Automotive News - November 9, 2015 - Supplement - 6W

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11/4/2015

1:16 PM

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6W * NOVEMBER 9, 2015

L E A D I N G

W O M E N

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ON THE REBOUND
Leadership opportunities returning for women in the auto industry

GKN Driveline Americas' Sandra Bouckley
seeks ways to attract and retain women.
Amy Wilson

awilson@crain.com

all it a comeback.
The progress of women in
the auto industry in the last
five years is undeniable. After
the Great Recession and massive cost-cutting reduced leadership roles
for women in the industry in 2010, those
opportunities have rebounded in 2015.
A comparison of the 2015 and 2010 Automotive News lists of 100 Leading
Women in the North American Auto Industry confirms that the status of women
in the industry has improved since 2010.
There are six CEOs among automakers
and suppliers on the list this year, up from
two in 2010 - the last time the list was
compiled. Another three on the current
list are CEOs of automaker or supplier
units. None fit that description in 2010.

Toyota Technical Center's Kristen Tabar says the auto industry is recognizing that
work-life balance is important to all employees, not just women.

What they do
Job disciplines for the 100 Leading
Women
HOW MANY

"As the industry has been
coming out of the crisis,
there have been many
more opportunities
available, and many of
them have been filled by
women."

Chris Barman, FCA US

Among the 2015 honorees, 73 have executive officer titles or are owners of their
companies. That's up from 63.
One company with an executive on the
list - rental car giant Enterprise Holdings
- is largely run by women. It has a female
CEO, Pam Nicholson. Next in line is also a
woman, Nicholson said. Six of the 13 directors on Enterprise's board are women.
"As the industry has been coming out
of the crisis, there have been many more
opportunities available, and many of
them have been filled by women," said
Chris Barman, vice president of engineering at FCA US. "There are more roles
of responsibility, at higher levels, for
women, and I think it will continue to
improve even more in the coming
years."
And the knockout punch: Mary Barra is
now CEO of General Motors.

Role models
Jeneanne Hanley, vice president of
global trim and craftsmanship at Lear
Corp., called Barra's January 2014 promotion to CEO "the single best thing that

Manufacturing..............................21
Engineering..................................17
Retail ..........................................10
Executive management ...................9
Purchasing.....................................9
Finance .........................................8
Marketing ......................................8
Information technology....................7
Sales ............................................5
Design...........................................2
Business development....................1
Human resources ...........................1
Labor ............................................1
Legal.............................................1

Yazaki North America's Olga
Alavanou: Some women are leaving
the industry for other opportunities.

BRADFORD WERNLE

could have happened. It really gets down
core leadership and ancillary roles, rangto role models."
ing from engineers to designers to
Some companies are putting more felawyers.
male-friendly policies into place. Such
But while the executives on the list
policies had fallen by the wayside
largely said the status of women
during the recession at many
in the industry has improved, the
companies just trying to survive.
degree of improvement differs
"In the past few years, we've
depending on whom you ask.
adopted new ways to offer alterWomen have more opportuninative work schedules, flexible
ties, said Kim Brink, COO of
work hours and maternity leave
Team Detroit/Blue Hive. "But I
options," said Sonia Rief, director
still think the auto industry is
of vehicle program management
woefully behind other indusat Nissan Technical Center North Rief: Keeping
tries."
America. "Nissan has come very women engaged
In other words, there's more
far to keep women engaged."
work to do. The move by women
The working environment has become
up the corporate ladder to leadership
much more professional since many of
roles still happens slowly, many women
the Leading Women started in the indussaid.
try. They don't see pinup pictures atAnd the pace is tough.
tached to toolboxes or along the assembly
"It's a very unforgiving industry," said
line anymore. They see more women in
Karen Folger, vice president of original

equipment services sales for North America at Bosch Automotive Service Solutions. "The hours are long, the pressure is
high, the competition is fierce, and usually, you're still worried about: Are the kids
going to get picked up from soccer practice? Who's going to make dinner? And
what do I do about my mom who needs
her therapy?"
So while opportunities are probably
greater than they've ever been, the difficulty of making it work from a practical
sense is probably not getting that much
easier, she said.
Consequently, said Grace Lieblein, vice
president of global quality at GM, sometimes women "de-select themselves, and
that's an issue." It means that companies
have to do a better job of developing
women in the pipeline by putting them in
see OPPORTUNITY, Page 8W

Automotive News - November 9, 2015 - Supplement

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