Talent Profile

“Companies need to be more transparent about their hiring practices, cognizant of the representation within their organization and continue to invest in people by creating bursaries, grants and programs that will attract diversity.”

About:

Polly has been working in the auto industry for 23 years in a wide range of capacities, including Retail Marketing Manager, District Manager, Customer Service Manager, Delivery Manager, Fleet Account Manager, and Performance Consultant.

How did you end up in the automotive industry?

I’ve had a passion for vehicles since I was 5 years old even though I was constantly told to put down the Tonka Trucks and play with Barbies. I decided to take automotive courses at Seneca College and while doing so, I also took on a full-time position at an OEM. I discovered I preferred to work with the manufacturers, dealerships and end users.

Who did you look to for inspiration throughout your career?

I was fortunate to have had amazing role models to help me develop as a person, a professional and as a leader. They often saw the potential in me when I was caught up with “imposter syndrome.” There are too many people to name, but include Maria Soklis, Steve Carter, Ted Lancaster, Pierrette Lortie, Gérald Côté, Paolo D’Inzeo, Wayne Isaacs, and Alysha Bell.

What do you think about the current state of diversity in the industry?

I’ve often been the only manager in the room who was a Person of Color and/or a woman. At times it was uncomfortable because I spent a lot of time answering questions that were posed to satisfy others curiosity of how I got my role, never mind that I’ve been in the industry for a long time and speak multiple languages.

Now when I look around the room, I see much more diversity. I believe that we are trending in the right direction and we must continue to create opportunities for diversity in the automotive industry.

What change would you like to see in the auto industry when it comes to increasing diversity?

The auto industry provides many opportunities for everyone as educating the public is a key start to providing career pathing for the coming generations. When I first started my career path, I was not aware of how impactful the auto industry was to the economy and how many services/businesses rely on the auto sector. Providing resources and tools to educate the public on the vast number of options and how to start is key to ensure we have the talent to support all these verticals in the future.

As the auto industry evolves and pivots to the EV space, investing time and resources will be key to attract the right diverse talent especially within the Automation, Web, and Data space. Greater partnerships with High Schools, Colleges/Universities, Co-op programs, Business partnerships, Community programs and more will increase awareness, education, and interest for everyone.

What words of advice would you give to your younger self or someone just getting started in automotive?

Be the best version of you. Always be in your learning mode because learning is ongoing. Read about the industry and develop your skills. Don’t be afraid to take risk and never ever let “imposter syndrome” get the best of you. Never question if you deserve your role, recognition or deserve to be in the room. Always, and I mean always negotiate your salary.