Nedra Dickson, Interim Chief Executive Officer on Influential Women
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Influential Woman · Non-profit

Nedra Dickson

Interim Chief Executive Officer, Women's Business Enterprise National Council

Atlanta, GA 30306

8Awards received

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Florida State University Degree University of Southern California - MBA Cert AI & Machine Learning

Her Story

About Nedra

Nedra Dickson is an accomplished global business executive, supply chain strategist, and advocate for supplier diversity who currently serves as Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). Raised in Arkansas, she was instilled with a deep appreciation for education, curiosity, and lifelong learning by her parents values that continue to shape her leadership philosophy today. She often encourages others to “stay curious,” believing that continuous learning is one of the most powerful drivers of personal and professional growth. Dickson earned her undergraduate degree from Florida State University and later completed her MBA at University of Southern California. With a foundation in computer science and technology, she built a remarkable career by embracing innovation, pursuing new opportunities, and creating meaningful impact on a global scale.

Dickson spent 25 years at Accenture, where she held a variety of leadership roles spanning technology, operations, procurement, sustainability, and supply chain strategy. Beginning in technology support for more than 10,000 employees, she later led a procurement organization responsible for a $14 billion portfolio across 30 countries, overseeing everything from technology acquisitions and office facilities to global sourcing strategies. Her international responsibilities provided the opportunity to work with clients around the world, developing concepts from inception through execution and gaining firsthand experience across diverse markets and cultures. Recognizing the untapped potential of smaller businesses, she pioneered Accenture’s Global Supplier Inclusion and Sustainability program, creating opportunities for diverse suppliers while helping organizations build more resilient and cost-effective supply chains. Her success in this area led to a strategic role advising global clients on supplier diversity and sustainable procurement practices, establishing her as a recognized leader in inclusive sourcing and business transformation.

Throughout her career, Dickson has remained passionate about expanding economic opportunity, strengthening communities, and empowering entrepreneurs. She has collaborated with influential leaders and brands including lifestyle entrepreneur Martha Stewart while earning a reputation for operational excellence, strategic vision, and transformational leadership. After retiring from Accenture following a distinguished global career, she was invited to serve as Interim President and CEO of WBENC to help position the organization for its next chapter of growth and impact, an opportunity she enthusiastically embraced. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dickson enjoys exploring the world through travel, is an avid reader, actively participates in a book club, and enjoys playing golf. Whether in business or in life, she remains committed to learning, building meaningful connections, and inspiring others to lead with curiosity, purpose, and vision.

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Nedra

01What do you attribute your success to?

I always attribute my success to my faith in believing in God and my parents. I am one blessed young lady that had parents that worked so hard to give me endless opportunities. It's a gift, considering my small town. My parents really instilled education in us, and I believe staying curious was a part of my core soul, always being a learner. That foundation they gave me, combined with my faith, is what has carried me through everything.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice I ever received was to keep learning. It was never stop learning, never think that you're too old to learn something new. But to always learn and listen. Be a good listener. That advice has shaped how I approach everything in my career, staying curious and open to what others have to say.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

I would tell young women to have a lot of patience and persistence. You're going to meet a lot of people who say no, or they're thinking you're doing something or wanting a handout, but I think people just have to have a lot of patience and see the good in people. Don't focus on the bad news or negativity. I end each day on something positive, even if it's unloading my dishwasher. Find that accomplishment, no matter how small.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

I always say where there's chaos, there's opportunities. Right now, everyone is really fearing the boom of AI, which has always been here, we're just seeing it differently. The challenge is really, as we're seeing a lot of people lose their jobs, how do we upskill or reskill people? It's really a challenge in educating people on the goodness of technology and how it can be human plus technology, not just technology by itself. What scares me about it is the senior population, like my mom who's barely learned to do an iPhone. With AI being able to replicate your voice with deep fakes, I worry about that. I'm hoping more people will start doing responsible AI. You can do everything you want on ChatGPT, but it's not always right. It's going to make you happy, so it's going to give you what you want to hear. We just have to find that balance with our own moral compass.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

I think someone's character really means a lot. Some of my values that I really have is that someone has to be honest and have empathy for others. It's really important for me that you have integrity. It's honesty and integrity, compassion and empathy. I just believe in fairness. I just believe in advocating for others for a fair chance, no matter what.

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