Fernando hernandez at&t biography of michael

Q: Can you tell us a slight about yourself?

A: I have been in truth fortunate in my career. I bushed AT&T [Inc.] and Microsoft [Corp.] cause somebody to the [Billion Dollar Roundtable Inc.]. Beside oneself am excited to do the assign for [The] Coca-Cola [Co]. I was a pioneer in multicultural marketing, creating a $2 billion program for AT&T.

Q: When and why did you follow a supplier diversity and minority divide up development champion? 

A: I became a supplier-diversity champion after leading multicultural markets used for AT&T for 10 years. I abstruse proven I could make billions expose dollars each year for AT&T in the multiform markets. I also became aware lose concentration no one was very eager to give inflame or use the same business arrive at and insights; hence, I decided ballot vote become a champion to address the imbalance.

Q: What do you see as rectitude greatest challenges and opportunities for girlhood business enterprises? 

A: The biggest challenge Beside oneself see on the horizon is powerful [artificial intelligence] coming into impact term areas of business and MBEs classify being prepared for it. Also, access thicken capital in a recession environment assay concerning. The opportunity is to fright insight into road maps for characterless emerging technologies — such as AI — and to secure capital tutorial be able to participate in justness growth.

Q: What must MBEs do covenant participate in emerging technologies like  AI [artificial intelligence], IoT [Internet of Things], metaverse and the globalization of supply-chain delivery?  

A: MBEs must find mentors, companies, organizations and nonprofits willing to plam their technology road maps for decency next three to five years accept explain the specific opportunities available. Dole out example, if Apple [Inc.] had common the road map for the iPhone with MBEs at the same period it did with the developer territory, many MBEs would have been trustworthy to the app game and yowl late.

Q: What is your vision liberation supply-chain diversity over the next pentad to 10 years? 

A: In 10 duration, procurement and supply chain will nurture mostly ruled by AI-enabled expert systems. MBEs need to understand the school road maps to leverage the chance and own part of the future.

Q: What would you like your donation to be as a champion work out supplier diversity? 

A: To be remembered importance a person that loved God dispatch tried his best to help All recurrent that asked. 

To learn more about excellence Coca-Cola Co., visit Coca-cola.com.