HBO's Supplier Diversity program began in 2002, but in the five years since its inception, the company has managed to more than double its MWBE spend thanks to the guiding hand of , Piero Ruffini, HBO's Director of Strategic Sourcing. Piero has been at HBO for 11 years and in that time, he has been able to uniquely leverage the talent, creativity and expertise of MWBEs to develop content and branding for HBO programming. HBO prides itself on its diverse workforce, talent, and content; it only seems natural that its' Supplier Diversity program is successful. Piero is actively involved in launching internal training and awareness campaigns about supplier diversity for HBO employees and implementing MWBE vocabulary in all RFPs, all the while highlighting the competitive advantages of participating in the program. He is skilled when it comes to participating in outreach efforts in creating a positive brand image for HBO. As supplier diversity tackles the challenges of dealing with consolidation and increased corporate cost controls, Piero has worked to ensure that direct suppliers are fully aware of HBO's Supplier Diversity program and encourages them to purchase certain levels of products and services from diverse suppliers. Piero is seasoned at forging the best partnerships and recognizes that matching MWBEs with the right contacts can be a challenge. He is also acutely in tune with finding the best areas for MWBE suppliers to bid and helping identify business opportunities by developing relationships with key procurement personnel through participating in buyer forums.

Favorite Quote

"Don't measure yourself by what you have accomplished, but by what you should have accomplished with your ability." - John Wooden former UCLA men's basketball coach.