Vijaya is a very busy woman—even a 16-hour work day is not enough for her. Meeting deadlines, leading a team, building and launching a car in the shortest possible time, it’s all in a day’s work.

Vijaya is passionate about cars (absolutely loves the Fiesta), is motivated and very focused. This and her decade-long experience at Ford make her the right person for some very demanding roles, including Product Development (PD) launch manager for Figo.

Meet Vijaya Vijayalakshmi, currently general manager, Plant Vehicle Team, and a role model for women in the automotive business.

We recently had a chat with Vijaya about being a woman in the car industry, why she is a ring leader, and her thoughts about the forthcoming Figo.

A woman passionate about cars – some might find that a rarity!

I don’t think it’s such a rare phenomenon. Women like cars too, you know! Cars were my passion right from college days.

So what is it like to work as a woman in a man’s world?

I’ve never felt uncomfortable or out of place. Maybe it’s because I’m friendly, or because from my college days I was in the automotive field. I have travelled to several Ford markets across the world, and met many people. I have always been respected and treated as part of the team.

Did you begin your career at Ford on the management side?

No, I started with engineering; handling power train first on the engineering side, later as part of management. I took up the position of Figo PD launch manager because it was a wonderful opportunity to see the bigger picture behind development, and my current profile is just as thrilling.

You have travelled a lot within Ford.  Which assignment influenced you the most?

All my overseas assignments helped me a lot, but the three years I spent in Australia for the Fiesta program were the most interesting; it also opened up a whole new experience to me. Despite having different backgrounds, we worked really well as a team. The lessons I learned there have made me a better leader now.

Do you think you’re successful because you charm people to do the process right or do you have any secrets?

No, no secrets here! I think it’s because I’m convinced about the right thing to do. What helped me drive the PD team, for instance, was being focused, and making sure that everybody stayed focused. At every team meeting, we didn’t talk about a launch, but a robust launch. When the team became frustrated, I used to tell them: “If you buy this car, will you feel good about this problem? I don’t think so”. And we all intend to buy this car.

As Figo’s PD launch manager, what was your team’s primary goal?

Our team had to achieve a robust launch – whatever it took. Talk about intense times! The team and I were constantly on our toes, but we had a great time.

What was your biggest challenge then?

Our need to compress development time as much as possible, because this could affect operations of the rest of the company. It was a tough responsibility, but the challenge made it something for us to look forward to. There was this constant reminder that we were part of something new and exhilarating that kept us going strong.

You were constantly telling your team “Here is the schedule”. So you were like the ring leader.

Absolutely! But it was worth every second! I was just wondering how many people will hate me now that I’m done with them (laughs). I’m just joking!

Now let’s talk Figo! The Figo is going to be…

…An absolute delight!

Will the Figo write a new chapter in Ford history?

Yes, in terms of both the product and processes we set.

That must be quite a legacy for the team to leave behind!

We don’t think about that for now. First we have to achieve our goals and stay focused on delivering a great launch in a short time. Figo is very special to me. I just can’t wait for it to hit the roads and enjoy the positive feedback the Figo deserves, all because of the hard work put in by so many people here!