We would like to kindly welcome one of the newest members of the Winning Futures’ Board of Directors, Alma Guajardo-Crossley. Alma is the Director of Corporate Diversity at General Motors. She spends her days tracking the internal and external diversity goals of the company while also ensuring that General Motors invests in the community.
Alma joined GM in 1985 as a General Motors Engineering & Management Institute (GMI) co-op student. During her tenure as a student, Alma gained extensive experience and knowledge from various functions including Strategic Marketing, Product Planning, Public Relations, and Purchasing. Her fifth year thesis was completed in Strategic Marketing for Oldsmobile Division.
Alma earned her undergraduate degree from GMI in 1990, and received her MBA from the University of Phoenix in 1997. Alma was born and raised in Adrian, Michigan, and currently resides in Plymouth, MI. As a Hispanic American, Alma is proud of her Mexican heritage and is excited to be in a position that will leverage her broad experience and diverse background. In 2011, Hispanic Business selected Alma as of the “100 Most Influential Hispanics, “ and in 2012 she was awarded the USHLI Corporate Visionary Award, and selected as a 2012 Latina Trailblazer by Latino Justice.
Beyond her daily duties, Alma is a dedicated champion for organizations working to improve our society. Known for her reliable and timely counsel, Alma sits on several boards, including, but not limited to, the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), and the Hispanic Women’s Corporation.
Alma finds the time to prioritize mentoring in the midst of a very busy schedule. She began her career at a time when there were not many women present in corporate America to support her. Because of this, Alma is a very intentional mentor of young women, specifically women of color, as they develop in their careers. She hopes that her mentorship will help them feel more confident about who they are and what they are doing. While supporting up and coming professionals, Alma also deliberately establishes and promotes educational programs and workshops for youth.
When asked about her new position on the board she stated, “It is an honor to support an organization that impacts our Greater Detroit youth in such a tremendous manner. I look forward to helping make a difference in our community.” We are very excited to welcome Alma to Winning Futures’ Board of Directors!