MARY KAY ADVOCATES WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN GENDER-RESPONSIVE PROCUREMENT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 (Bernama) -- Mary Kay Inc, a global champion for women’s empowerment and gender equality, has advocated the inclusion of women suppliers of services and products into the global value chain as a powerful strategy for companies to drive sustainable growth and social impact.

At the Diversity Summit held in Praque, Czech Republic, its global head of sustainability and social impact, Virginie Naigeon-Malek said investing in women-owned businesses and including them in the global supply chain is not only the right thing to do, it is also the smart thing to do for corporations.

Naigeon-Malek said that as women suppliers win more business, their families, local communities and national economies benefit.

“Studies show that women entrepreneurs tend to reinvest up to 90 per cent of their earnings in their families and communities, thus linking inclusive economic growth directly to development.

“Women businesses need to have an equal footing while competing for contract opportunities,” said Naigeon-Malek, who was one of the featured keynote speakers at the summit.

“At the summit, Mary Kay has shared with transparency its gender-responsive procurement (GRP) global journey,” it said in a statement.

Hosted by Startup Disrupt in September 2022, the summit was the largest European hybrid conference on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), bringing together more than 50 keynote speakers from the non-profit, government and business sectors.

Speakers and thought leaders shared insights on key topics such as leveraging DEI ecosystem with business goals; developing and sustaining DEI company culture; inclusive design and innovation; and women’s empowerment.

-- BERNAMA