Women Drive Change: Increasing Female Leadership in Detroit’s Auto Industry

Women held every automaker representative position during Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield's tour of the showroom floor on Monday. This observation arrives as the transportation sector witnesses a shift in gender representation, though men still comprise most of the workforce.

One in four employees in the transportation sector are women, according to CADIA. Women buy 54% of cars. They influence roughly eight in ten car purchases, according to NOLO.

Donna Inch climbed from the finance department to CEO of Ford Motor Company's real estate division across 40 years before retiring. She started at the company and worked through the ranks as an Eastern Michigan alumnus.

"I think it's much better now. I do know some of the younger women there. I think the environment of getting those good jobs and getting a promotion is far superior than the old days when I was there," Donna Inch said, per FOX 2. "I think every time a woman can take on a role that maybe had not had a woman in it before, it shows the expansion of women being able to take on all kinds of roles and various roles."

Mary Barra has served as General Motors CEO for more than 10 years. Her tenure marks one example of female leadership reaching past Ford in the sector.

Mohamad Qatu serves as dean of the College of Engineering at Eastern Michigan. He said the changes in representation will benefit companies.

"I think it's a positive change, and I think it will help companies become more innovative and more profitable as we move into the future," said Qatu. "We're making progress, but I still think there's a lot more to be made."