[ad_1]
Ford is committed to supporting HBCUs and developing diverse talent within the company. We had the opportunity to speak with General Marketing Manager for Electric Vehicles and Clark Atlanta University graduate, Sondra Sutton Phung, who highlights her experience at an HBCU and how it has impacted her life and career.
Q:How has attending an HBCU affected your career and life?
Sondra: The motto of Clark Atlanta: I’ll Find a Way or Make One, has been a powerful statement for me throughout my career. During the last 25 years at Ford, there have been high careers and challenging times. However, whenever I’m faced with a challenge, I always lean on this belief that there is a way forward, and I just have to find it. That statement is probably a testament to why I’m still here. I think this globally iconic 119-year-old company has so much to offer, and I want to be one of the leaders advocating for people of color to be an integral part of Ford’s success.
Q:Are you still connected to Clark?
Sondra: I’m very connected to Clark. For the first 23 years of my career, I was there recruiting for internships and full-time job opportunities. I have built strong relationships with the Office of Institutional Advancement and the Office of the President. So, I continued to advocate for opportunities at Clark Atlanta and other HBCUs. We recently had a list of HBCUs added to our Ford Salary Tuition Assistance (STAP) program. We never had an HBCU as one of the colleges/universities you could choose from, and now we have several HBCUs on that list, including Clark Atlanta University. I also co-founded Dr. Melvin Webb Endowment at Clark Atlanta University to support students majoring in STEM fields.
Q:How do you feel HBCUs are preparing the next generation of black leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs to pursue the things they love in life?
Sondra:HBCUs have a long tradition of developing strong, capable leaders in all areas. Like Martin Luther King, Jr., Spike Lee, and Kamala Harris, they all attended HBCUs. Proud to have attended and been nurtured by an HBCU, I also recognize the disparity in funding compared to predominantly white colleges and universities. HBCUs, as institutions, have always had to do more with less and that philosophy has driven its students to do the same. Like, creating your own opportunity, you can do it no matter what others say. You are great, and you are gifted. As a girl from rural Georgia, those words mean a lot to me.
Today, there are influential partnerships between HBCUs and tech companies. For example, the Ford Atlanta Research and Innovation Center (FARIC), which is a research and development facility that leverages relationships with regional HBCUs and The Atlanta University Center Consortium to attract and develop high-tech, high-demand talent and increase Black, Hispanic, and female representation in the field. At Ford, we contribute through initiatives like the Ford First Gen program at Spelman. That’s one I’m a big fan of, because it includes mentorship, monthly sessions and learning experiences, internships, and funding to support first-generation students.
Q:What are some golden tips that have helped you create great work in your career?
Sondra:Great question. First, when you join a company, join an employee resource group. I would also recommend everyone to get a mentor, someone who helps them in terms of understanding what choices they need to make in their career. As you progress in your career and start doing great work and delivering results, you’ll soon want to find an advocate because they will break down the barriers that inevitably exist in large corporations – advocates are essential to the advancement of career.
Keep improving yourself and don’t wait or expect a company to provide you with every skill needed for advancement. If you have to take a class with your money, do it. Last but not least, to women, I encourage every woman to step into their power; we often hesitate when asking for what we deserve, which further contributes to the gender wage gap. You must step into your power, ask for what you want, and not be afraid to try a different path to reach your goal.
[ad_2]
Source link
