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In the year Julia Wada, who will retire in April 2022, worked at the auto giant for more than three decades, joining Toyota Motor Sales after graduating from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and working her way up to vice president of strategy, innovation and transformation. The company’s financial services department. Prior to that, she worked as a program manager and engineer at Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation as a dedicated rocket scientist. Wada spoke at the 2016 Women in Business Summit.
How has the business world changed since the beginning of your career?
Well… that takes me a while, so things have changed dramatically. I was a young female engineer and looking back now I was lucky to work for great managers who taught me a lot and held me in high esteem. I used to work in a defense contractor, so my view of the business world is related to working for the government. In those days we women wore business suits with shoulders covered and always wore stockings and I had shirts with lots of bows.
We physically “cut and pasted” to create presentation materials – compared to today with everything from PowerPoint to video capabilities and real-time displays. In the 80s, in business school, we were taught that the purpose of business is to maximize shareholder value. Today, businesses recognize multiple stakeholders and work to maximize opportunities and value for all key stakeholders – eg employees, customers, investors, communities, business partners. Businesses today are asked to be good corporate citizens, promote environmental improvements, be socially responsible and have strong governance.
How have you changed?
I am more self-aware and have more compassion and understanding for others. I have learned and grown over the past 20 years as a team member and leader at Lockheed and Toyota and through my involvement in diversity, equity and inclusion. For example, the simple idea of the “Platinum Law”, which is to treat others as you would like to be treated, is profound. It requires being curious, trying to put yourself in other people’s shoes and trying to understand what is important to them and why. As a child, I didn’t consciously think about seeing things through other lenses. I find it applicable and useful in all aspects of business and personal life.
What obstacles did you face?
Fortunately, early on in my career I didn’t really understand the obstacles I might face because I didn’t know how things work in the business world. My parents raised me with the immigrant American dream mentality that if I worked hard enough, I would be recognized and rewarded. Combined, I think these things might make me more confident than being told about bias or business politics or people leadership challenges, etc. Like thinking or acting because I think I’m right and don’t see or understand how to be more effective. As I grow as a person and leader, I see more clearly the complexity of the world we live in and how our relationships, partners and supporters help us see and overcome obstacles. For example, I had a manager who was very opinionated about the position I was assigned to, and we often disagreed. I was afraid to report to them at first, but when I opened up and they did, we formed a partnership of mutual respect and became good friends. There were certainly some heated conversations, though!
Did any of the obstacles surprise you?
A lot of the obstacles I’ve seen and experienced at work have to do with human interaction and communication, which makes sense to me now because work is about doing things with other people. And we all have different ideas about what we want to do and how. When I started my career, as an engineer, I thought things were more straightforward – solving problems that had answers. Now, the further I go in my career, the more fundamental things we all learned in kindergarten are things we need to remember. such as –
- Do your best
- Be kind to others
- Tell the truth
- Take turns and share.
- Be respectful
- Listen when others talk
- Please tell me and thank you
What experiences, training, or education have best prepared you?
I’ve had quite a few and they all fall into what we at Toyota call the 3E’s: Education, Exposure and Experience. Typically, about 10% of growth comes from education, about 20% from exposure, and about 70% from experience. For me, in the field of education, I have learned from many books and excellent trainings, such as diversity education, communication and critical dialogue training and manager and consultant training. In terms of exposure, attending specific workshops or conferences or being part of a specific group and being able to see others in action was a powerful learning experience. And finally, experience, especially the challenging new situations that stood out for me. For example, when I was first promoted to lead others, some of whom were my peers, when I was promoted to lead a team with no knowledge, and when I moved to another part of the company, know the business or the people.
What has helped you the most during your career?
Striving to do my best, being open and always learning, and having great role models, coaches, mentors and sponsors who pushed and supported me.
I now realize that all my life I have been looking up to female leaders as role models without even thinking about it. Their differences helped me see how true leadership is about making the most of your unique strengths and not trying to be someone else.
What’s the best advice you’ve received?
I was promoted to lead a new team and I was having a people challenge and my boss basically said, “What happened to Julia that people love to work with?” he asked me. It was then that I realized that she and I were so different that I tried to be like my old self. It goes back to the power of proper leadership.
What is the worst advice?
I can’t think of anything here. Maybe I’ve put the bad advice out of my mind!
What do you wish you had known earlier?
To know your power and tap into it.
What advice would you give to others?
Don’t let anyone or anything put you in a box, whether it’s your title, someone else’s opinion of you, or your own mindset. And to know the power you have and tap into it!
Do you have any memories of women in business?
It was the first big event I went to Texas after moving from California. I remember people being very friendly and accommodating. We had a great time at the panel. There was a great turnout from the audience, and it was clear that the women at this event wanted to make a difference.
The magazine itself appeared at work and in restaurants I visited. I was on the cover, and a number of my team members and some people who thought Toyota at the time mentioned to me how they liked the issue and Toyota being represented in the community.
I remember meeting Trey Wilcox who hosted the event. Since then, we’ve had holiday parties and team building events at his place, which was so much fun and delicious!
What do you think the future holds for women in the business world?
Unlimited possibilities. I love that more women are now focusing on paying it forward and lifting others up. We realize that we are better together.
Which book has influenced you and your career?
This is always a difficult question for me, because there are many books that have influenced me. One book that always comes to mind. A set of minds By Carol Dweck. She talks about the power of a growth mindset and a fixed mindset. Here are some other business books I often recommend. Leadership pipeline Ram Charan, to drive By Daniel Pink and The five defects of a group By Patrick Lencioni.
What is the biggest mistake women make when they start growing their careers?
Keeping their heads down and doing the work, thinking that it will be recognized and rewarded. Often, they don’t take the time to look up to understand what it takes to advance and develop or expose those skills.
What was one of the most interesting (or useful) things you learned this year?
At work, I’ve been using the Microsoft suite of products for a long time, and now that I’m retired, I have to admit that I’ve been learning the Google suite of products this year: Google Drive, Docs, etc. They think they are very good. They are very useful!
What is a recurring obstacle for you? (Time, money, attitude, space, knowledge, etc.) What strategies are you using to overcome that?
I can easily get distracted by good articles interrupting my feed, so I don’t have enough time for all the things I need. I can also be very focused and lose myself in my work. I had to learn to draw the line for myself – for example, actively managing my calendar and planning vacation time. I have also been practicing daily awareness for a few years now and have found it very helpful in learning to be fully present, let go of certain things, and be more objective. I also had to be intentional about taking care of myself physically and emotionally to the best of my ability.
What is your personal brand and how do you develop it?
I hope people see me as a kind person and someone they want to interact with or work with. Someone who can be trusted, who cares, who makes a difference and always strives to do better and be better. In terms of caring for it – I don’t think of it as “caring” because I believe that your true brand is built on your daily actions and relationships. Your personal “moments of truth” are when you are faced with a particularly difficult situation.
Environmental profileThe 21st Annual Women in Business Conference will be held on September 30th at the Renaissance Dallas Hotel in Plano’s Legacy West. Click here for tickets.
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