Beth Armesto has been instrumental in nurturing underrepresented suppliers to become a prominent force in Guidant’s extensive supply chain. Armesto has felt connected to diversity throughout her career and credits Impellam for it. “Impellam embraces diversity like no other,” says the senior director of supplier relationship management.

For example, recognizing the current and upcoming generations’ expectation that businesses celebrate diversity, Impellam has developed an influencer-employee-facing community called “unity,” comprising members belonging to diverse backgrounds, which conducts interactive sessions on different cultures and holidays, she explains.

Armesto, meanwhile, spearheads the INfluence Supplier Diversity Program, which nurtures five to 10 diverse-certified suppliers into Guidant’s supply chain by providing tools to help them become more successful. Armesto has focused on increasing the footprints and achievement levels of suppliers with various diversity certifications who would not have had as many opportunities for growth had they not been a part of the INfluence program.

Participating diverse suppliers receive extensive guidance, performance reviews and an opportunity to build long-term, mutually beneficial relationships with Guidant’s leading clients to help inform and support their DE&I goals.

"In such trying times, it is so fulfilling to create these opportunities and witness people benefiting from it for real."

As a result of the program and focus on suppliers with diverse certifications, the Guidant Global MSP network has become more tuned in to what diverse suppliers have to offer that is unique, and in turn, it provides their customers with increased diverse spending.

Armesto regards the 2019-2020 cohort as her proudest achievement so far; it saw a net-new combined revenue increase of $6.8 million — during a year where the Covid-19 pandemic severely impacted business opportunities.

“In such trying times, it felt so fulfilling to create this opportunity and witness people benefiting from it for real. We’re now building on this success, with a new INfluence Workforce Consortium designed to bring more diverse and underrepresented talent into the contingent workforce.”

2023 DE&I Influencers List