The Georgia Minority Supplier Development Council (GMSDC) is celebrating a milestone anniversary in 2025…50 years of facilitating business partnerships and stimulating the economy of the Great State of Georgia. What began in 1975 as the Atlanta Regional Minority Purchasing Council – the brainchild of a bold handful of Georgia corporations who saw economic equity as a goal worth pursuing – has evolved over five decades into the state of Georgia’s leading voice on small business development and supplier diversity. At a recent recognition of the GMSDC under the Gold Dome in February, it was striking to note the demographic mix of the business owners and corporate supporters who joined us that day. Our delegation in the galleries of both houses of the legislature was roughly 75% women, and more than 50% women of color. Which brings us to the point of the day – March is Women’s History Month! And just like our delegation calling on legislators last week, no analysis of the history of Georgia or this nation would be complete without acknowledging the contributions of women.
In keeping with so many of America’s rituals, customs and traditions, Women’s History Month was one of the last major commemorations established, only added to the calendar in 1981. Women’s History Week was observed in the second week of March, as Congress would only set aside one week to celebrate women and their historic importance, until the Women’s History Project finally convinced skeptical legislators to expand the recognition to the entire month of March in 1987. Even though women exceed 50% of the population pretty much everywhere, the makeup of the Georgia legislature is still 65% male. The good news is that the gender diversity under the Gold Dome increases every election cycle, as more and more women make themselves available to serve and make their case to the voters. While we proudly beat the drum about Georgia’s longstanding ranking as the Number 1 state for business, we must also consider how much of that economic power is attributable to women.
Even the GMSDC – whose very name speaks to the role the organization plays in minority business development – would not have been a thought leader and significant catalyst of business growth without major roles played by women. The Georgia Council, and the majority of the 22 sister councils nationwide are led by women executives, leaders from a wide variety of corporate and business backgrounds who are a huge part of the success of their local economies, in states large and small. Women business owners are the most visible in our community and the fastest growing segment of our supplier constituency, with statistical evidence that the majority of the new businesses started in our state are helmed by women. So, as we commemorate the invaluable contributions of the likes of Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, Shirley Chisholm and Clara Barton, let us not forget to also shine the spotlight on women who are perhaps less well known but equally impactful due to their economic contributions.
Georgia women lead the nation in the pace of growth for women owned businesses and rank 8th in the nation for starting women-owned companies. More than 500,000 such firms employ 300,000 people and impact our state economically to the tune of $100 billion. If women in business was a country, it would have the 5th largest GDP in the world. That, in and of itself, is history. Kudos to the women who are making a difference in business this Women’s History Month.
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