Board service isn’t just about governance – it’s a leadership masterclass. If you’re looking to grow your impact and elevate your strategic thinking, joining a board is one of the most powerful development opportunities available. Why It Matters At the Greater Houston Partnership, we know that leadership at every level, from the boardroom to the front lines, is critical to advancing Houston’s position as a city of opportunity. Serving on a board strengthens the kind of high-impact leadership our region needs to grow and thrive. Whether you're leading a team or a company, the responsibilities of board members mirror those of top executives: defining strategy, assessing risk, guiding talent and maintaining accountability. Serving on a board challenges you to think beyond your functional expertise and operate with a high-altitude, enterprise-wide perspective. You’ll learn to ask better questions, make sharper decisions and prioritize what truly matters. The Power of Board Diversity Through our One Houston Together initiative, we’re committed to advancing diversity on corporate boards as part of our broader mission to strengthen Houston’s economic dynamism and opportunity for all. Diverse boards bring broader perspectives, deeper understanding of stakeholder needs and stronger business outcomes. When leadership reflects the communities it serves, companies are better equipped to navigate complexity, spark innovation and build lasting trust.  Core Skills You Build Board experience sharpens your ability to: Think strategically: Board members are expected to elevate conversations, zooming out to consider long-term risks and opportunities. Communicate with purpose: You’re on the board for a reason – using your voice with clarity and confidence is key. Prioritize ruthlessly: Managing board commitments alongside your career teaches disciplined time management. Learn continuously: Staying current on market trends, competitors and global shifts is a non-negotiable. What You’ll Tackle Board meetings often center on today’s most pressing business issues: artificial intelligence, global trade and economic shifts, federal policy changes, sustainability and talent development. You won’t just observe – you’ll contribute to decisions that shape a company’s future. These topics mirror the challenges and opportunities the Greater Houston Partnership tackles, including shaping policies, attracting investment and positioning Houston for long-term success. Getting Ready to Serve You don’t need to wait until retirement. Many professionals gain board experience through nonprofit organizations, where they build leadership skills and expand their networks while giving back to the community. Key steps include: Start networking: Relationships matter. Begin connecting with board members and executive leaders now. Stay curious: Board-ready professionals are lifelong learners who bring fresh insights to the table. Be intentional: Think about how your current role demonstrates strategic thinking, community impact and business results. If you're considering board service, don’t underestimate its impact on your professional trajectory. You’ll grow as a leader, contribute to something bigger than yourself, and bring those sharpened skills back to your day job, benefiting your organization and your career.

Amazon’s leadership in supplier diversity has positioned the corporation for success while driving inclusive economic growth. Kennedy Oates, Partnership Board Member and Vice President of Global Procurement at Amazon, shared insights and best practices at the Greater Houston Partnership’s One Houston Together Fall Chief Procurement Officers (CPO) Convening.  Oates discussed how Amazon has grown its supplier diversity efforts by ensuring the value proposition of advancing supplier diversity and inclusion throughout our supply chain is communicated at every level. According to Amazon’s 2023 Sustainability Report, the company’s global supplier diversity and inclusion (SD&I) program is estimated to have supported over 30,000 U.S. jobs and generated approximately $2.8 billion in wages, earned from Amazon’s certified U.S. tier 1 supplier diversity spend. In 2023, Amazon was inducted to the Billion Dollar Roundtable, a nonprofit organization comprised of U.S. corporations that each spend $1 billion or more annually on a tier 1 basis with diverse suppliers. These diverse-owned businesses include majority owners identifying as minorities, women, veterans, disabled, and LGBTQ.  Oates stated that achieving this milestone required a deliberate approach, built on a clear vision, a targeted strategy, and an empowered team dedicated to executing these goals. By embedding supplier diversity into Amazon’s core procurement practices, they’ve fostered a sustainable and inclusive growth model that supports the company’s goals and the success of diverse suppliers. Key Takeaways from CPO Convening Supplier Diversity as a Strategic Value Proposition Oates emphasized the importance of viewing supplier diversity as more than just an initiative—highlighting the long-term value diverse suppliers bring to a company and its surrounding communities. Through its global SD&I strategy, Amazon measures impact through jobs supported, wages earned, and economic output generated. “Given our reach and scale, Amazon has a greater responsibility.” – Kennedy Oates, VP of Global Procurement, Amazon Vision-Driven Goals with Clear Strategies For Amazon, supplier diversity goes beyond statements. Oates stressed the importance of crafting a well-defined vision, supported by actionable strategies to advance supplier diversity objectives. He also noted that internal teams should have collaborative discussions on supplier diversity across the entire business rather than in silos.   Partnering with Companies at Every Level “Every large company was once small.” – Kennedy Oates, VP of Global Procurement, Amazon Amazon is redefining procurement by challenging the perception that only large companies can serve large corporations. Its approach embraces partnerships with businesses of all sizes, embedding supplier diversity as a core element of its supply chain. This creates a positive ripple effect that brings opportunities to underrepresented companies. To learn more about the Partnership’s Supplier Diversity workstream, contact LaTanya Flix.