Black MBA - Spring 2008 - (Page 58)

CAREER Kim Harris Jones awards – and lots of them. Harris Jones is the recipient of the Peter C. Thorp Corporate Leadership Award given for her dedication to mentor young men and women pursuing careers in corporate America. The award, sponsored by the Consortium of Graduate Study in Management, recognizes, among other factors, people who demonstrate support of MBA fellowships and leadership as corporate champions of ethnic diversity. Additional industry awards for her outstanding achievements include being named “African American Executive of the Year” in 2006 by magazine publisher On Wheels Inc. And in 2005, Automotive News called her one of the “100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.” An active member of the National Black MBA Association® and a representative of longtime sponsor Chrysler, Harris Jones scouts resourceful MBA students with talent, good judgment and strength at the National Black MBA Association® Case Competitions, which over the years has awarded more than $300,000 in scholarships to minority business students, and helped more than 1,000 MBA students gain access to scholarships, mentoring and employment opportunities. Harris Jones also is a national board member of The Links, Inc. and former president and lifetime board member for the Boys and Girls Republic. “Kim is one of our jewels,” says Mary Jane Peck, CEO of the Farmington Hills, Mich.-based residential treatment center for at-risk youth. Harris Jones joined the board by way of her Chrysler mentor Fountain, an honorary trustee. “She is a doer,” Peck says. “She does things quietly. [But] when she speaks, you listen. She has lent her expertise to our organization by helping us find ways to save money. She has brought funds to the organization and made personal contributions.” Beyond her work to maximize the home’s effectiveness, Harris Jones, a wife and mother of two, truly takes her involvement to heart, which is why, Peck says, Harris Jones uses her personal resources to shop for Christmas gifts for the kids at the center. According to Harris Jones, maintaining her famous even temper helps her accomplish a multitude of tasks while keeping perspective [on life in general]. “Sometimes what you feel is a setback, is not,” she says. “There is always tomorrow. [A problem] does not necessarily mean that you have to change companies. Take a new approach.” mba why she’ll quickly seek out colleagues for desired advice, implement proactive measures or simply sit-back and take an introspective look at herself – including what may or may not be working. She also lost her shy and reserved demeanor. “I took a look at successful people, and I tried to figure out what they were doing that I wasn’t doing,” she says. “I was told that I was too quiet to people who did not know me. Here, you have to be self-promoting outside the job.” Successful colleagues frequently offered a helping hand, including an influential mentor, W. Frank Fountain, Senior Vice President of External Affairs and Public Policy for Chrysler LLC (Wharton MBA 1973). Eventually, Harris Jones learned to demonstrate leadership on the job, and grab outside opportunities for exposure, which she believes helps her volunteer efforts in the community. Harris Jones says patience and diligence are keys to her surviving a male-dominated automotive industry. Smiling, she admits to earning the moniker “ET” because of her eventemper. And she’s open to learn from all types of co-workers – from janitors to CEOs. She goes on to talk about the recent corporate shake-ups claiming some of the nation’s top AfricanAmerican corporate executives. “The bigger you are, the harder you fall,” Harris Jones says. “We don’t have that many African Americans in corporate America, so [we] stand out.” She also mentions the i ntense controversy surrounding affirmative action in Michigan, which is an issue many credit for the increasingly competitive atmosphere African A mer ica n exe c ut ive s e ncou nter. “Fair or not, I am probably under the microscope more than others,” Harris Jones says. “It’s tough, and it’s getting tougher. We’re [minorities] all held to high accountability.” AN EXAMPLE TO OTHERS Meeting this standard of high accountability may be its own reward. But there are other accolades and 58 BlackMBA • Spring 2008 • www.nbmbaa.org MUSIC TO HER EARS Kim Harris Jones likes to find inspiration for her work philosophy in the following R&B and hip-hop songs: Mariah Carey’s “Shake It Off” – “Always remain calm. Don’t let things get to you.” Jay-Z “Show Me What You Got” – “Do your best. Do what you can. Do the job you are doing really well.” John Legend “Ordinary People” – “At the end of the day, you get this.” http://www.nbmbaa.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Black MBA - Spring 2008

Black MBA - Spring 2008 Passion, Purpose and Power Contents Web Browsing From the President & CEO Up Front Advertising for Change CEO to CEO: Straight Talk with Barbara L. Thomas and Renetta McCann The New Executive Search Wealth Building: A Head Start on Investing and Saving Young Continuing Education: Lifelong Learning is Easier than You Think Making Good: Catching up with some of NBMBAA’s 2007 Scholarship Winners On Campus: Universities Win Grants to Fight Poverty Public Service: Does Your MBA Fit in the Government Sector? Bridge Building: Make a Career of Giving Back Steady Speed: Kim Harris Jones Shares what Drives a Successful Auto Industry Career Financial Planning: A New Way to Work Your MBA Global Focus: Keeping up with the Competition Clock On the Move: Member News, Promotions and More Industry Focus: Biotechnology, Energy, Food & Beverage, Global Media and Entertainment Employer Profiles: Campbell Soup, FINRA Financial Finesse: Denise Hales Harrod and CompuCredit Advocate for the Financially Underserved Creating Lasting Change: GE Impacts Quality of Life in Africa William W. Wells Jr.: Finding Strength in Diversity Leaders of Tomorrow® Community Service Program: NBMBAA® and Wal-Mart Partner to Reward Students Who Give Back Reaching Out: NBMBAA® Chapters Give Back to Their Local Communities How To… Buy a Franchise: Understanding the Basics of Acquiring a Franchise After the Gridiron: Keith Sims – Dunkin’ Donuts Franchise Confidential: Paul Hubbard – Papa John’s pizza Strength Through Adversity: Bob and Hortense Bobbitt – McDonald’s On the Ground Floor: Valerie Daniels-Carter – Pizza Hut, Burger King, Auntie Anne’s Use Your Superstar Status: Black Entrepreneurs Break into Japanese Economy Marketing Maven: Odyssey Media Entrepreneur Linda Spradley Dunn Staying the Course: Black Marathoners Share Lessons from the Race Relationship Forum: Soul-Mate Strategies for the Career-Minded Vacations that Matter: Travel to Make a Difference Advertisers Index

Black MBA - Spring 2008

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