We sat down with the first-annual Women of BMW honorees to find out about their careers, insights and what drives them each day. We invite you to take a moment and learn about these dedicated women and congratulate them with kudos on Twitter with #WomenOfBMW.
NAME: Louise Connell
POSITION: Section Manager for Supplier Diversity
LOCATION: Spartanburg, SC
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH BMW? 23 Years
Q: DESCRIBE YOUR ROLE AT BMW:
A: I manage the BMW Supplier Diversity Initiative at BMW Manufacturing in South Carolina.
Q: DESCRIBE A DEFINING MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER AND HOW IT SHAPED YOUR PATH:
A: My defining moment is when I was asked if I would be interested in taking over the supplier diversity activities within BMW Procurement along with my buying responsibilities.
Q: WHO IS A FEMALE ROLE MODEL TO YOU AND WHAT DO YOU ADMIRE ABOUT HER?
A: America’s first female Four-Star General, Ann Dunwoody. Similar to the automotive sector, General Dunwoody has succeeded in a prominently all male work force.
Q: WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR WOMEN INTERESTED IN YOUR FIELD?
A: Don’t be afraid to learn something new. I have always been interested in how things worked, how were they manufactured.
Q: WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING MOST OUTSIDE OF WORK?WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
A: I enjoy my family, riding bicycles, surfing the waves on a boogie board. An interesting ritual that I have every morning is that I enjoy reading the comics. It is a great way to start the day. You never know when a cartoon is apropos for the week that you have had.