How Women Can Become Automotive Leaders – Lisa Brown, Ph.D., Volkswagen Group of America

“To me an exciting industry, the auto industry, so I wondered ‘why aren’t more women, particularly young women interested in the automotive industry?’…So this is why I conducted a quantitative-qualitative correlational study looking at relationships between all these things the experts say you should do…. I wanted to know, ‘is that really true?’ … And if it IS accurate, then why don’t we have more women at least in middle management?” Lisa Brown on Electric Ladies Podcast

Electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, hydrogen vehicles. Ride-sharing. The automotive sector is being transformed. Car companies are even calling themselves “mobility” companies now. Yet, they are still largely dominated by men, and white men at that. They say they have diversity programs, and career planning and mentorship programs and other strategies to support women’s advancement in the industry. And yet…the numbers don’t change. Why?

Listen to Lisa Brown, Ph.D., Regional Marketing Manager, South East Region, Volkswagen of America, explain her findings in her ground-breaking new quantitative and qualitative research on this issue in this enlightening interview by Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson.

You’ll hear:

And much more!

Have a plan. I think sometimes, we have ideas, but we don’t take the time to plan….Get out of your comfort zone. If you’re an introvert, take that step to get to know folks. If you’re an extrovert, sometimes take that time to be quiet and to listen, to be that fly on the wall. And I would also say, invest in yourself. A lot of times, self-care is something that we don’t do. But invest in yourself, take the time, whether it’s just a self-help book, or taking a course to improve certain skill sets…. And last, but not least. Offer yourself some grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself.“ Lisa Brown on Electric Ladies podcast

 

Read Joan’s Forbes articles hereand here on the power of lateral career moves.

You’ll also want to listen to (some of these are under the name Green Connections Radio):

Bonnie Gwin, Vice Chair, Heidrick & Struggles, on the new type of CEO companies are hiring.

Michele Wucker, thought leaders and author of “You Are What You Risk: The New Art & Science to Navigating an Uncertain World.”

Roberta Rincon, Society of Women Engineers, Director of Research, on the status and careers of women in various types of engineering roles.

Barbara Whye, Chief Diversity Officer of Apple, and former VP of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer of Intel.

Telle Whitney, Former CEO of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Cofounder of the Grace Hopper Conference

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