Business owners are always looking for ways to improve their businesses, and the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce® (NGLCC) is offering certified LGBT businesses the opportunity to do just that.
The NGLCC, with support from Aetna and Ernst & Young, is accepting scholarship applications from certified LGBTBEs to attend the Building a High-Performing Minority Business program at Dartmouth's Tuck School of Business Nov. 14-19 in Hanover, New Hampshire.
Besides providing LGBTBEs the opportunity to attend a respected executive program, the NGLCC scholarships are intended to expand public awareness of LGBTBE certification and reward the active participation of certified LGBTBEs.
"It's extremely important that certified LGBTBEs are given an opportunity to improve their businesses, and it's thanks to two of our dedicated corporate partners, Ernst & Young and Aetna, that we can offer these scholarships and the opportunity for business owners to grow their companies," said Justin Nelson, NGLCC co-founder and president.
"We believe education is another way to invest in your company's future success and Tuck provides a really robust program with a proven track record," said Kristen Hickey, supplier diversity manager at Aetna and NGLCC Procurement Council scholarship subcommittee chair. "At Aetna we want to provide a resource to our suppliers and potential suppliers to ensure we have a viable pipeline of suppliers. This scholarship is just one way we accomplish that goal."
The program is designed to strengthen the management skills of LGBTBE and minority business owners through educational seminars and team exercises on a variety of topics, including accounting, operations and marketing. Using what they've learned in the program, business owners will also develop plans for growing their businesses.
Part of the Tuck School of Business' Executive Education program, the Building a High-Performing Minority Business initiative was introduced in 1980 to address the unique challenges of businesses owned by ethnic and racial minorities. Since then, the program has been expanded to address the needs of and issues facing women- and LGBT-owned businesses.
As a recent graduate of the program, Joanna Dees, senior manager of corporate relations and supplier diversity at the NGLCC, learned first-hand how the Tuck program can benefit LGBT business professionals.
"I left the graduation ceremony at the end of the week excited to implement all that I learned," Dees said. "The collaborative nature of Tuck Executive Education also allowed me to gain a deeper appreciation of the experiences of diverse business owners in their efforts to grow their companies."
The NGLCC Tuck Scholarship opportunity is another benefit for businesses that become certified, in addition to the quarterly LGBT Supplier Teleconference Series, Supplier eNewsletter, BIZlink sourcing database, Business Enterprise Toolkit, one-on-one matchmakers with corporate decision makers, special B2B events for certified suppliers, and event discounts.
Those interested in applying for a scholarship must submit their applications to the NGLCC office via fax, e-mail or mail by Sept. 1. Those chosen to receive scholarships will be notified by Oct. 1. To apply, download an application here.
For more information about the program, click here.
