When Prudential Financial's Rick Meade first heard, more than a decade ago, that some top companies were prioritising the use of more minority-owned law firms, he wanted to join them. But back in 2006, he said his company's efforts on that front were not developed enough for him to jump in just yet.

During the next few years, Meade, who is chief legal officer for international businesses at Prudential Financial, collaborated with a handful of other senior lawyers who decided to be proactive and start engaging female- and minority-owned businesses through their own efforts.