Detroit Summit 2025: Where Purpose Meets Possibility

on June 11, 2025

“There’s nothing that we can’t do.”


That bold declaration from Teresa Thiele, SVP – Global Purchasing Programs at Stellantis, set the tone for Detroit Summit 2025—a gathering that transcended the stage to become a movement of momentum, meaning, and shared ambition.

This summit wasn’t just an event.
It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when people come together—with purpose, with passion, and with the courage to keep showing up.


What We Achieved—Together

506 attendees joined us in Detroit
224 virtual participants tuned in live
14+ countries represented, including:
Canada · Czechia · France · Germany · Greece · India · Italy · Mexico · Morocco · Poland · South Africa · Spain · UK · USA

We made space for it all:
Leaders and learners. Bold ideas and quiet confidence. The ambition to grow—and the courage to evolve.


The Messages That Moved Us

“Know your value. Know that you’ve done the work to be here.”
Kelly Harrison, Ford Motor Company

“Diverse companies now outperform their peers by 39%, up from 15% in 2015.”
Dr. Charlene Wu shared this striking stat, backed by her own team at TRI—where 56% of her AI team are women, thanks to intentional hiring that fosters inclusion and innovation.
Her message: the future of AI—and every industry—belongs to teams that value difference not just in demographics, but in thinking.

“These are the rooms I want to be in—it’s where the magic happens.”
Tracy Rosol, Bosch


It’s often the simplest one-liners that stick with us. That’s the power of showing up, again and again, and building the networks that carry us forward.


Key Takeaways

Take a chance on yourself—even if you don’t feel ready
Align your values with your work and lead with purpose
Embrace uncertainty as fuel for growth and experimentation
Create space for every voice to lead
You don’t have to be perfect—just present


Why This Matters

The automotive and mobility industries are evolving at record speed. With disruption comes opportunity—but only if we’re prepared to meet it. This summit proved: we are.

By showing up, speaking out, and lifting each other higher, we’re not just preparing for the future—we’re shaping it.

This is the power of community.
This is the power of the Detroit Summit.

“You don’t have to be perfect, just present. You don’t have to do it alone—just keep showing up, asking for support, and saying yes to the next challenge.”
Jaclyn McQuaid, General Motors

 

 

Together, we’ve got this.

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For more details on our 2025 events, including the Europe and Mexico Summits, explore here. 

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