Denise James Gatling
Director, Global Supplier, Diversity & Business Development, GlaxoSmithKline

Denise James Gatling is the Director of Global Supplier Diversity & Business Development at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). She is responsible for leading an international initiative by implementing successful strategies to progress diverse business inclusion and development efforts across the globe. She has served as a US delegate to Australia, London, China, Brazil and South Africa to advance minority business development in those countries. Gatling has led the Supplier Diversity initiative to achieve a record of accomplishments. Her zeal, commitment and ability to lead by example have enabled her to effectively direct the initiative and increase GSK’s spend with diverse businesses. Under her leadership, GSK has been nominated and selected for many prestigious awards. To Gatling, Supplier Diversity is a business imperative and she works assiduously to ensure it is not just a company goal but a corporate commitment.

As a result of her steadfast leadership, Gatling has been recognized as a leader in the business community. She was recognized as one of the “First Ladies of Supplier Diversity” in 2007 by Minority Business News USA and an “Achiever to Watch” in the 2006-07 FraserNet SUCCESSGUIDE Worldwide. Additionally, in 2007 she received the “Masters of Diversity” award from the Recycling Black Dollars organization and received the “2005 Progress Energy Excellence in Supplier Diversity” award. Most recently, Gatling received the Carolinas Minority Supplier Development Council’s “Presidents Award”, a first-time award created especially for Gatling in recognition of her exemplary actions in the minority business community.

Gatling collaborates with various external advocacy groups to help level the playing field for businesses across the globe. She serves on numerous boards and councils to include:

• Chair, GlaxoSmithKline and Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Supplier Business Initiative
• Chair, National Corporate Advisory Council of the Minority Business Roundtable
• Member, The Maya Angelou Center for Health Equity at Wake Forest University School of Medicine
• Member, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Corporate Advisory Council
• Member, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government’s Women’s Leadership Board
• Member, Students In Free Enterprise Board
• Member, The Conference Board: Supplier Diversity Leadership Council
• Member, GlaxoSmithKline’s Political Action Committee
• Member, Executive Advisory Council of the School of Business & Economics at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University

Gatling holds a Bachelors of Science in Business Administration from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University and a Masters in Business Administration from Meredith College.