Disney. The week offered minority entrepreneurs valuable access to information, resources, advice, and networking opportunities for business growth and success. Speakers included Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens, Clark Atlanta University President Dr. George French, and Morris Brown College President Dr. Kevin James.Wande Diaqite Leintu, Amazon, Diane Palmer, B3 Elevation, Jada Grandy Mock, Fifth Third Bank. Photo by Stan Washington/The Atlanta VoiceThe Russell Innovation Center for Entrepreneurs, Inc. (RICE) of Atlanta played a major role in the week, kicking off the conference with four days of panels and programs at the center. “NMSDC Week represents the culmination of RICE’s mission to create pathways for minority entrepreneurs by offering them access to the world’s most influential companies and thought leaders,” said Shawn M. Graham, CPA, Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative  Officer for RICE. “Our collaboration with these industry giants and others demonstrates our commitment to bridging the gap between corporate powerhouses and the emerging businesses they support.”Diane Palmer, B3 Elevation; Kennedy Oates, Amazon. State Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-39th).Photo by Stan Washington/The Atlanta VoiceThe first day of programming at RICE featured two sessions with Walt Disney Co. and Amazon B3 Elevation, a small business development nonprofit that holds workshops and helps small businesses become certified to do business with corporations and governments. The second day featured Disney on the Yard, a program for high school seniors and current college students. This networking event is designed to introduce Disney to students interested in an internship or a career with the company.On the third day, the session moved from RICE to the Apple store in Lenox Mall for a workshop on “Apple for Entrepreneurs: Tech Tips for Success.” B3 Elevation panel of financial institutions talks about lending to entrepreneurs. Photo By Stan Washington/The Atlanta VoiceThe second day concluded with a workshop for entrepreneurs titled “Unlocking Resources: Your Roadmap to Small Business Success.” This workshop is designed to equip entrepreneurs with the tools and resources needed to propel their businesses to the next level. Attendees were able to meet the RICE’s Community Resource Partners. Ralph E. Sagaille, Director of Strategic Sourcing and Enterprise Supplier Diversity for the Walt Disney Co., compressed a three-hour presentation on doing business with the corporate giant into 90 minutes. Attendees received valuable insight into small businesses’ processes for doing business with Disney. He described the culture of the global corporation, understanding its needs, and how to engage with Disney and other large corporations. He urged the attendees to research the company and the individuals within the company they will be interacting with. “You can be sure we will be doing our research on you,” Sagaille said.He added that if you are a young company, don’t try to snag “a whale.” “Disney is a whale, and the first thing we will look at is to see how long you have been in business,” he said. In 2023, Disney contracted with 8500 small businesses across the country. The company is currently valued at $176.42 billion. In 2023, Disney donated $1 million to RICE.        The Amazon B3 Elevation presentation, MC’d by its founder Diane Palmer, was packed with information and insights from officials from Amazon, Fifth Third Bank, and Georgia state Sen. Sonya Halpern (D-39th). The session ended with a panel of lenders who provided the entrepreneurs with the best strategies for getting loans from financial institutions. In her remarks, Jada Grandy Mock, Chief Community Impact Banking Officer, challenged the audience to “collaborate, innovate, and preserve.” Mock made a suggestion that is normally not heard in these sessions aimed at entrepreneurs: She suggested that they consider collaborating with their competition as an avenue for success. “A $100 million contract split between two companies is better than a $2 million contract for one company. Do the math,” she said. And for those entrepreneurs thinking about throwing in the towel on their dream, she added. “Success often comes just after those moments of doubt. Every story of triumph was built upon a foundation of perseverance,” Mock said. The post RICE kicks off NMSDC Week in Atlanta appeared first on The Atlanta Voice.