Automotive News Canada - October 2022 - 55

Nissan Canada is committed to the
area of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.
We sat down with our very own Tara Willis, the newly
appointed Senior Manager of DE&I to discuss Nissan's vision.
What is Nissan Canada's mission and
strategy in the DE&I space?
Our vision is to create a Nissan for everyone -
a culture where employees, customers, and
partners feel respected, valued, and heard.
We believe that communicating through a
lens of diversity helps us continue to connect
with all employees and our stakeholders in
a meaningful way.
What are the key objectives for your role?
Our commitment to DE&I is reflected by
the decision to open a position which will
oversee this area in Canada. It is a strong
testament to our efforts in ownership and
accountability within our organization and
the automotive industry.
After 18 years of working in the automotive
industry, I touched on DE&I within INFINITI
Canada's team. I wanted to focus on
contributing to the people and culture in
our organization.
experience, driving cultural change
initiatives, and much more, through the
lens and values of DE&I.
What initiatives does Nissan Canada have
to support DE&I?
We've been recognized as a " Great Place to
Work " for three years in a row. We are proud
of our achievements to date, and recognize
we need to do more.
One of our successful initiatives has been
establishing our Business Synergy Teams
(BSTs). The BSTs are volunteer-led by our
associates who lead internal projects to
elevate the employee experience, create
opportunities for professional development
and act to support NCI's business objectives.
On the other hand, Executive Sponsors
oversee those groups and provide counsel.
We currently have four BSTs at Nissan
Canada: Women's BST, Gay Straight Alliance
at Nissan (GSAN), the Multicultural BST
(MBST) and Generations.
Following the announcement of a National
Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we started
our journey last year with an introduction
to this important part of history. Starting
2022, Nissan Canada will be observing it as
reflection time for our employees.
I am responsible for leading the development
and execution of DE&I efforts and overseeing
Nissan Canada's Philanthropic initiatives.
This includes mentoring, engaging in strategic
planning, deploying initiatives based on
employee sentiment, improving employee
This year, our executive team, HR partners
and culture team members have completed
'4 Seasons of Reconciliation' course on
Indigenous Awareness Training which will be
extended to all Nissan Canada's employees.
We also partner with external associations
such as Accelerate Auto, a trusted partner
and organization dedicated to increasing
opportunities for Black talent and tackling
systemic racism in the industry.
How is Nissan Canada supporting
Canadian communities?
The Nissan Canada Foundation was
established in 1993 with the intention
of improving the quality of life in the
communities where Nissan operates, and
focuses on three core areas: Education,
Environment, and Humanitarian aid.
On the Education front, we support 3 levels
of education - trades, early and secondary
education and post-secondary education -
with three scholarships through Georgian
College, the 'Scientists in Schools' program,
and parts donations to support hands-on
learning in trade schools.
We support the Mississauga Food Bank and
have employees each year help sort food
and learn about its impact in our community.
We collaborate with Habitat for Humanity
for various initiatives, including national
volunteer days where we help build homes,
Re-Vive days that provide opportunity to
upcycle or build furniture and our annual
vehicle donation.
We support the World Wildlife Fund, and
the " Learn, Plant, Connect " campaign to
outline the role we all share in caring for
the environment and supporting Nissan's
sustainability vision.
We are committed to building a Nissan for
everyone, where we all have a voice. We look
forward to sharing more of our initiatives
down the road!
Automotive News Canada - October 2022

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