Ford’s Kiersten Robinson Uses Inforum Discussion to Address Importance of Risk-Taking, Overcoming Fear When Pursuing Career Goals

Kiersten Robinson, general manager of family vehicles and president, Mexico and Canada for Ford Blue, brought personal insights about taking risks when pursuing professional goals during Inforum’s recent event celebrating 60 years of supporting the progression and development of professional women.

Ford has a longstanding partnership with Inforum of over 20 years – working together often to highlight professional growth opportunities of women. Similarly to Ford, their work is centered on gender diversity, and the values of diversity, equity and inclusion.?

The session, “Dreaming Big and Taking Risks,” was attended by over 500 professional women and the panel also included Raquel Salas Guzman, founding partner of Avanti Law Group, and moderator Felecia Pryor, executive vice president and chief human resources officer of BorgWarner, who spoke as part of the 60th?annual meeting of Inforum.

Salas Guzman and Robinson are both immigrants – Salas Guzman from the Dominican Republic, Robinson from Australia – and shared how leaving behind their families to pursue incredible opportunities in the United States boosted self-confidence in other pursuits.

They also spoke on the fear that can sometimes come between female leaders and their professional dreams, and the importance of acknowledging and embracing that fear, particularly when facing new opportunities.

“The fear never goes away,” Salas Guzman said. “We’re always going to second-guess ourselves and think we’re not enough, but we have to welcome it. Fear is my best friend; he is sitting next to me right now. When I opened my law firm, I was very scared. I was an attorney but had no idea how to run an actual business. Sometimes you just have to go for it, and you will learn.”

Robinson discussed how she faced a lot of personal doubt in her decision-making when the pandemic struck.

“In the beginning of the pandemic there were very few people you could look to for information, and people often turned to me for clear guidance,” Robinson said. “The weight of that responsibility was heavy. How you show up to instill confidence is what matters most in times of hesitation.”

Robinson said that she finds comfort in learning in the volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguate – VUCA – world in which we live, and offered advice to help others navigate the VUCA world.

“Whether it is artificial or real, learning gives a sense of more control, so it is important to carve out designated time and ways to attain knowledge,” Robinson said. “Finding things that will bring you peace in times of disruption is crucial.”