Auto Industry Looks To Attract More Women To Executive Level

A survey finds most of the top women in the automotive industry don't think enough is being done to attract female talent, while female college students rank the field as next to last among their career options.

At this morning's Inforum breakfast of women professionals, Arvin Meritor Chairman and CEO Chip McClure admits there is room for improvement.

"Aside from just the difficulty of the last five years in the automotive industry, my sense also is, a lot of these high achieving individuals sat there and said, 'I've all of the sudden, reached some sort of glass ceiling and can't get be on that.' Frankly, I say the board is the chief diversity officer is me." McClure said.

More role models and mentors are seen as ways to attract and retain women to show that it can be done.

Interesting points of view at today's business breakfast in downtown Detroit represented by Inforum, a network of professional business women, on ways to attract and retain women in the automotive industry.

WWJ's Ron Dewey says there's still a divide over having a career and having a life.

The debate of careers versus home-life brought an interesting exchange between University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman and  Ford Vice President Barbara Samardzich.

"If you want to be the CEO of the company, the CEO of Ford Motor Co. you are going to make sacrifices along the way, you just will." Samardzich emphasised.

"Younger folks come in and really don't have the same hierarchical aspirational desires anymore. They've got a life they want challenging work, and they want to contribute." Coleman said.

Arvin Meritor's McClure says technology like smart phones can provide the flexibility, that it's about results, not activities.