Top African-Americans In The Auto Industry

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Latondra Newton, Vice President, Strategic Planning and Research and Corporate Diversity, Toyota Motor North America Inc.

Newton had no experience with the auto industry when she first started as a co-op student at a General Motors stamping plant four days after she graduated from high school in 1986, but she knew she was up for the challenge. For her, it was all about “learning something completely contrary to what everyone thought that I should be,” she told Automotive News.

Newton says her skill and the key to success in her career has been in supporting others: “Helping people develop professionally has always been very important to me. In every division I’ve been in during my career at Toyota, and there have been several, I’ve made it a big point to make sure that the people who work for me are better contributors to the company when we separate than when we first get together. I’m just proud of the fact that I’ve been able to develop people.”

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