British Motor Industry's Female Rising Stars Honoured At Special Awards
A hundred of the 鈥榬ising star鈥?women of the motor industry were honoured at a special event in London - with an electric vehicle specialist clinching the top title. They were praised as the female movers and shakers in automotive engineering, design, production, marketing, design, management and even apprenticeships and beyond, who are playing a leading role in creating modern cars, including those with electric and self-driving technology. 11billion investment in electric vehicles and batteries. She won the Great British Women in the Car Industry - Rising Stars 2019 initiative, organised by motoring magazine Autocar and held in partnership with the UK鈥檚 Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders. King came top of the category for women in purchasing, and then went on to beat eight other category winners from the list of 100 of 鈥榯he most talented rising stars in the car industry鈥? which recognises 鈥榦utstanding individuals鈥? King started her career as a commercial vehicle buyer for Ford in 2007 and has risen through the ranks to lead the firm鈥檚 electric vehicle charge in purchasing and manage a team across the US, the EU and China.
Judges said: 鈥橲he has been an instrumental part of teams driving key technological changes in the industry. Accepting the award, King said: 鈥業t is a huge privilege to have been chosen as this year鈥檚 winner of Autocar鈥檚 Great British Women in the Car Industry - Rising Stars. I am deeply thankful to have been considered alongside such accomplished and varied female talent and hope that we can, in turn, inspire future generations. 鈥楾he work I do with Ford is a really exciting area to be involved in. Investing heavily in an electric future means our work is at the forefront of the migration to new technologies and services鈥? Autocar editor Mark Tisshaw said: 鈥楨mma鈥檚 impressive rise at Ford is the perfect showcase for everything we are celebrating. The event also featured a panel debate with some of the industry鈥檚 biggest name,s chaired by managing director of Autocar and Haymarket Automotive Rachael Prasher.
Many car firms - including Aston Martin and Ford - now have women鈥檚 panels to ensure the female viewpoint is taken on board from the moment new cars are being planned. Chair of the judging panel and managing director of Autocar and Haymarket Automotive, Rachael Prasher, said: 鈥業t is always exciting for us to recognise the leading women in our industry, but this year鈥檚 event feels particularly special. The event is supported by CDK Global, Nissan, Toyota, Peugeot and Volkswagen Group. SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: 鈥榃e are delighted to continue to support this fantastic initiative, which rightly celebrates success while working to encourage more women into the industry. Mr Hawes added: 鈥榃ith such a widening range of exciting roles, it is more important than ever to attract talent from across all backgrounds, abilities and genders. The calibre of nominees this year was exceptional and once again highlights the women excelling in our sector and the crucial role they play now and in the future.
Aston Martin鈥檚 President of the Americas, Laura Schwab, said in her keynote talk that the secret of success in a male-dominated car industry was to 鈥檅e yourself鈥?- regardless of the put-downs, knock-backs, unfair criticisms or job selection processes. Speaking at the Autocar Great British Women Rising Stars conference and awards she also urged female employees to find a 鈥榤entor鈥?to advise them and act as a sounding board. And she insisted it was not necessary for women to 鈥榖eat each other up鈥?to get to the top job. Her entry into the automotive world was largely by chance when she applied for a job at a fledgling online car sales company in California in the early days of the internet. Explaining how she climbed the executive ladder after playing competitive tennis and taking a law degree, she said hard work, a willingness to learn and to listen, and a 鈥榮tubborn鈥?streak had seen her through.