Her Story
About Marla
I've spent 29 years building my career in the automotive industry, starting right after I graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts degree focused in business, communications, and psychology. My journey began with marketing for Chrysler Corporation, where I worked on Jeeps and other vehicles, going to auto shows and serving as a liaison between the company and customers. I had what I call my 'glamorous job' at Galen Rice Productions, where I worked in event planning and coordination, hiring national and local entertainment like Jay Leno and Smokey Robinson for corporate events for clients like Ford and Chrysler. From there, I moved to MSX International as a program manager building photo fleet vehicles for Dodge, Jeep, and Ram, working on the engineering and technical side to ensure vehicles were built up to future model year specifications for advertising agencies. I managed a crew of mechanics and was responsible for fit and finish, working with suppliers to get prototype parts and making sure everything was correct before vehicles went to ad agencies for TV shoots or brochures. Then Young and Rubicam called and asked me to interview with them for Lincoln and Mercury work with Ford. My first car launch was the 1999 Mercury Cougar. I was one of the first individuals on the ground when Ford.com and Lincoln.com started on the internet, reviewing and validating imagery, copy, and anything product-related and legal compliance-wise. About 12 years ago, I was nominated as Vice President for the Product Information Group, and about 7 years ago I started the Product Technology Group myself, which has grown exponentially. Today, my expertise is in the technology product space for Ford Motor Company, including third parties like Apple and Google, sync systems, the new Digital Experience platform, driver assist, autonomous systems, and connected services. Anything you can think of technology-wise in an automotive vehicle is my space today. One of my claims to fame is helping Matthew McConaughey during COVID when he needed to stream his Greenlight book through a Lincoln vehicle in Hawaii for a social post when there was no crew available to help him.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Marla
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say you're gonna work hard, but you also want to have a work-life balance. You want to have collaboration with your team. You want to be a good listener. And you also want to keep an open mind, because no question's a dumb question and no idea is a dumb idea. You might come to something really great. I always tell my team, we're like a family, you know, we're here, we've got each others' backs. There's gonna be tough days, but there's also gonna be great days, too, so you just kinda gotta work through those tough days, but you'll get there, and just keep faith and hope. You know, never give up. Another thing I would tell people is love what you do. Because nothing is worse than being in a job that you don't like what you do. I love what I do. I am an entrepreneur-minded person, like, I've got a million ideas in my head all the time.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, I am really currently working in the AI collaboration space. So, learning a lot more about AI.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Michigan
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.