The Journal

Reporting on supplier diversity.

Working coverage of certifications, corporate procurement, federal contracting, financing, and the operators making each work for diverse-owned businesses. Every piece checked against primary sources.

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Guide

Guide · 8 min

How to become an IBM supplier (and what IBM's supplier diversity program actually wants)

IBM has bought from diverse suppliers since 1968 and still targets 5% of addressable spend. Here's the actual on-ramp: how registration works, …

Jan 9, 2026 · Mario Bailey

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Apply what's in the reporting to your own business.

Most of what gets covered here turns into a question of which certification you should pursue first. The eligibility quiz checks your business against every certification we track and returns a ranked list with the buyers each opens.

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