*As businesses across the country look for ways to strengthen supply chains and drive long-term growth, leaders within the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC) emphasize that the path forward runs directly through minority-owned businesses.
For Carlton Oneal, a board member of NMSDC and President of LightSpeedEdu, that mission is both strategic and urgent.
“I’m most proud of the role I’ve played in shaping strategy by bringing the MBE perspective into rooms where decisions are made,” Oneal stated, referring to minority business enterprises.
Over the years, his leadership has evolved from local engagement to regional influence and now to the national board. Yet one priority has remained constant: ensuring that MBEs are represented when key decisions are made.
As the leader of a company recognized for creating innovative, interactive learning experiences, Oneal is committed to outcomes of excellence not only for his own company but for the business owners he engages with in his board role.
Before board meetings, he makes it a point to connect with fellow business owners, elevating shared concerns around access, accountability, decision-making, and long-term sustainability.
“My role has always been to ensure the voice of the MBE is heard when real decisions are made,” he explained.
In today’s economic climate, access alone is no longer enough. Oneal emphasizes that MBEs need to actively engage and consistently demonstrate value.
“What is evolving is how the mission is being activated,” he said. “MBEs come to the table already capable, competitive, and prepared. The focus now is on translating access into meaningful, sustained revenue growth.”
Sustainable growth strengthens local job creation, expands tax bases, and fuels innovation pipelines.
When MBEs secure long-term contracts instead of one-off projects, they build infrastructure, invest in technology, and scale operations, reinforcing economic resilience across industries.
Supplier diversity, according to Oneal, is more than a corporate responsibility, it’s a competitive growth strategy.
Collaboration is key: when corporations support larger teaming models, they gain resilience, innovation, and performance from all parties involved.
“You get the best results when MBEs are brought together as a team. Those who are truly intentional recognize that MBEs deliver resilience, innovation, and performance,” he noted.
Black-owned businesses, in particular, have tremendous opportunities at the intersection of technology and strategic partnerships.
Younger MBE leaders are increasingly investing in digital infrastructure, data-driven decision-making, and specialized expertise, making them more likely to succeed.
“What gives me hope is what I’m seeing in the next generation of leaders, especially around technology, data, and collaboration,” Oneal said.
Many are thinking beyond local contracts and toward global markets, understanding that scale often comes through strategic alliances. Yet there remains a perception challenge.
“Some corporations still assume MBEs are small and question whether they can ‘get the job done,’ but that’s simply not accurate,” he shared. “There are MBEs that are billion-dollar businesses, and there are many others who can come together and demonstrate scale.”
Ultimately, strengthening minority business enterprises is not just about equity, it’s about economic strategy.
For corporations and policymakers alike, building supply chains that are resilient, adaptive, and built for long-term success depends on embracing this lesson fully.
“Economic impact is created when opportunity aligns with readiness, discipline, intentionality, and vision,” Oneal concluded.
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