Cox Automotive Canada recently hosted its third Women with Drive initiative, designed to help inspire and support women within the organization and the automotive industry.

The third Women with Drive activity event took place at Long Point Eco-Adventures in St. Williams, Ont. The idea behind it was to help break down personal barriers and provide some quality time for problem solving and teamwork among female members.

Those who took part in the event, came from different areas of the business including project management, human resources, technical advisory roles, marketing, accounting, sales, logistics and strategy.

In reference to the event, Cox Automotive Canada President Maria Soklis said, “the leading women in the automotive and high-tech industries have developed a reputation for being honest about the struggles they’ve faced and the sacrifices they’ve had to make in order to achieve a healthy work-life balance and to get to where they are today.

Soklis added that, “as Cox Automotive Canada’s leader, I aim to be strong and capable when it comes to defining boundaries, but I also want to provide an example of what it means to be somebody who recognizes the importance of shaping a culture for the next generation. Over the years, I’ve known leaders and had role models who ensured I was consistently supported and steadily progressed throughout my career.

Advocates of gender diversity in the workplace know the ingredients for success are not just about being socially progressive. Studies increasingly show that having a pipeline of women on your team is good for the company’s bottom line. My goal is to encourage a culture at Cox Automotive Canada that offers our team members—male and female alike—a chance to realize their dreams.”