Working with certified diverse suppliers and partners ensures Cisco's access to a wide range of skills and innovation. Customers expect diversity among Cisco's suppliers. In FY10, more than 60 customers, representing $1.3 billion revenue for our business, asked for information about our collaboration with diverse suppliers.

Cisco executives sit on the boards of 15 diverse supplier organizations in seven countries, including Canada, China, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

In FY10, all of our top first-tier value chain suppliers reported their use of diverse suppliers.

Building capability

Our mentoring programs continue to enhance the capabilities of diverse suppliers. In FY10, diverse suppliers participated in:

• Basic skills building: The UCLA Management Development for Entrepreneurs Academy is a four-day skills development program through the University of California at Los Angeles. In FY10, Cisco funded scholarships for two diverse suppliers to participate in this program.
• Executive mentoring: Nine suppliers participated in FY10. The program teams Cisco executives with supplier CEOs.
• Advanced mentoring: Cisco engages diverse suppliers with revenues of over $50 million and with whom we have a long-term relationship (more than three years). The focus is on a specific business solution to bring benefits to customers.

Increasing supplier diversity

We expand our base of diverse suppliers through relationship-building, including:

• Global Diversity Partner Forums: These help create a network of diverse suppliers that encourage closer and more effective partnerships.
• Global Business Missions: U.S.-based partners and suppliers joined Cisco on business trips to Australia, China, South Africa, and the UK with the National Minority Supplier Development Council, WeConnect International, and the America-China Business Women's Alliance. This helps to expand networks and expertise.

See our FY10 Report Card for data on diversity at Cisco.