Hopefully by now you have seen the sleek, new Volkswagen all-electric ID.4. You’ve seen how this “electric vehicle for the everyday driver” boasts considerable cargo space, mileage, affordability, and practicality. And, oh yeah, it will be assembled right here in Chattanooga in fall 2022.
The automotive industry is transforming rapidly, and the future is clearly electric. As the automotive world transforms, Volkswagen Chattanooga – as the company’s North American base for manufacturing electric vehicles – is right at the forefront of Volkswagen’s global electrification strategy.
It’s comes as no surprise that many women are driving growth and technological innovation in the automotive industry. As the Chattanooga factory prepares for ID.4 assembly, we interviewed a few of those who are playing a significant role. These women represent multiple departments and divisions of Volkswagen, demonstrating the collaboration and unity necessary to take on such a robust project. All of them are members of the factory’s Women in Motion Employee Resource Group, and we are proud that two of them are CWLI leaders.
We are excited to share some of their stories with you so that you, along with us, can fully appreciate their contributions to this revolutionary product that is reshaping the way we transport ourselves and our families. It is our honor to #ELEVATE the leadership example of these amazing women. Here is a sampling of their answers to some important questions.
What are you most proud of on this project?
Carla Collins
Operational Control Specialist
Instead of being just the end-user, I’m proud to be taking an active role in the planning and design of how material will move around the plant.
Amy Danford
Assistant Manager, Inventory control
In every interaction I have working on the preparation for the vehicle I am proud to be part of a large project where we are pushing the boundaries of innovation for what we currently do here. I’m proud to work with people who are smart, talented, and committed in an environment where we are all working together to identify solutions for new challenges.
Taylor Hammond
Electrical Engineering Associate
I am proud that I have contributed to a shift in the automotive industry as a female engineer as it leans towards electric vehicles; this will be a big shift for many of us in society, and offering a quality vehicle that people will love is a great place to start. I am contributing to a more sustainable future, and I couldn’t be more proud of that.
Bonnie Vinson (CWLI Sustaining Leader)
IT Infrastructure Specialist
I’m most proud of the forward-thinking of the company, its boldness and bravery to step out of the box to advance into new technology for the greater good of all where I am a piece of a whole.
Marsha Wood
Assistant Manager Health and Wellness
As COVID-19 began to spread in the United States, the company immediately saw a need to activate a taskforce to discuss, research and strategize what protective measures we would implement for our workforce. Before returning to production we implemented more than 90 new health and safety measures, which were reviewed by a medical doctor specializing in infectious diseases. Throughout a year of learning and staying steady with our protocols, we were able to keep our workforce as safe as possible. We eventually partnered with the State to become a certified vaccination site, and we offer the COVID-19 vaccination to anyone who enters our facility.
What are the leadership styles of the women involved in the project?
Krista Condor
Manager, Electrical Engineering Projects & Integration
As senior engineer on my team, I have to be extremely detail-oriented. The launch of the Passat a decade ago taught me “Passion for Detail,” and I have carried this principle forward to all the projects on which I have worked over the years. And now I share this principle with the younger members of the team, along with my knowledge and experience.
Friederike Ebner
Manager HR Org Planning, Recruitment and Policy
I lead by knowing the strength of my team members and the areas in which they need support. I listen to their concerns, motivate them, and guide them when needed, without micromanaging. The women on my team are very experienced in hiring and onboarding, and work independently. I support in the background and bring areas/groups together to identify solutions and have a seamless process flow. I rely on their experiences, and they have a high trust in me to support them in challenging situations.
Taylor Hammond
Electrical Engineering Associate
Krista is a role model I look up to. Her leadership style is giving support if you are struggling, but also pushing us if we seem to be lagging behind. We all feel we can approach her and talk about anything we need to, work-related or not. She creates a very honest and open work environment for us.
Megan Herndon
Purchasing Systems and Process Lead
The leadership is very collaborative and open to flexibility. There are many new members on the team who need varying levels of support. All the team members have been engaged in the process to help ensure the success of the whole team, not just individuals.
Melinda Jackson
Assistant Manager Body Operations Support
The women in logistics are bold and courageous. They look forward to challenges and rise to the occasion.
Tara Mickens
Purchased Parts Analyst
Strategic, motivating, mentoring.
What advice do you have for women aspiring to be leaders in their field?
Friederike Ebner
Manager HR Org Planning, Recruitment and Policy
Be aware of, and draw from, the strength of the individuals in your group. Create an environment of trust where coworkers and colleagues feel comfortable being transparent with you. Work together as a team. Support wherever you can, but don’t micromanage. Communicate a lot with each other. Don’t be shy to speak up and take charge, or to make decisions (based on the best knowledge you have at the moment). Concentrate your effort on solving the challenge/issue at-hand, without pointing fingers at others.
Albertina Gianelli
Director of Commodity Purchasing
Establish an open and honest dialogue with the team and reflect on how you can do better.
Megan Herndon
Purchasing Systems and Process Lead
Always look at a challenge to find what you can learn. There will be times in your life and your career that you may see as a failure, but you have to approach these times with a view of what you learn from the experience.
Melinda Jackson
Assistant Manager Body Operations Support
Stand tall and be proud. The future is female and it’s yours for the taking. You will have some ups and downs, but power through and the end results will be worth it.
Bonnie Vinson
IT Infrastructure Specialist
There are many problems in the world. Be a part of the solution by doing or saying something. Be bold, use your voice and speak up.
What advice do you have for young girls pursuing STEM?
Carla Collins
Operational Control Specialist
Pursuing STEM caters to your inner curiosity. How many of us ask “why” when young, but stop as we get older? In STEM fields, you can continue to ask “why” on a daily basis.
Krista Condor
Manager, Electrical Engineering Projects & Integration
If it’s what you want to do, don’t let anyone talk you out of it – including the person you look at in the mirror every day.
Amy Danford
Assistant Manager, Inventory control
STEM subjects teach you how to THINK and solve problems, and you can do anything with those skills. Pursue what you enjoy, work hard, do more than is expected, ask questions, treat people well. Believe in yourself.
Albertina Gianelli
Director of Commodity Purchasing
Pursue your dreams and dream big. Don’t give up. Know your strengths, potentiate those and think how can you contribute with them.
Megan Herndon
Purchasing Systems and Process Lead
STEM is a foundation for many careers even if it is not main part of the job. Although I work in Purchasing, which is not strictly a STEM function, I use technical and math fundamentals to perform well in my job. Girls should not shy away from any field of study. It will benefit them even in tangential ways in any career they choose.
Tara Mickens
Purchased Parts Analyst
Nichelle Nichols, original Star Trek cast member, said, “Science is not a boy’s game, it’s not a girl’s game. It’s everyone’s game.” Take those words and strive to make STEM an even playing field, while delving into the subjects of your interest! DO NOT BE DISCOURAGED! I grew up in a generation where girls did not compete in math or science contests, much less win. I wondered why must boys have all of the fun learning complex math formulas or exploring the chemistry lab or studying hard enough to win? My determination to keep pushing forward led me to win math and science state competitions and earn a full-paid scholarship by doing so. Remember – it can be done!
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It is clear all of these women are dedicated to their craft. When I had the pleasure of speaking with them via Zoom, person to person, they indicated how proud they were of the way Volkswagen navigated the COVID-19 crisis. Because of the company’s dedication during the pandemic, the talents of these women were on full display. It was obvious from our time together that the company, and specifically the preparations for assembling the ID.4, have benefited from their input. Every detail, from every department, has been carefully considered because they understand your families will travel in what they assemble. They know firsthand what that means. And you will be better for it because they understood the gravity of their duties. As we closed our time together, we asked one final question of these amazing women. What follows is a summary of our takeaways.
What strides do you think women can take to make more of a difference in female leadership in the local community?
Women must support other women. Make an effort to recognize the good things that other women are achieving and brag on them to other people. This recognition comes full circle when others remember that feeling and return the favor. There are so many people competing on the ladder to success, you have to be aware that you need to reach back and help the people behind you on the ladder. All of us were once helped by another person and should continue the cycle.
Be a positive, supporting role model. Unfortunately, in many male-dominated fields, women are told to grow “tough skin” to handle the stress of the workplace. In other words, we should work towards supporting each other and celebrating the differences that they bring to the table, not conforming to a certain expectation of what a leader looks and acts like.
Appeal to the basic level of women in society to ensure they are given the tools, mentoring, and support to pursue leadership opportunities.
I would like to see women in STEM visit schools and talk to girls about career paths; start after-school programs that help girls find their interests; and continually encourage girls that they are strong enough and smart enough to fulfill their career paths.
Visibility is key. I imagine that girls of all political leanings see a different opportunity with a woman as Vice President of the USA. So on a smaller scale, I think it is important that kids see that the doctors in their community are often women, that dentists in their community are often women, and that women have important roles at large companies like Volkswagen. I think our generation has the benefit of our mothers busting through a lot of cultural norms without some of the support structures we benefit from today. Working moms are more common now, in part because our college-educated moms emboldened us to ‘be anything [we] want to be,’ potentially more so than our grandmothers’ generation. I look forward to the day when this isn’t even a topic, where gender in the workplace isn’t the subject of an article.
We agree.
Let’s move FORward Together,
Kim