“We’ve been successful because we were very focused on who our clients are, and our clients are professionals that are already in the workplace,” said St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative Executive Director of Valerie Patton.
The St. Louis Diversity Initiative is a business collaboration, funded through grants, that works on strategy, solutions and programs to promote business diversity and inclusion. The initiative is now in its 10th year in business.
“We look at providing exceptional programming and exceptional service,” Patton said. “That speaks to why we’ve had continual growth in 10 years.”
It is in the fourth year of its year-long Fellows Program, where participants receive mentoring, acquire effective leadership strategies and build relationships.
A former employee of Express Scripts, Terri Morris was nominated by her manager and took advantage of being part of the Fellows Program.
“I learned more about myself and what type of leader I can be to be the most effective,” Morris said.
Currently she is in the process of being hired by another organization that knew about the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative.
Jimmy L. Polk, an associate attorney at Bryan Cave Law Firm, also went through the Fellows Program.
“They put you in the same room with executives your company does business with, and you get to personally form relationships with them,” Polk said.
Polk first got involved with the Business Diversity Initiative through its Gateway to Connections program. This program provides introductions for people of color who have recently relocated to the region, shows them the area’s major cultural, entertainment and recreational opportunities, and encourage participants to become involved in community activities and civic groups.
“Pretty impressive,” Polk said. “It has enhanced my experience while being in St. Louis and hopefully it continues to do that.”
The mission of the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative is to provide strategies to the overall business community that furthers inclusion in the workforce for talented minorities, as well as supplier procurement opportunities for minority-owned businesses.
“It enhanced my brand, management, style and has given me additional confidence in being able to take on larger initiatives with Enterprise,” Keith Spears said of the Business Diversity Initiative.
Spears is manager of Business Continuity Services for Enterprise Holdings, Inc., which focuses on disaster recovery efforts.
“It has helped me to give more in the area of mentoring and sharing with others, which has allowed me to grow more as well,” Spears said.
Each year, the initiative’s Fellows Program increases its diversity numbers, though its emphasis remains on the minority business and professional community.
“I think all people need help,” Patton said.
To find more out about the St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative, as a partner company or a candidate for the Fellows Program or Gateway to Connections, visit stlbizdiversity.com or call Valarie Patton at (314) 444-1170.
