Automotive News - November 9, 2015 - Supplement - 57W

20151109-page57W.qxp

11/6/2015

10:47 AM

Page 1

NOVEMBER 9, 2015 * 57W

L E A D I N G

JULIE MARTIN

W O M E N

●●●

●

Vice President of Sales and Marketing | Hella Corporate Center
USA | Plymouth, Mich. | Age: 48 | Education: B.S., materials
management, Michigan State University

DARLENE KNIGHT
Group Vice President and General
Manager, Complete Seat Americas |
Johnson Controls | Plymouth, Mich. |
Age: 49 | Education: B.S., industrial
administration, General Motors
Institute; M.S., engineering science,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

to make it through payroll the next week. So
I gathered a team of lawyers and
consultants who knew what to do, and we
got through it. It ended up being a Chapter
7, but we never shut down a customer, we
got through it, everything was orderly. I had
to use every tool in my toolbox, and near
the end, I started working at a company
outside the auto industry.
● What attracted you to the auto
● What should be done to encourage
industry? I was following in my father's
women to enter the auto industry? We
footsteps. He worked at the GM plant in
should treat women just like we treat men.
Wilmington, Del. I started working there
Women are looking for the same thing from
when I was 18 and then had the opportunity
their careers as men. We're all looking for
to go to GMI.
challenging opportunities, promotion
opportunities. People throw balance out
● First automotive job: At the
there with women, but I think
Wilmington assembly plant
are looking for work-family
when I was a GMI student in
"We should treat men
balance. I think women would
1984. My first assignment was
women just like
stay more if we truly embrace a
on the receiving dock, receiving
culture of diversity. Not just
material and documenting
we treat men.
bringing women in and putting
truckloads. My first [full-time]
Women are
them in separate jobs. Or
job was in industrial
expecting women to be just
looking for the
engineering at the Wilmington
a man - dress like a man,
plant, doing CAD layouts, time
same thing from like
no flowers on your desk, don't
studies. We were just learning
their careers as
paint your fingernails. It has to
about synchronous
be: Bring people in and let
manufacturing at the time.
men."
them be truly who they are.
Nobody knew what it was. That
was the start of lean manufacturing.
● Tell us about your family. I married my
college sweetheart. We've been married 26
● Big break: When I was promoted to
years. Right now, we have two Chihuahuas,
president of North America at Edscha (a
Castro and Zina. We live in Birmingham,
supplier of body hardware and convertible
and we're both runners. I try to run every
tops). That was a big break because it was
day, if I can. I run for me. I don't want to
a leadership position outside of operations,
compete for time. I do it to relieve pressure.
and most of my career had been in
engineering and operations up to then. This
● What's your favorite weekend activity? I
was something that gave me broader
love snow skiing - I didn't discover that till
responsibility, P&L responsibility.
I was 40!
● What is the major challenge you've
● Name one thing about yourself that
faced in your career? At Edscha, when I
most people don't know. My college
was president of North America, we went
roommate, my BFF, is also being awarded
through a bankruptcy during the downturn.
[as one of the 100 Leading Women].
The parent company was in Germany, and
Pamela Fletcher. She's at GM. We've been
under the bankruptcy laws, they put a wall
friends forever.
around all the EU companies. So I was by
● When and where was your last
myself. I had no money in the bank
vacation? Virginia Beach, in August.
account. I didn't even have enough money
- Neal E. Boudette

"

"

● What attracted you to the auto industry? Having grown up in the
Detroit area and having had a father and grandparents who worked in the
auto industry, it was kind of a natural. My grandmother and grandfather
both worked on the line: one at Ford and one at GM. That was my
mother's side. My dad worked for Ford 32 years in management.
● First automotive job: My summer internship at Ford in 1988. I worked
in the purchasing department.
● Big break: The internship led to getting a full-time job offer the
following year when I graduated from Michigan State. That was the first
big step into a full-time job. Mine wasn't one big break; there was no
defining moment that made my career.
● What is the major challenge you've faced in your career? Balancing
my roles as a mom and a wife with that of a professional - a manager, a
director, a VP. That was always a constant challenge.
● Who has had the biggest influence on your career? A strong leader at
Ford named Stormy Hicks. He has since retired. He is an ex-Naval officer
that served in the Vietnam War before going to Cornell for his MBA and
then joining Ford. He had an incredibly successful career at Ford and lived
all over the world.
He was humble and honest about what his strengths were and what they
weren't and how to compensate by surrounding himself with people he
valued, respected, could motivate to make a team. He is someone I've
respected and learned from. I still stay in touch with him.
● What should be done to encourage women to enter the auto
industry? A lot of the younger generation saw what happened in 2008
through 2010, and it put fear in them about the recessional cycles that
we have. But if we promote the opposite side, the success stories that
go with automotive and get younger people into internships and get them
some exposure to people who can be positive influences, I think you can
get more interest.
● Tell us about your family. I have a wonderful husband who has been in
automotive for 31 years. He's a wonderful father and an engineer by
degree. My son, Alec, is 23 and he's in purchasing at Ford, and my
daughter, Lauren, is 21. She's a senior at Michigan State University.
● Name one thing about yourself that most people don't know. I'm
embarrassed to say I absolutely love trashy, reality TV, the reality
housewives on Bravo. After a long day at work, it's mindless. I can watch
somebody else's drama and laugh.
● If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be?
Warren Buffett. I look at this guy and he's 85 years old and the energy
and the interest that he still has in his career and his business -
whatever this guy is taking, I want some.
- Arlena Sawyers

●
Automotive News - November 9, 2015 - Supplement

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 9, 2015 - Supplement
