For more information contact April Day,

aday@wbea-texas.org
713-681-9232

WBEA launches Capacity Builder Growth Venture program in collaboration

with Shell to Reposition Women Owned-Businesses

(Houston, TX) - The Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance collaborated with Shell Oil
Company to establish the Capacity Builder Growth Venture program to assist Women’s Business
Enterprises (WBEs) and Women Owned Small Businesses (WOSBs) redevelop their business to
appeal to new and evolving market needs.

Unlike others, this capacity builder program was developed with insight from WBEA
President April Day, the Shell Oil Company Supplier Diversity team, and consultants with
expertise in organizational redevelopment. The program targets WBEs and WOSBs that
experienced temporary closure or are near permanent closure as a result of COVID-19. Over the
course of eight weeks, women-business owners will interact in live classroom sessions that
incorporate small group exercises and discussion to learn applicable techniques to restructure and
develop procurement relationships.

“This program is a second chance or life-line for WBEs and WOSBs whom question their
business continuity. Now is the time for women business owners to assess their needs are and the
needs of corporations and government agencies,” WBEA President April Day said. “It is
essential for business owners to have the skills and knowledge to maintain fluid business capable
of adapting external factors impacting their bottom line.”

“Working in partnership with organizations such as the WBEA feeds directly into our supplier
diversity mission to find diverse companies whom could engage in a mutually beneficial
relationship with Shell,” said Brian Hall, manager, supplier diversity & advocacy, small business
liaison officer for Shell. “Shell is committed to working with our partners to help improve
business skills and support educational programs. With our direct influence in the curriculum,
our team is confident women business owners who complete the program transformed.”

Along with weekly live classroom sessions led by business development experts and corporate
representatives, the program offers:

 Mentoring from macro-enterprise WBEs

 One-on-one consulting with business coaches
 Industry specific peer groups
 Networking engagements
 Live Q&A with Shell procurement professionals

The Capacity Builder Growth Venture program will take place virtual from September 15
through October 23, 2020. The program is offered at no cost to 50 WBES and WOSBs as Shell is
covering all costs. The deadline to apply is 11:59 pm CST on Friday, July 17, 2020. Learn more
and apply at wbea-texas.org/capacity.

About the Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance

The Women's Business Enterprise Alliance (WBEA), a nationally recognized business
development and purchasing council, is a pacesetter in helping women-owned business
enterprises grow and develop. As an affiliate of the Women's Business Enterprise National
Council (WBENC), WBEA serves as the third-party certifying organization for women-owned
businesses in 94 Texas counties. WBEA is strongly committed to increasing opportunities for
women-owned businesses and providing qualified suppliers to corporate and government
purchasers. Since its inception in 1995, the organization has established technical training,
coaching, scholarship and mentoring programs, and has become one of the nation's leading
certifiers of women-owned businesses. The Women’s Business Enterprise Alliance serves as a
U.S. Small Business Administration Resource Center through their WBEA Women’s Business
Center providing business advising and access to capital. Certification and collaborative
programs to build businesses are what WBEA does best. Learn more at wbea-texas.org

About Royal Dutch Shell plc

Royal Dutch Shell plc is incorporated in England and Wales, has its headquarters in The Hague
and is listed on the London, Amsterdam, and New York stock exchanges. Shell companies have
operations in more than 70 countries and territories with businesses including oil and gas
exploration and production; production and marketing of liquefied natural gas and gas to liquids;
manufacturing, marketing and shipping of oil products and chemicals and renewable energy
projects. For further information, visit www.shell.com.
 FAQ

https://www.shell.us/sustainability/supplier-diversity.html

What does Supplier Diversity mean at Shell?

For Shell, Supplier Diversity means working to make the profile of our supply chain reflect the
profile of the communities in which we live and work and supporting programs that help diverse
businesses grow into the kind of suppliers Shell will need to meet the energy needs of the future.
Our energy goals for the future require the best resources we can gather from a broad spectrum
of innovative, service-oriented businesses. Many of these businesses are minority-owned,
woman-owned, veteran-owned or service-disabled veteran-owned, LGBT-owned, disability-
owned, historically underutilized business (HUBs), and SBA defined small business enterprises
(SBEs).

Why Diversity Organizations?

These partner organizations are an important piece of the picture for Shell’s ability to find
diverse companies and for diverse companies to find opportunities with Shell and other large
corporations, with prime suppliers, and with other small businesses.

They provide events where M/WBEs can network with Shell diversity team members and
purchasing professionals. They offer educational opportunities where you can improve your
business skills and those of your team members. And, some of them provide the all-important
certification that helps establish M/WBEs’ credibility.

Shell is committed to working with our partners to help improve business skills through
supporting educational programs like the WBENC Energy Executive Program, Tuck-WBENC
Executive program, HMSDC’s Levels of Excellence, How to Do Business with Shell, and
Energy Insights.

Why Capacity Building Programs?

Capacity building is among the biggest needs in the supplier diversity world. We are working
with our partner organizations to develop programs that will help bring promising M/WBEs to
the next level by helping them increase their capabilities. Sometimes that means developing a
specific program. Sometimes that means pointing them toward existing programs that help create
a path for growth.

We lean heavily on collaboration with external partners to help us identify candidates for specific
capacity building programs and for participation in new programs developed in response to
changing market requirements.

What is different about Shell’s new diversity strategy?

In the past we have taken information from everyone who comes to us and invited them to
register in our system, hoping to find opportunities for them in Shell. Now we seek out
companies with services and products that Shell will be purchasing in the near/medium term. We
are then able to put more in-depth information about their capabilities/features into our new
system so we can focus on developing their opportunities, advocating for these specific vendors
and monitoring/facilitating their progress throughout the Shell system.

What does Find Your Fit mean?

Shell recommends that each supplier use all the resources available to dig into a company’s
processes and activities and truly find where their product or service fits best. Also, for any large
corporation, it is recommended that a supplier understand the business units, operational
footprint, and environment in which that corporation performs its business ... and ask the
question; “Where is the best logistical fit for my business solution in this company’s supply
chain?”.

Another important clarifying question is “What solutions does my company offer that can solve a
real challenge for this company?”

You should be able to describe, in detail, how your company found your fit with other companies
where you had business success.
 WBEA FAQ

What is a WBE?
WBE (Women's Business Enterprise) is an independent business concern that is at least 51%
owned and controlled by one or more women who are U.S. citizens or Legal Resident Aliens;
whose business formation and principal place of business are in the US or its territories; and
whose management and daily operation is controlled by one or more of the women owners.
 
WHAT exactly does it mean to be "Certified as a WBE"?
Being certified as a WBE means that a business concern has gone through a rigorous and
stringent certification process to confirm the business is owned, managed, and controlled by a
woman or women.

How does WBENC certification differ from others?

The Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) is the nation's leading third-party
certifier of women's business enterprises (WBEs) for the private sector. In partnership with
women's business organizations throughout the United States, WBENC provides access to a
national standard of certification and provides information on certified women's businesses to
purchasing managers through its Internet database, WBENCLink. WBENC certification is
recognized and accepted by the majority of the major corporations across the U.S.