Robert Poole

Robert Poole (he/him), director of enterprise programs at Raise Group, is excited about the possibilities of the company’s burgeoning Diverse Supplier Network program.

In partnership with Enbridge, a pipeline and energy company with employees primarily in the US and Canada, Raise is creating the Diverse Supplier Network to focus on generating opportunities for diverse suppliers and diverse talent. By combining practical know-how and innovative workforce staffing solutions, the program promotes diversity at the candidate level and helps smaller diverse supplier organizations grow.

Everybody is equal, and everybody should have an equal opportunity to do what they want to do and be the best that they can be.

Poole demystifies DE&I by explaining, “Everybody is equal, and everybody should have an equal opportunity to do what they want to do and be the best that they can be.” Through the use of the Diverse Supplier Network, Raise is helping to dismantle barriers to equality by giving smaller suppliers and their candidates access to large enterprise programs. “We want to be able to promote suppliers that perhaps are not able to promote themselves,” he shares. “By doing that, it allows them to showcase candidates that would not necessarily get the opportunity to be part of a large enterprise program.”

A key ingredient for this network’s success is allowing easy access and entry. Poole also stresses the importance of buy-in to expand the Diverse Supplier Network. All stakeholders, from senior leadership to frontline buyers, must understand its value. Poole and his team at Raise regularly use proof of concepts to showcase the network’s benefits.

Next for Poole is to grow the Diverse Supplier Network — and his view of its potential is motivating and encouraging. By promoting access to smaller organizations, a wealth of diversity, including Indigenous candidates that live more remotely, can be reached. “It’s all about helping people,” Poole summarizes. “That’s what it is: It’s helping. It’s helping these providers and their candidates. And it’s helping enterprises to acquire talent that perhaps they would overlook.”