Page 11 - BEQ Magazine Vol2 Iss4 V2

Lewis catches a plane to travel that the business will come
to another city to train agents. right away but it is about
Though the tasks are different, relationships,” Wong said. “So
the mission is the same — any vendor I meet, I try to explain
advocating for diverse partners to them that it takes time building
and cultivating relationships. the relationships. They need to
Coaching and training others make themselves stand out and
is crucial for both. Daniels- make a clear value proposition.
Lewis provides agents with The relationship doesn’t start or
behavioral coaching and Wong end with one meeting, they have
mentors diverse suppliers. New to continue to make themselves
York Life maintains corporate relevant.” Wong also advocates
memberships with third party for diverse suppliers to consider
advocacy groups like the National doing business with one another
Minority Supplier Development as a means to strengthen the
Council, the Women’s Business business community.
Enterprise National Council Historically, the LGBT
and NGLCC. The women say community has been
corporate membership and underserved. Daniels-Lewis
certification are beneficial, and and Wong are committed to
they encourage others to engage influencing change by providing
with the groups at the national support to the community and
and local levels to leverage those fostering inclusion. In addition to
networks for success. their professional engagement
“I focus on helping diverse with the LGBT community, both
suppliers expand their women volunteer their time to
network and their access to support the community. Wong
opportunities,” Wong said. serves on a number of boards
“I introduce them to internal for supplier diversity advocacy
stakeholders, peers in other organizations and mentors
corporations and members diverse suppliers informally and
of supplier diversity advocacy formally, through various one- Angela Daniels-Lewis
organizations.” to-one mentorship programs
Agents and suppliers like NGLCC’s Mentor-Protégé
alike can benefit from the Program; Daniels-Lewis devotes from our agency target markets, professional passions.
networking opportunities and time to organizations focused on NYLPride employee resource “My overall goal as the LGBT
mentoring the women offer. supporting LGBTQ youth. group, and legal department. Market Manager is to have New
Cultivating relationships through Bringing together a diverse York Life become the industry
networking is a continuous or DEFINING SUCCESS group of individuals with a leader for insurance and financial
ongoing process. An innocuous “In Supplier Diversity, shared passion for diversity to services in the LGBTQ market
conversation with one person my objective is to continue have conversations and to create space, not only for our products
can result in an invitation to evolving the program and to opportunities for collaboration is but also for career opportunities,”
another person’s event. There engage partners beyond the a successful model of inclusion Daniels-Lewis said.
is no clear beginning or end traditional supplier-procurement worth replicating.” For New York Life, focusing
to the benefits of networking. relationship,” Wong said. “The The women have experienced on inclusive practices across the
As relationships develop, more NGLCC and NGLCCNY the success that inclusion enterprise is the path to success.
business opportunities may be events that we have hosted can bring. Their commitment “By connecting agents,
presented. through the years have created to diversity and inclusion will diverse suppliers, corporate and
“A lot of newly certified opportunities that seamlessly undoubtedly inspire others industry leaders to one another,”
suppliers have a false expectation included broader representation to pursue their personal and Wong says, “everyone wins.” 

BEQ PRIDE December 2017 | 11