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MARCELA PEREZ DE ALONSO
"Celebrating women in business"
U.S. Small Business Administration Expo 04
Orlando, Florida
May 20, 2004
© Copyright 2004 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P
All rights reserved. Do not use without written permission from HP.
Thank you, Hector, and good morning.
It's a great honor to be with you this morning, not only to celebrate women in business, but to be doing so in the presence of so many fine examples of individual achievement - achievement that defines the true entrepreneurial spirit of small business today.
Before I begin, I would like to first thank Administrator Barreto and Deputy Administrator Sabelhaus for their great leadership, commitment and understanding of the many diverse needs of small business owners throughout this country.
Without question, your hard work is what makes the Small Business Administration what it is today - an organization that is responsible for helping more than 20 million Americans to not only start their own businesses, but realize their dreams.
In return, these companies have proven their value many times over as a vital cornerstone of our national economy. Ultimately, I think this demonstrates the true power of partnerships between the public and private sectors.
At HP, we can closely identify with the entrepreneurial spirit and sense of partnership that the SBA embraces. What is today a company with revenues of $73 billion, 142,000 employees and operations in 170 countries, actually began in a garage as a small business partnership between Bill Hewlett and Dave Packard. Compaq also got its start as a small business thanks in large part to an SBA guaranteed loan.
As a woman and a former small business owner myself, I can appreciate the challenges that many of you have faced in establishing and operating a new business. It takes a lot of commitment, vision and perseverance - not to mention investments of time and money. And I think by virtue of the fact that we're here today to celebrate women in business says quite a lot in terms of just how many challenges we have overcome with respect to our identity as women.
It wasn't that long ago, for example, that the role of a secretary in an office, or nurse in a hospital was typically associated with women exclusively. And in contrast, the roles of executives or doctors were typically associated with men. But times have changed, fortunately - both for the sake of women and for the sake of business in general.
Another significant change for the better can be found in the increasing level of diversity that is taking place in business across the country. For example, between 1997 and 2004, the number of minority, women-owned businesses increased by 17 percent. And today, minority women are the proprietors of one-in-five women-owned firms. I believe these statistics speak volumes about the value we as a nation have come to place on diversity, and the vast potential that these firms represent.
At HP, we fully embrace the concept of diversity, based on the importance of focusing on the possibilities and not the limitations. We also recognize the potential of women, and the development of leaders - both in men and women alike. This is because true capabilities and leadership cannot be defined or limited by gender, race or religion. For all of us to win in today's fiercely competitive marketplace, we will need to embrace our differences and mirror the diversity of our customers and the world around us.
Earlier, I mentioned that I know from my own experience that it is no small feat to establish and operate a business. I established my own human resources consulting company, "People International," in 1989 and operated it until 1994. The focus of the business was to provide human resources expertise to financial institutions in Chile and Latin America.
I fully enjoyed the overall experience as an entrepreneur, because it gave me the chance to do what I want, and the freedom to choose among options. And that, I think, is the beauty of owning your own business - to know that you are in control of your destiny.
At the same time, owning your own business is not without its challenges, and as entrepreneurs, I'm sure all of you are familiar with this fact. How do you manage your expenses? How do you build a customer base? How can you generate profits?
To address these questions and others, I learned to use all of my capabilities. I learned to appreciate the great value in the partnerships and networks that you maintain. I learned that success was when previous clients called you back, or referred you and your business to new ones.
In retrospect, I only wish that programs such as the Business Matchmaking initiative that HP and the SBA have established had been available at that time. This is a very unique program that provides small businesses with direct access to federal government and large corporate contracts, in addition to providing significant stimulus to the national economy. Essentially, each Business Matchmaking event pairs small businesses with federal, state, and local government agencies and with large corporations that have identified a nearterm need to buy specific products and services.
These events offer small business participants with the opportunity to meet with the key decision makers holding genuine procurement opportunities. To date, a total of nine Business Matchmaking events have already been conducted in 2003 and 2004 in Cleveland, Orlando, Chicago, Birmingham, Houston, Anaheim, Cincinnati, and twice in Washington D.C. These events have included more than 4,375 small business owners and representatives, approximately 110 major corporations, nearly 150 government agencies, and more than 14,600 face-to-face appointments. Ultimately, the success of these events has resulted in millions of dollars in contracts awarded to small business participants.
Another important program that demonstrates HP's commitment to small business is our Multicultural Procurement and Sales Support Program. This program is designed to ensure that small, disadvantaged businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses, veteran-owned businesses and other under-represented businesses have an opportunity to participate as suppliers to HP, as resellers for HP products and services, and as HP partners in customer engagements that offer third party participation.
To put this program in some perspective, allow me to cite some statistics: In 2003, the total procurements awarded to U.S. small businesses was more than $2 billion, or 53 percent of HP's total purchases in the U.S. And the total procurements awarded to U.S. small minority and small women-owned businesses was more than $700 million or 33.4 percent of HP's total purchases in the U.S.
Our efforts have not gone unnoticed, and the awards we have received include a Certificate of Achievement for Hispanic Business opportunities from the Hispanic Business Association, and a Certificate of Achievement for an Outstanding Small Business Subcontracting Program from the Department of Defense and the SBA.
Ultimately, the objective of HP's Multicultural Procurement Program is to increase the opportunities for these businesses while continuing to purchase and form strategic partnerships on the basis of competitive technology, quality, responsiveness, delivery, price and financial stability.
HP is also involved with the Microenterprise Development Program grant initiative, which demonstrates our commitment to global citizenship by supporting nonprofit microenterprise development agencies that serve clients in low-income communities in the United States. The program involves engaging in unique public and private partnerships, modeling behavior and activities, and investing in underserved communities to provide new digital opportunities. These are just a few examples that represent HP's support of small businesses of all kinds, and the people who created those businesses.
In closing, let me say that as entrepreneurs, the opportunities that are available to you today are possible because we live in a country that embraces the spirit of those who are willing to take a chance and succeed. And as women, the opportunities that are available to you are possible because of a long heritage of accomplishments, and a dedication to redefining our capabilities and setting new standards of excellence.
Together as entrepreneurs and as women, you define the true entrepreneurial spirit of small business today and hold the promise for America's future - a future that's not limited based on your gender, but unlimited based on your potential.
Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the conference.
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