Birmingham Nonprofit and Honda Join Forces to Empower Women in Manufacturing
Birmingham, AL – A groundbreaking initiative aimed at enhancing the career advancement of women in manufacturing has been launched through a collaboration between a Birmingham nonprofit and Honda Development and Manufacturing of America. The program specifically targets women who assemble light trucks at Honda’s Lincoln plant.
Momentum Leaders, the Birmingham-based nonprofit, has designed a six-month training program that received an enthusiastic response from potential participants. From a lottery of applicants, 24 women have been selected to take part in this program. The participants will undergo training in a range of essential skills, including emotional intelligence, strengths identification, conflict management, action planning, negotiation, prioritization, and financial management. These sessions will be led by Momentum’s leadership coaches and focus on interactive learning experiences that are both engaging and practical.
Fostering Women’s Leadership
April Benetollo, CEO of Momentum Leaders, expressed her excitement about the partnership, saying, “This partnership underscores Momentum’s commitment to empowering women at all stages of their careers, particularly in industries where women have been historically underrepresented in leadership roles.” Benetollo emphasized the positive impact that the program is expected to have, not only for the participants but also for the broader community as these women apply their newfound skills.
Michael Gaines, who leads the plant manufacturing planning and control division at Honda, shared insights into the unique challenges women face in the manufacturing industry. He remarked, “Women in manufacturing face unique challenges, from navigating male-dominated environments to balancing personal and professional responsibilities. Leadership programs like Momentum’s are critical in preparing women to step into leadership positions within the industry.”
Skills for Future Success
The training is geared towards equipping women with the skills and confidence necessary to advance their careers and drive innovation within their workplaces. Gaines continued, noting that the program will help participants develop confidence, communication, and problem-solving skills. He stressed the importance of these skills in helping women to embrace greater responsibilities and make a significant impact in their roles.
Currently, Honda employs approximately 4,500 people at its Lincoln plant, where they produce 340,000 light trucks and 340,000 V6 engines each year. The collaboration with Momentum Leaders marks an important step in promoting a diverse workforce and fostering leadership roles for women in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Additional Initiatives and Future Programs
This program is part of a larger effort by Momentum Leaders to address the representation of women in leadership roles across various industries. Recently, the nonprofit introduced its newest executive class, which runs parallel to other local initiatives, including a collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). Over the past few years, UAB has partnered with Momentum to create a leadership program tailored specifically for women in medicine.
As the community looks forward to the outcomes of this initiative, the partnership between Honda and Momentum Leaders stands as a promising example of how targeted programs can enhance workplace diversity and empower women in their professional journeys.
