My Advice for Ford's Summer Interns

Last week, I had the privilege of speaking with Ford Motor Company's summer interns at our annual fireside chat – this year with my colleague Dr. Erica Klampfl, interim Chief Data and Analytics Officer. They came with some great questions, and we learned so much from them. We were also able to offer them a few words of career advice.

Follow your true passion.

If you have a true passion, follow it. Don't be discouraged by naysayers who say your dreams aren’t practical. Or that it’s too late to pursue them. People will try to convince you that your first job or internship sets the course of your whole career. Don’t listen. It’s far more important to find the right career eventually than a “good” one immediately. I worked in corporate M&A on Wall Street early in my career. I loved the people, but I quickly realized I didn’t want to do that work for the rest of my life. Cars had been my passion since I was a child. I knew in my gut that was always what I was supposed to do. So, I changed course, and that led me to Ford. My experience is that if you’re true to yourself, the rest will follow.

Take risks.

Chasing your dreams requires a leap of faith. But even after you take that plunge, it’s crucial to continue taking the right risks in your career. Some may end in failure, but that’s not a bad thing. I've gained far more wisdom from my failures than my successes. Early in your career, you need to discover your unique strengths and weaknesses. And the only way to do that is by putting yourself out there.

Know when you have to change course.

It’s also important to know when it’s time to make big changes. And I don’t mean finding a new job or moving to a new city. I’m talking about those profound moments of self-reflection when you realize your own limitations are holding you back. Swallowing hard truths and doing the hard work to change isn’t easy. Most people can’t or won’t do it. I didn’t either early in my career. But if I hadn’t eventually allowed for some honest self-reflection, I wouldn’t be leading Ford today.

Be kind.

This is, by far, the best advice I could ever give anyone – not just our Ford intern class. In our busy lives, it's easy to neglect kindness. We each carry our own burdens, and sometimes they can blind us to the struggles of others. What’s important is defaulting to kindness in all our interactions. Encourage quieter team members to speak up. Express care for colleagues facing personal difficulties. When you’re making decisions that impact people’s livelihoods, always put yourself in their shoes. It’s okay if it doesn’t come naturally. To a certain degree, I had to learn it myself. And I’m still learning and growing every day. As a leader, it's important to keep growing. There’s always more to learn!

Thank you to all our Ford interns this summer – including those who joined us at this event. This is an exciting time to be a part of Ford Motor Company. We're thrilled to have you with us as we innovate, grow, and look to lead the future of transportation.