2021 Canadians to Watch

CHOSEN BECAUSE:

For Jessica Todd, two key accomplishments are a source of immense pride. Since being promoted to senior manager of incentives strategy in 2018, she has overseen a decrease in Hyundai’s incentives spending by almost 50 per cent. Shealso set a personal goal two years ago of making the automaker a better place to work for women. Together with a colleague, she started a resource group called Women at HACC (Hyundai Auto Canada Corp.) to raise awareness of the challenges women face in a male-dominated industry.

“There have been countless times in a meeting where I’ve been the only woman in the room,” said Todd, 35. “A lot of times, I felt like my voice wasn’t able to be heard. I was just talked over by the men at the table.”

The resource group has hosted companywide gender-equity conferences, given talks at universities aimed at persuading more women to consider a career in the auto industry, and encouraged men to join their group as allies. The result has been an increase in the percentage of women working at Hyundai Canada to 35 per cent from 30 per cent. The company has also been certified as a Great Place to Work for Women based on confidential employee surveys, Todd said.

IN HER OWN WORDS:

“It doesn’t matter that you’re a woman in a male-dominated industry. You have the ability to do anything a man can do in this industry.”