Women in automotive can advance through lateral moves and AI skills, leaders say
Women automotive executives from Toyota, Cox Automotive, Nissan, and General Motors told peers to master artificial intelligence tools while keeping soft skills sharp and mentoring younger employees at the 2026 Automotive News Leading Women Conference.
The advice signals a shift in how the industry views career progression. Rather than climbing a single vertical path, women can move laterally across departments to build diverse experience and position themselves for leadership roles.
AI fluency becomes essential
Liz Door, chief supply chain officer at Ford Motor Co., said the company needs both technical talent and problem solvers. "Certainly we need people that are science and math based, but we also need problem solvers," Door said at the conference.
For managers, this means AI isn't optional. The executives emphasized that understanding how to work with AI tools-not necessarily building them-matters for career advancement.
Soft skills remain critical
Technical skills alone don't create leaders. The panelists stressed that mentoring, communication, and problem-solving abilities remain as important as technical knowledge.
This balance matters for management professionals evaluating their own development. Building AI competency while maintaining interpersonal strengths creates stronger candidates for leadership.
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