Supplier diversity needs to focus on industries of today and tomorrow Black companies became pigeonholed in low-margin endeavors such as janitorial, landscaping, delivery and construction. B-TO-B-DIVERSITY Ariel Investments founder and co-CEO John Rogers has served on corporate, university, hospital and museum boards, sometimes as the first or sole African American. When he asks the CEO, CFO or general counsel if they would consider using a minority investment bank in their next deal, he says the invariable answer is, "I didn't know there were Black firms that could do that." Black firms aren't well represented in the fast-growing and high-margin businesses in financial services and technology. These are the companies that create jobs and wealth for families and enable business owners to bring along people from their communities. They are the businesses that can inspire and motivate young people coming up—alternatives to long-shot sports and entertainment stardom.