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New Georgian College awards aim to drive positive change in Canada's automotive industry

Through awards championing diversity and inclusion, Cox Automotive Canada and Georgian College are looking to drive positive change in the automotive industry.

Thanks to Cox Automotive, a pair of students at Georgian College’s Automotive Business School of Canada will be getting a financial boost to kick off their careers. Cox Automotive is a massive player in the automotive ecosystem, with solutions for consumers, dealers, and manufacturers across the world, and is now delivering some assistance to students through The Cox Automotive Canada Inclusion Award and The Cox Automotive Canada Diversity Award. Eligible students will receive a $2,500 donation for recognizing an opportunity in the automotive industry to drive change, or to champion its transformation.
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The Inclusion Award will be applicable to students who self-identify as Black, while the Diversity Award will be for those who self-identify as female, Black and/or as being of Indigenous ancestry. Supporting these students to drive change with these awards, there is hope that the automotive industry can develop into a more inclusive space.

Georgian College will manage the selection process, as the awards will be presented to a pair of students in the Honours Bachelor of Business Administration (Automotive Management) (Co-op) program or the Automotive Business (Co-op) program, and are in good academic standing. Cox will support the awards for three years.

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“The globalized nature of the auto industry requires a diverse workforce that welcomes everyone, which is why we are proud to support Accelerate Auto’s vision with Georgian College’s help to champion students with inclusive values as future leaders,” said Maria Soklis, President, Cox Automotive Canada & Brazil. “Diversity and inclusiveness are not only pillars at Cox Automotive Canada, but shape our business success by attracting and keeping the best talent. We are committed to promoting equal opportunity in the automotive sector.”

Cox Automotive has built a bit of momentum in supporting positive change in the automotive industry, with employee resource groups like the Black Employee Network (BEN) and Women With Drive (WWD). The company says that efforts like these have helped it gain recognition as one of Greater Toronto’s top employers.
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Additionally, Cox has been supporting and collaborating with groups like Accelerate Auto and the BlackNorth Initiative on inclusiveness, the former being an important part of these awards. Nonprofits like Accelerate Auto are working to increase representation within the automotive industry, through mentorship and networking opportunities,

“It’s rewarding to see highly-respected leaders like Maria Soklis, who lead progressive organizations like Cox Automotive Canada, embrace educational opportunities for Black students and other groups in the automotive industry,” said Jennifer Okoeguale, founding member of Accelerate Auto. “The Automotive Business School of Canada offers a range of programs that are an ideal launch pad for successful careers in automotive, and this is a fantastic opportunity.”

Inclusion and diversity has been a lowlight within the automotive industry , making it ripe for efforts like this to influence positive change. Hopefully we see more of these awards or an extended commitment from donors like Cox.

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