Meet the panelist of the Women's Business Council- Southwest's first Austin event of 2018: Woman Entrepreneur's Exchange! The event will feature supplier diversity professionals sharing their perspective on how WBEs can successfully utilize their certification to gain traction with corporate clients. If you have ever wondered how your business can stand out when responding to RFPs or struggled to think of innovative ways to market your WBE certification to corporations, this event is for you! Join us on January 24, 2018 from 3:00 to 4:30pm at the Offices of VMware.

 Click here for more details and to register.

Samantha Brink

Samantha Brink, Supplier Diversity Advisor- Dell Technologies 

Samantha Brink joined Dell in 2014 as part of the first Supply Chain Development Program cohort, where over three years she was able to rotate into operations, logistics and procurement roles. In 2016, Samantha joined the Global Supplier Diversity team as a program manager for Tier 1 diversity spend with minority-owned, women-owned, and small businesses, the internal procurement Champions program, and the development program for diverse suppliers. She has taken on additional responsibilities as the acting Small Business Liaison Officer and as the Tier 2 program manager. A proud graduate of the University of Tennessee, Samantha received her degree in Supply Chain Management. Ms. Brink enjoys getting to have visibility to various business functions through the lens of procurement and being able to make connections to business opportunities with diverse suppliers.

Natalie Cortes

Natalie Cortes, Global Supplier Diversity Manager- Pearson

Natalie Cortes has worked in supplier diversity at Pearson for almost 8 years. In her role, she has hand in every aspect of the supplier diversity process. She is involved in developing strategy, conducting trainings, analyzing best practices, and working directly with business owners. Natalie receive her Bachelors of Art in Markets and Culture from Southern Methodist University. 

Melanie Handy

Melanie Handy, Supplier Diversity Manager- VMware

Melanie Handy has been with VMware for two years, and is currently serving as VMware’s Supplier Diversity Manager. Supplier Diversity is an incredibly valuable company initiative that advocates for minority-owned, women-owned, Veteran-owned, LGBT-owned and small-owned businesses. Melanie managed similar programs with Blackberry for 4 years, and Dell for 6 years. Passion for inclusion runs deep for Melanie as an advocate for our community and neighbors, and extends into VMWare’s internal D&I efforts through her leadership and participation in the Black, LBGT, Veteran’s, Women’s and Women of Austin PODS. Melanie has amassed a wide network of fellow Supplier Diversity professionals, diverse business owners in need of mentorship, and councils of like-minded technology companies with top tier Supplier Diversity efforts that translate into world class programs. Through these partnerships, Melanie strives to enrich and enhance VMware’s culture of EPIC2 values.

Diponker Muhkerjee

Diponker Muhkerjee, Program Manager Compliance- Capital Metro's Office of Diversity 

Diponker Mukherjee oversees the federal compliance of Capital Metro on civil rights areas: Equal Employment Opportunity, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE), and Title VI.  As the DBE Officer, he also conducts various outreach and networking events involving disadvantaged, minority, and women-owned businesses.  Capital Metro strongly supports Disadvantaged Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise (SBE) programs through its Office of Diversity.  It has achieved DBE and SBE participation through various types of projects.  Diponker moved to Austin in 2014 from Oklahoma City where he worked 13 years in public transportation managing similar types of federal compliance.  He earned his second master’s degree from Kansas State University.  He likes to travel and watch movies and sports.