Leadership Highlight: Michelle McGarity, Honda Development & Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC
Leadership training can empower women to new heights – especially in male-dominated industries like manufacturing. Michelle McGarity, a Unit Lead at Honda Development & Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC, experienced this firsthand through Momentum’s leadership program. Now, she’s paying it forward by implementing Momentum-inspired training at Honda.
About Michelle
Michelle oversees appearance supplier quality for Honda’s automotive manufacturing sites across the US. She ensures high standards for the look, feel, and aesthetic of vehicles – not easy when working with mass production! Guiding teams with diverse backgrounds takes finesse. At Honda, Michelle noticed an imbalance: “Here in the automotive side, we have more men than women. Sometimes it’s hard to look up and think, ‘Hey, there’s no one at the top that looks like me.'”
Michelle’s History With Momentum
Michelle participated in Momentum’s acclaimed leadership program for women executives. She joined Class 17 in 2019, forging close bonds with women leaders from other industries. Michelle initially questioned the program’s relevance to manufacturing. However, she soon realized they shared common ground in developing leadership presence and unlocking potential.
Training For Women at Honda
Michelle saw firsthand how leadership training could empower and inspire women. She dreamed of bringing a similar experience to Honda. With mentorship support, and in partnership with Momentum facilitator Dr. Sharon Melnick, Michelle’s vision became reality. Honda is now offering a 6-module leadership program for 44 women, modeled after Momentum, as a pilot program.
The Honda program kicked off in January, with coaching sessions added recently. Though the program is still underway, Michelle already sees positive change. Participants are focusing inward on their personal agency and how they show up as leaders. Michelle explains, “The way you react and what you do makes a difference when you’re in a leadership role.”
Ripple Effect
Michelle is grateful to Momentum for their support of women in leadership roles. She says, “I thank the Momentum program for helping to bring this opportunity to us so we can think about different things and be able to give back.” Momentum’s ripple effects reveal how women’s leadership training elevates companies, industries, and communities. Michelle multiplied her Momentum moment, uplifting other women at Honda. Now her trainees can pay it forward, creating a cycle of empowerment.
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Momentum Leaders
Momentum develops standout leaders like Michelle McGarity, who make a difference in their workplaces. When given the chance, women lift each other up. Leadership becomes less about authority and more about finding human potential. Michelle used the power of Momentum training to shape Honda’s future. Her story shows that with the right mindset shift, women can transform even male-dominated industries into landscapes of equity and empowerment.
