Her Story
About Patty
I started in the automotive industry in 2004 as a student at Nexteer Automotive, beginning in the marketing department doing competitive analysis where I researched competitors' products and market share. It's actually a family background for me - my dad started in automotive as a student and worked there, which inspired my path. As I navigated through my degree in marketing and management, I realized I had a penchant for organization and bringing teams together. I think you have to be curious as a program manager to want to make sure there's clarity for everyone involved. When I worked in our prototype center, I got more into program management at a smaller scale and realized that I excelled in it. I wanted to kind of level up and do it on a production side where it's a larger scale, and that was what led me to the position I have today as a Program Manager at a production facility, where I've been for 3 years. My key responsibilities include facilitating discussions between functions to make sure that our key deliverables are met on time with a quality outcome, and helping navigate through challenges and escalation where applicable. I navigate the complexity of a volatile environment - with tariffs, requirement changes, and the way the market is today, there's always going to be changes that you have to learn how to navigate and adapt through, and how to guide a team through that. It's a daily challenge, but it's something that keeps us on our toes.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Patty
01What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I think one thing that I've really learned that's important is always be open to new opportunities. It can be things that you never envisioned yourself doing, or like the stretch assignments that your supervisor may ask you to do - you might really find something that you love to do, and it might open the door to another opportunity. And likewise, you just might learn that it's something that's not your cup of tea. But you don't know that unless you kind of go outside of your comfort zone and get those experiences. I also think it's important to get exposure and see what other women in your industry or other industries are doing, see where there's synergies. Sometimes people think just because you're in a particular industry, that that might not cross-compare to a different one. But especially with program management, just being in automotive doesn't mean you can't work in like the medical field or some other field. Those skills are transferable. You just have to get out there and get some exposure and get experience with it.
02What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I would say navigating the complexity of a volatile environment. You can imagine today with the tariffs and requirement changes and just the way the market is today, there's always going to be changes that you have to learn how to navigate and adapt through, and how to guide a team through that. So it's a daily challenge, but it's something that keeps us on our toes.
Keep Exploring
More Influential Women · Michigan
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.