Scholarships announced for women in the automotive industry
Women in Automotive (WinA) and St. George bank have partnered together to offer scholarships for women in the automotive industry to undertake leadership courses with Women & Leadership Australia (WLA).
The ‘Elevate’ initiative has been implemented to educate emerging and mid-level female leaders in the automotive industry by offering two leadership development programs.
Currently, only 15% of workers in the automotive industry are women, with that number dropping to just 8% among automotive industry executives. This initiative aims to supports and nurture the professional growth of women and encourage more women to take up these positions in the automotive industry.
The initiative will see 25 partial scholarships given in each of the two leadership courses to talented women in all areas of the automotive industry, with a limited number of full scholarships also available.
The leadership programs will consist of a variety of face-to-face workshops, interactive workshops and capability assessments, undertaking modules including emotional intelligence, thinking strategically and driving performance. Participants will also receive peer coaching sessions to collaborate ideas and support one another.
Betti Tovishazy, General Manager of Client Solutions at WLA believes that with the current disruptions being witnessed in the automotive industry, now is the time to become more diverse and embrace women in the industry.
“With shifting consumer preferences and ever-evolving technology, the automotive industry must adapt by becoming more diverse and better embracing the female workforce in order to reach its full potential,” said Tovishazy.
“The Elevate initiative is an exciting platform, helping to create a more equitable auto sector. Our programs are proven to increase career opportunities for women within male-dominated industries by teaching invaluable leadership skills and improving their networks.”
Dr. Imogen Reid, Manager at WinA, was in full agreeance, saying representation of women in the automotive industry had failed to encompass the whole industry to this point.
“Women’s lack of representation in the auto industry has been largely unchanged for the last 20 years, and those that are in the sector are overrepresented in administration and sales related roles,” said Dr. Reid.
“The Elevate initiative will work to develop aspiring women to reach the next level of their career by providing the necessary networks and leadership skills to move into more senior positions.”
St. George was proud to commit to delivering a pathway for more women to enter leadership positions in the automotive industry according to the company’s Head of Auto Finance Phil Waugh.
“This initiative signals a commitment to the development of female talent and provides a pipeline of talented women, capable of filling senior level roles across the industry.”
“We know we need to push for better gender balance in the auto industry, and that’s why we’re proud to partner with WLA on the Elevate initiative.”
The Elevate initiative provides an exciting opportunity for women in the automotive industry to advance their leadership skills and we encourages all eligible members to nominate.
Expressions of interest for the Elevate initiative close on 29th November, with both leadership courses commencing early 2020. Interested candidates can find more information and register their interest at https://www.wla.edu.au/elevate.html
16 Oct 2019
