Celebrating Black History Month – Alicia Boler Davis

Alicia Boler Davis is a trailblazing executive in the automotive industry. She is currently the Executive Director of Global Manufacturing Engineering and Executive Director of Global Quality at General Motors (GM), one of the world’s largest automotive companies. Davis is responsible for ensuring that GM’s manufacturing operations are efficient, cost-effective, and consistently produce high-quality vehicles. In this article, we’ll explore her career and her influence in the automotive industry.

Davis was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Northwestern University and a master’s degree in engineering management from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Her career at GM began in 1994 as a manufacturing engineer, and she quickly rose through the ranks, holding various leadership positions in manufacturing, engineering, and quality.

In 2012, Davis made history by becoming the first African American woman to be named a plant manager at a GM assembly plant. She was responsible for the company’s Orion Assembly and Pontiac Stamping plants in Michigan, which produced the Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano. Her leadership helped to improve efficiency and quality, resulting in increased production and profitability.

In 2014, Davis was promoted to Senior Vice President of Global Quality and Customer Experience, becoming the highest-ranking African American woman at GM. In this role, she was responsible for improving the quality of GM’s vehicles and customer satisfaction. Under her leadership, GM’s quality ratings improved significantly, and the company was able to reduce warranty costs.

In 2015, she was promoted to Executive Vice President of Global Manufacturing, where she was responsible for overseeing the production of GM’s vehicles at its plants around the globe.

In 2019, Davis was promoted to her current position as Executive Director of Global Manufacturing Engineering and Executive Director of Global Quality. In this role, she is responsible for developing and implementing GM’s manufacturing and quality strategies globally. She also serves as a member of GM’s Senior Leadership Team.

Throughout her career, Davis has been recognized for her achievements and leadership. She has been named one of Fortune’s Most Powerful Women in Business, Black Enterprise’s Most Powerful Women in Business, and Automotive News’ 100 Leading Women in the North American Auto Industry.

In addition to her professional accomplishments, Davis is committed to promoting diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry. She is the founder and chair of the GM Women’s Leadership Council and is a member of the GM Inclusion Council. Additionally, she serves on the board of directors of the National Museum of African American History and Culture and is a member of the Executive Leadership Council. She is also a board member of the United Way for Southeastern Michigan and is a founding board member of the Detroit Chapter of Year Up, an organization that provides education and job training to young adults. She is also a member of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Detroit Economic Club.

Alicia Boler Davis is a true inspiration to aspiring engineers and executives, particularly women and people of color. Her dedication, leadership, and achievements have paved the way for future generations in the automotive industry and beyond. She is currently the Chief Executive Officer at Alto Pharmacy.