“To me it’s an exciting industry, the auto industry, so I wondered ‘why aren’t more women, particularly young women interested in the automotive industry?’…So this is why I conducted a quantitative-qualitative correlational study looking at Relationships between all these things the experts say you should do…. I wanted to know, ‘is that really true?’ … And if it IS accurate, then why don’t we have more women at least in middle management?”

Lisa Brown on Electric Ladies Podcast

Electric vehicles, autonomous vehicles, hydrogen vehicles. Ride-sharing. The automotive sector is being transformed. Car companies are even calling themselves “mobility” companies now. Yet, they are still largely dominated by men, and white men at that. They say they have diversity programs, and career planning and mentorship programs and other strategies to support women’s advancement in the industry. And yet…the numbers don’t change. Why?

Listen to Lisa Brown, Ph.D. explain her findings in her ground-breaking new quantitative and qualitative research on this issue in this enlightening interview by Electric Ladies host Joan Michelson. (Electric Ladies was formerly known as Green Connections Radio.)

You’ll hear:

• What she studied and why she chose it.
• Whether she found that diversity programs actually work – and why or why not.
• What she discovered about career planning programs in corporates and where they succeed and fail.
• What you should ask for to get what you need from these programs
• Plus, insightful career advice for your own career, no matter what sector you’re in.

And much more!

“Have a plan. I think sometimes, we have ideas, but we don’t take the time to plan….Get out of your comfort zone. If you’re an introvert, take that step to get to know folks. If you’re an extrovert, sometimes take that time to be quiet and to listen, to be that fly on the wall. And I would also say, invest in yourself. A lot of times, self-care is something that we don’t do. But invest in yourself, take the time, whether it’s just a self-help book, or taking a course to improve certain skill sets…. And last, but not least. Offer yourself some grace. Don’t be so hard on yourself.“

Lisa Brown on Electric Ladies podcast

Read Joan’s Forbes articles here.

You’ll also want to listen to:

Bonnie Gwin, Vice Chair, Heidrick & Struggles, on the new type of CEO companies are hiring.

Michele Wucker, thought leaders and author of “You Are What You Risk: The New Art & Science to Navigating an Uncertain World.”

Roberta Rincon, Society of Women Engineers, Director of Research, on the status and careers of women in various types of engineering roles.

Barbara Whye, Chief Diversity Officer of Apple, and former VP of Human Resources and Chief Diversity Officer of Intel.

Telle Whitney, Former CEO of Anita Borg Institute for Women and Cofounder of the Grace Hopper Conference

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Joan Michelson Electric Ladies Podcast - Innovation, Energy, Climate, Careers

Joan Michelson, MBA is a highly accomplished business leader and award-winning strategic social impact and ESG – environment, social, governance – leader, who drove breakthrough results at Chrysler (in EVs), American Express and Deloitte, small businesses, and government agencies. She is an instructor on ESG issues to professionals, leaders and board members across industries. Her specialties include leveraging ESG solutions and partnerships strategically for maximum benefit, helping organizations recruit innovative, diverse women, and helping these women thrive in their careers. She is based in the Washington D.C. area.

Joan is also an accomplished journalist who has worked with top media organizations and hosts and produces the acclaimed Electric Ladies podcast (formerly known as Green Connections Radio), about innovation and leadership in energy-, climate- and sustainability-related issues across industries, featuring women experts.

She writes regularly for Forbes on these issues and has also been in the Harvard Business Review, HuffPost, TheAtlantic.com, Greenbiz, The New Economy magazine (distributed at the World Economic Forum), New Thinking magazine, regional business journals; and various other media. She coproduced segments with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” ABC News, and “The Crusaders,” and television specials on NBC.

Joan has spent her career working in energy-sustainability-climate-ESG issues and in marketing communications, including as head of communications and co-leader of the sales and marketing team of Chrysler’s Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), driving “best year ever” growth and significantly accelerated the adoption of electric vehicles. Prior to GEM, she led marketing communications efforts to high-net-worth and high-visibility clients in management consulting-financial services companies Deloitte and American Express. She's a native of NYC and has a BA from UCLA, an MBA from Baruch College at City University of NY, and post-graduate studies at Harvard Business School, The New School and The Aspen Institute, among others. She has a Sustainability and ESG certification from Competent Boards.