Champions of Diversity

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New SBA Size Standards
CONTRACTING NEWS
Effective October 1, 2017, the U.S. Small Business Ad-
ministration (SBA) has updated its table of small business stan-
dards by adopting the U.S. Office of Management and Budget’s
(OMB) North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) revi-
sion for 2017 (NAICS 2017).
What are small business size standards?
SBA has established numerical definitions, or “size standards,” for
all for-profit industries. Size standards represent the largest size
that a business (including its subsidiaries and affiliates) may be to
remain classified as a small business concern.
Why are they important to small businesses?
These size standards apply to SBA’s financial assistance and to its
other programs, as well as to federal government procurement
programs when there is a benefit available to qualifying as a small
business concern.
How are size standards determined?
The uthorizes the SBA’s administrator to es-
tablish small business size standards. In general, for each industry,
SBA examines the following primary factors in developing or revis-
ing the size standard.
• Industry structure
• Federal procurement—small business share in federal
contracts
SBA also considers the following secondary factors:
• Technological change
• Competing products from other industries
• Industry growth trends
• History of the activity in the industry
• Impacts on SBA programs
Highlights from the updated size standards:
• SBA increases small business size standards for NAICS
Sector 31-33, Manufacturing
• SBA increases employee-based size standards for indus-
tries in NAICS Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, and NAICS Sector
44-45, Retail Trade
• SBA updates employee-based small business size stan-
dards for industries that are not part of Manufacturing (NA-
ICS Sector 31‑33), Wholesale Trade (NAICS Sector 42), or Retail
Trade (NAICS Sector 44‑45)
• SBA issues a final rule on increases to monetary size
standards for inflation
Download the new SBA small business size standards
Learn more about SBA small business size standards
(article contributed by Cisco Global Procurement Services)
Sonu Ratra, Akraya; and Nina Lualdi, Cisco
CHAMPIONS OF DIVERSITY newsletter 9 8
Cisco Launches U.S.
Diverse Supplier Sponsorship
Program
OUTREACH GALLERY
In August 2017, Global Procurement Services , in conjunc-
tion with the Supply Chain Transformation office, launched the U.S. Di-
verse Supplier Sponsorship Program. The sponsorship program is part
of Cisco’s strategy to cultivate and grow Cisco’s diverse supplier base
to increase innovation and economic vitality, and to strengthen Cisco’s
leadership as a socially responsible company.
Twenty-eight of our diverse suppliers were thoughtfully matched with
Cisco senior directors in various business functions. Key program ob-
jectives include providing our diverse suppliers cross-functional vis-
ibility into our business, assisting suppliers in working within Cisco’s
structure, and sharing business function strategies and priorities. GPS
provides ongoing structure and guidance to help ensure the program’s
success.
The official kickoff was held on August 29, at which both the sponsors
and diverse suppliers gained insight into Cisco’s business, with presen-
tations from several key executives, including Alexandra Lopez, CPO
and VP of GPS; Guillermo Diaz, CIO and SVP of IT; and Clare Markovits,
chief of staff, Digitization Office.
The key to a successful sponsor/sponsoree relationship is developing a
trusted partnership. Nina Lualdi, Cisco’s senior director for strategic in-
novation, and Sonu Ratra, founder of Akraya andWomen Back toWork,
have developed a special lifelong connection due to the program.
Lualdi has more than two decades of experience managing complex
multicultural and multigeographic transformation initiatives on a
global scale. As a board member of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group
Foundation and the Institute of Economic Empowerment of Women,
Ratra was able to benefit from Lualdi’s experiences as a woman busi-
ness leader with global cultural acumen.
Ratra says, “Nina took the time to understand my business and our
challenges scaling the business. I admire her ability to tackle complex
problems by going back to the basics, pushing the limits, and challeng-
ing the status quo. Each time I meet Nina, I come back with a head full
of big ideas! It has been the most meaningful mentoring for me and my
business.”
As for Lualdi, she enjoyed the opportunity to provide Ratra with ideas
to help grow her business. “It has been an absolute pleasure to work
with Sonu, and I look forward to our continued partnership,” Lualdi
said.
In addition to the benefits Lualdi and Ratra have gained from the pro-
gram, several other diverse suppliers also benefited early on from the
program. Tiffany Finocchio, president of Finocchio Consulting, Inc.,
recently stated, “The program has injected my business with new ex-
citement and energy for further business development. It's helping us
hone our value proposition and pushing us past our comfort zone. A
big THANK YOU.”
Adarsh Katyal, president and CEO of Varite, Inc. commented, “There is a
tremendous commitment from Cisco's senior leadership for this program and
to develop its diverse suppliers. I would like to thank Cisco's Supplier Diversity,
GPS, and Executive teams for investing their valuable time and resources to
develop diverse suppliers.”
Cisco’s commitment to supplier diversity starts at the top with Chuck
Robbins, CEO. His Policy Statement for Supplier Diversity states in part:
“Our Supplier and Partner Diversity program has proven to be a clear
competitive advantage for Cisco, helping us drive innovation and col-
laboration. We are proud that this program enables us to incorporate
the many diverse ideas and viewpoints that are critical to our success.”
Read the entire Cisco Supplier Diversity Policy Statement
2017 WBEC-WEST 2017 PARTNER SUMMIT 2017 PODF
2017 NMSDC 2017 PODF 2017 WRMSDC ANNUAL MEETING
(L to R) Denise Lombard,Cisco; Sonu Ratra, Akraya; and
Nina Lualdi, Cisco