About Us
About Us
For The Walt Disney Company, Supplier Diversity supports the diversification of supply chains across the company. By using a diverse range of suppliers The Walt Disney Company can encourage innovation, competition and increase value across the enterprise.
Who We Are
The Disney Supplier Diversity team helps to identify and qualify a diverse range of certified suppliers and vendors.
With extensive expertise in sourcing and connections in various diverse business communities, our Supplier Diversity team develops partnerships with a broad spectrum of suppliers. Our team plays a key role in The Walt Disney Company’s aspirational, intentional approach to diversity, equity and inclusion by working with internal teams and external partners to increase the company’s diverse spend.
What We Do
In addition to helping meet the company’s sourcing needs, Disney’s supplier diversity strategy has a lasting, positive economic impact on the communities where our teams operate. To achieve our mission, the team develops connections with diverse suppliers through engagement, mentoring and relationship management programs. We also help nurture relationships within the company to drive supplier inclusion. Finally, our team encourages growth among Tier II vendors to help increase Disney’s pool of qualified, experienced suppliers.
What We Look For
To be considered among our diverse suppliers, businesses must have 51% or more ownership (women-, minority-, LGBTQIA+-, veteran-/veteran spouse-, and disabled- owned business enterprises). The List of certifying organizations Disney accepts includes: NMSDC, WBENC, NGLCC, NAVOBA, Veterans Affairs, Disability:IN, Military Spouse Chamber of Commerce.
How We Do It
- Identify: We work with potential vendors to review relevant business criteria, including capabilities, geographical scope, and scale and capacity.
- Develop: Working with our partners in the business organization arena, we verify certifications, take part in training and mentoring opportunities, and cultivate relationships with diverse suppliers.
- Connect: Our team strengthens internal partnerships with teams throughout the company. Externally, we nurture productive relationships with segment and business unit stakeholders, community partners, and even customers and guests.
Meet the Team
Ralph Sagaille
DIRECTOR OF DISNEY STRATEGIC SOURCING, SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Ralph Sagaille brings a collaborative nature, a goal-oriented approach, and an enthusiastically analytical outlook to Disney’s Strategic Sourcing organization. Ralph is responsible for providing vision and guidance for the strategic sourcing efforts for Disney Cruise Line business, along with enterprise-wide supplier diversity and sustainability efforts.
Ralph joins the team after more than ten years with Disney Vacation Club, where his most recent role as sales manager involved driving his team’s strategic focus on multi-channel revenue generation. He began his career in technology and real estate prior to joining Disney. Originally from Chicago, Ralph earned an MBA from Webster University and holds undergraduate degrees in finance, international business, and economics.
Ralph Sagaille
Director
Strategic Sourcing and Enterprise Supplier Diversity
Ankit Brahmkshatri
SENIOR MANAGER OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Ankit Brahmkshatri helps lead the incredibly talented supplier diversity team for the enterprise-wide supplier diversity efforts. Ankit is responsible for building trusted relationships and offer thoughtful change to increase innovation and reduce risk within Disney’s complex supply chain.
Ankit has a background in finance and accounting. Before joining the Supplier Diversity team, Ankit supported financial reporting for various business units within Disney’s Global Strategic Sourcing organization. Ankit joined Disney after working in the investment management and telecommunication industries in the United States and Australia.
While he now calls Southern California home, Ankit has studied, worked, and volunteered on three continents.
Ankit Brahmkshatri
Senior Manager
Supplier Diversity
Carla McKinney
MANAGER OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Carla McKinney brings business development expertise, background in supply chain management, and a passion for community to her role as Manager of Supplier Diversity, supporting Disney Parks Experience & Products with The Walt Disney Company. An integral part of Disney’s supplier diversity team and its work toward strategic goals for diversity, equity and inclusion, Carla collaborates with internal teams and stakeholders to help build productive business partnerships with diverse suppliers. With her connections to organizations that support minority business owners and entrepreneurs, Carla helps develop, implement and mentor diverse business enterprises on behalf of The Walt Disney Company. She supports a range of the company’s East Coast operations, including Design and Construction, Facility Asset Management, Engineering Services and Integration, and Walt Disney Imagineering.
Originally from Inkster, Michigan, Carla holds an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Golden Gate University in San Francisco, CA as well as a bachelor’s degree in marketing with minors in advertising and communication from Western Michigan University, in Kalamazoo, MI. In her 15-year Disney career, Carla has also served as a Senior Sourcing Specialist in Strategic Sourcing for Disney Worldwide Services, Inc., providing internal and external guidance on strategic planning and process improvement. Connecting with both internal clients and suppliers, she oversaw contract management and helped promote effective business relationships.
Carla McKinney
Manager
Supplier Diversity
Cynthia Bravo
MANAGER OF SUPPLIER DIVERSITY
Cynthia Bravo serves as Manager, Supplier Diversity in Burbank, CA, supporting the Disney Entertainment segment.
With a background as a freelance Producer, Cynthia brings expertise and deep understanding of the entertainment industry. As a Producer, she spent over a decade collaborating with a wide range of renowned agencies and clients, as well as narrative projects.
Prior joining the Supplier Diversity team, Cynthia supported the Studio Strategic Sourcing team, focusing on Marketing suppliers for all Studio content.
Cynthia earned a Master of Fine Arts degree, a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Marketing, and a Certificate in Independent Producing from UCLA Extension.
Cynthia Bravo
Manager
Supplier Diversity
Ariel Elias
MANAGER, SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Ariel Elias is a Manager of Supplier Diversity and supports the enterprise construction, professional services, and the Walt Disney Parks, Experiences & Products segment. He has been with the Company since 2019 and before this role, worked in Strategic Sourcing. While in Strategic Sourcing he worked to drive innovation, protect the brand, drive the company’s supplier inclusion strategy, and reduce the total cost of ownership.
Prior to joining Disney, Ariel held several Leadership positions as an Officer in the U.S. Military. During his 20 years in the U.S. Military, he spent multiple years working and living overseas, while traveling to over 20 countries. Ariel is a native of Los Angeles, California. Where he attended the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California, and received a master’s degree in business administration.
Ariel Elias
Manager
Supplier Diversity
Alysia Haygood
MANAGER, SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Alysia Haygood
Manager
Supplier Diversity
Colleen Miller
PROJECT COORDINATOR, SUPPLIER DIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABILITY
Colleen started her journey in 2018 with her first stint in the Walt Disney Company’s College Program, serving as a deep-water lifeguard at Disney’s Blizzard Beach resort. Following the completion of her bachelor’s degree in International Business and Internal Studies from West Virginia State University, Colleen returned for a second College Program in 2021, and this time served as a deep-water lifeguard at Disney’s Yacht Club and Beach Club Resorts, where she was not only able to help make magic but develop her love for mentorship and management. In April of 2022, Colleen transitioned into a full-time role with Disney and became a Research Specialist Coordinator at Disney Springs. In this role, she assisted with the overall operations of Disney Springs and helped to ensure a high-level of guest satisfaction. In May 2022, Colleen attained her Master’s in Project Management from Florida Institute of Technology and soon hopes to also achieve her Professional Project Management certificate.
Colleen is a proud West Virginian, where she was born and raised, and attended college at West Virginia State University. During her time at WVSU, an HBCU, Colleen served as the Student Body President where she led efforts to grow awareness and inclusion for the student body; planning and coordinating community engagement and fundraising events while fostering relationships with key community leaders to push the importance of DEI on campus. Colleen’s commitment and passion to diversity, organizational skills, and strategic lens towards community engagement and awareness make her the perfect addition to the Supplier Diversity Team.
Colleen Miller
Project Coordinator
Supplier Diversity