The UW Impact Awards recognize business, civic, and student leaders who are committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion in business and have made a substantial impact in growing businesses in underserved communities and accelerating students’ careers. This event draws more than 500 leaders in Washington’s corporate community, small business owners, civic leaders and the University of Washington.
5:30 PM Reception & 6:00 PM Dinner
Seattle Sheraton Hotel
1400 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101
REGISTER HERE
If you are unable to attend, but would like to support to the mission of the CBDC, please donate here!
Accelerating Student Careers & Growing Businesses and Jobs
The Consulting & Business Development Center links Foster School resources with a racially and ethnically diverse business and nonprofit community to expand students’ skills, help small businesses grow, create and retain jobs, open educational opportunities for under-represented minority students, and stimulate innovative economic development research.
Each year, the Center enables 325 undergraduate and MBA students to provide consulting services and a dozen faculty to provide management education to 200+ small businesses and nonprofit organizations in Washington State.
National Leadership
The Center is leading the national Ascend network of entrepreneurial support organizations that is growing businesses owned by people of color. In 2020 the network supported more than 190 companies that grew revenue by more than $85 million. Over the next three years, Ascend will grow 500 more multi-million dollar businesses owned by people of color. The Center’s M3 model improves Management skills, increasing access to Money (loans and investment) and growing Market opportunities. This work is building sustainable ecosystems to support growth of diverse businesses.
The Center is also the research partner for the Billion Dollar Roundtable, an association of 30 corporations that spend more than $1 billion annually with minority-, women-, LGBTQ-, disability-, and veteran-owned businesses.
Growing Business Skills in Central Washington
The Center has been improving the business skills of employees who work in agricultural, transportation, food & beverage, and other industries in Yakima and throughout Central Washington for nearly 25 years. Through both Business Basics and Advanced Business Certificate programs, more than 125 employees advance their careers each year and increase the competitiveness of businesses from Yakima to Wenatchee to the Tri-Cities.
BECOME AN EVENT PARTNER
Support the Center’s mission and receive recognition for your business by being an event partner. Learn more.