The automotive industry is missing out on a big pool of talent.

In the words of Cheryl Thompson — CEO & Founder of the Center for Automotive Diversity, Inclusion, and Advancement (CADIA) — there is an untapped “goldmine for talent”. By tapping into it, we not only benefit our country and our industry but also our companies, with a broader, more diverse, and richer pool of prospects to choose from when hiring.

Cheryl is a fourth-generation automotive professional who started as a waitress at Ford’s Michigan Headquarters. She soon went into automotive engineering and product development, later becoming Ford’s Global Prototype Manager and helping develop the powertrain technology found in some of today’s leading vehicles.

Today, at CADIA, she consults companies throughout the automotive industry on how they can power and grow their organizations through diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Interview Highlights:

• Cheryl’s life story — She tells how her 30 years in the automotive industry led to her founding CADIA
• A synopsis of the 4-hour class she teaches to OEMs, large auto groups, and other companies in the automotive industry
• We get many examples of how and why diversity can lead to a stronger automotive workforce

Episode Quote:

“We want to be able to leverage diversity, so that everyone can bring their best selves to work and do their best work.”

— Cheryl Thompson

|| Dealer News Today is a DCG Media production