Maria Soklis believes that the benefits of having more women leaders in the automotive sector go well beyond being socially progressive. They’re also good for the bottom line. 

She is living proof. Soklis, 49, was the highest-ranking female executive at Kia Motors globally before taking charge of Cox Automotive Canada (CAC) in 2015. Under her leadership, CAC now operates from coast to coast, and the company’s Dealertrack portal is expanding into global markets such as Brazil. 

Soklis is also leading Cox Automotive’s Women With Drive initiatives in Canada and nurturing leadership opportunities for women. Soklis said she wants to build a culture of gender diversity that ensures all team members have a chance to realize their dreams.