Ford: Woman Management Key to Future Success

By Michael Collins, FCN

DEARBORN, March 24, 2006 (FCN) -- When the U.S. Congress established March as Women's History Month in 1987, its primary goal was to spotlight the outstanding achievements of women in years past. But it also sheds light on women making history today. And nowhere is the emerging presence of women more evident than the automotive industry, where women are making great strides in a once male-dominated environment.

In a recent article on the auto industry, The Cleveland Plain Dealer said, "The roller-coaster fortunes of the domestic automakers are part of the historical pattern, but this time there's a difference: women at GM and Ford will play starring roles in the attempted turnaround of both companies."

The article lists Ford Motor Company executives Anne Stevens, Nancy Gioia, Barbara Samardizch, Anne Belec, Sue Cischke, Deborah Coleman and Elena Ford as some of the key leaders in deciding the fate of the automotive business in the United States.

"The automotive industry is not for the weak of heart or the faint of mind. Fear is not an option." said Stevens, recently appointed by Bill Ford as chief operating officer of The Americas and a chief architect of the "Way Forward" plan.

So what are the traits that women in the leadership ranks seem to have in common?

According to a recent survey of American women in leadership roles commissioned by IMdiversity.com, much of their success can be attributed to tenacity and optimism.

It's those two traits that are the threads that run through the careers of the Ford executives FCN is profiling in celebration of National Women's History Month.