Chicago Auto Show organizers, in partnership with A Girls Guide to Cars, held the seventh annual What Drives Her program during the show’s Media Preview on Thursday, Feb. 8. Industry leaders from across the country came together for a robust discussion and award recognition ceremony to highlight women in four different categories: Industry Trailblazer, Best in Craft Media, Automotive Ally and Best Retailer. This year’s awards also recognized an industry leader who has lifted others up with the 2024 Lifetime of Inspiration award. The program gives industry leaders a stage to share trends, stories and personal anecdotes about the integral role that women hold in the auto industry. This year’s program, presented by Nissan and sponsored by CDK Global, brought female executives to the Chicago Auto Show stage, presenting research centered on female purchasing power and trends. The panel, titled “What Drives Her … To Buy a Car,” was moderated by Kathy Gilbert, senior director minority dealer and women retail, CDK Global. Panelists included Amy Emmatty, CRO, Productions Plus; Trudy Hardy, vice president and region Americas head, BMW Motorrad; and Trisha Jung, senior director for EV strategy and transformation, Nissan. “It’s humbling to see just how What Drives Her has become a cornerstone event of the Chicago Auto Show’s Media Preview,” said Jennifer Morand, co-founder of the What Drives Her program and general manager of the Chicago Auto Show. “To see women — and men — come together in support of the extraordinary females who are shaping our industry and driving change has been incredible.” The 2024 winners for each category are as follows: Industry Trailblazer Award Olabisi Boyle, vice president, product planning and mobility strategy, Hyundai Motors, is responsible for guiding the strategic direction of Hyundai’s U.S. vehicle lineup, leading long-range planning and overseeing market research, business analytics and advanced pricing. In just three years, Boyle has made a huge impact on Hyundai’s success and direction, including leading the expansion of Hyundai vehicles into the Tesla charging network by 2024, as well as pioneering the Hyundai home initiative, launching the Evolve+ EV subscription program. She’s also received significant recognition throughout her career, including being named in Automobile News All-Star in 2021 and 2023 and being named as Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry. Boyle was unable to attend the event; colleague Tia Battle accepted the award on her behalf and shared a quote from Boyle: “Being a woman in a predominantly male industry can be a challenge. It is important to stay strong by ensuring you are built up and never puffed up. To be built up, do your homework. Make sure you are prepared and educated on the topic and work to persevere and remain resilient and positive in all these situations. Because once you’re built up, you’ll be able to allow your competence and your excellence to speak for you while going through any tough time.” Industry Trailblazer finalists included Ashwini Balasubramanian, general manager, advanced engineering, Harley Davidson Motor Company; and Laurie Transou, chief program engineer, Ford Motor Company. What Drives Her Award Winners Announced at the Chicago Auto Show № 3 CATA UP TO SPEED 9
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy ODQxMjUw