My whole career I've been struggling with the lack of female active involvement and leadership in the automotive industry. Sure, there are women around here. I see them around. But besides the obvious omittance from leadership, there is also a noticeably low number of women who are actively participating in the automotive industry outside of their daily work day.

Last month at the MICHauto Summit (#MAS15)—an annual conference focusing on how Michigan can leverage its automotive heritage to lead the research, design and manufacturing of next-generation mobility technology—I looked around the Cobo Center Ballroom and I noticed I was surrounded by the same crowd as every other automotive event. Men.

Wouldn't be an auto event if I wasn't surrounded by men. #aspiringgirlboss Where is my spirit animal @mtbarra? #MAS15 pic.twitter.com/G808WZgpMU

— Katelyn Davis (@katelynshelby) September 30, 2015

Not only where the attendees primarily men, the speakers list was male dominated as well.

Over 30 speakers @MICHauto & only 2 are Women. We need to include more women in leadership #MAS15 Plenty of us in the audience! @WomeninMfg

— Meghan Hasse (@meghanhasse) September 30, 2015

And honestly, I'm not that surprised. The dominating male representation at industry events is only a window into what is actually going on in the industry. What is STILL going on.

The Facts
The automotive industry talent pool is comprised of nearly 60% women. A number that still shocks me. If we're dominating the industry, why don't we make ourselves known? We have good insight and we deserve a voice. Why don't we take over?

We try but the fact is only 3.3% of executive positions in the automotive industry are filled by these women. This figure has varied little over the years, indicating change is happening more in the intent than in the reality. And while there are prominent women executives in automotive, the numbers show those women are virtually alone within industry leadership. Their rarity suggests that talented women have significantly greater opportunity in industries outside the automotive sector.

And you would think that with Mary Barra, the first female CEO of a major global automaker. holding reign at GM just down the street that we would begin to see the tides turning, at least locally, within the automotive industry.


The weirdest part about all of this: the automotive industry is driven by women. Annually, women spend $200 Billion on automotive vehicles and related services. Women are 80% of all automotive buying decisions made in the U.S.

But even though the industry depends on women consumers, we still don't have a larger presence in leadership roles. Why?

What Can We Do?
I don't blame this problem entirely on oppression from our male coworkers or a lost invitation from the good 'ol boys club but or mostly on ourselves. The first step into breaking through the glass ceiling (and staying above it) is making our numbers known. Remember, we make up roughly 60% of the industry's working professionals and we dominate the consumer audience. So why aren't we 60% of industry event attendees? 60% of the keynote speakers?

We need to go to these events. We need to network. We need to take the initiative to learn more. Learn everything humanly possible about this awesome industry we are all a part of. Be confident. And speak up! These are they things that cannot be taken away from us or kept out of reach, yet I seldom see women stepping forward. We need to take our place in the spotlight and make ourselves known! We need to be active participants in our industry. Once we are recognized as a force to be reckoned with maybe then we will earn the recognition we deserve.

But until we stop hiding behind our desks I will continue to be the minority—a lone purple dress in a sea of black and navy suits. If you're ready to venture out into the world, let me know and I'd be more than happy to be your ally.

---

If you're interested in becoming more involved in the automotive industry, check out Inforum's AutomotiveNEXT group. AutomotiveNEXT is a powerful network and supportive community for women in Automotive that inspires and empowers them to lean in, achieve their full potential, and make a lasting impact in the industry.

Today I was inspired by a Socrates quote which is helping me to deal with some feels I'm feeling.

"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new."

Sounds so simple, right?

Yesterday Gov. Rick Snyder signed a bill that ensures Tesla Motors, the Silicon Valley automaker, can't sell cars directly to consumers in Michigan, which was heavily supported by Michigan's powerful auto dealer lobby.

There are a plethora of "reasons" however the main thorn in their side comes from Tesla wanting to sell cars through "stores" instead of franchised dealers, which today is the standard of the automotive industry. No other automakers do this. Supporters argue Michigan should have a business environment where all participants play by a common set of rules.

This is the silliest thing I've ever heard.

A "common set of rules" will suppress competitiveness, which is the backbone of businesses. It will suppress innovation based on fear of the same banishment and because innovation and change have now been made unnecessary for a successful business. And without a culture based on innovation, Michigan has just suppressed the automotive industry, its pride and joy.

Just because we didn't do it first doesn't mean it isn't a good idea. 

Business and the industry need to keep up with the needs and lifestyles of a new generation, a generation that is far different and complex from anything else we've seen. Those who are unwilling to change to meet their demands, will be pushed aside.

Just because we didn't do it first doesn't mean we can't do it better.

If the industry spent half as much time, energy, resources, and money on change as they have on fighting the new model, maybe they would have been able to develop a competitive solution that could have, once again, put Detroit's auto industry on the map.

In the words of, Detroit billionaire, Dan Gilbert on the ban: "Why don't you man up and compete like everybody else does?"