An interview with Carlene Bills, President & CEO, Ford Component Sales

Carlene’s path to the C-suite was far from a straight elevator ride — she took the stairs, jumped over missing steps, and kept climbing. Through the Women Rising® program, she found her voice and learned the one thing that changed everything: ask for what you want, and put it in writing.

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Walk us through your career path and what helped you progress to the next level.

If you look at my career path, I had a non-traditional path at Ford Motor Company. Typically at Ford you come into an organization and that’s the organization you stay in. But I had an awesome mentor who told me “When they give you an opportunity to step in a white space — don’t be afraid to take it on.”

The issue I ran into was that I was never offered the opportunity to go into the white space. So what I had to do was really reposition myself — take on more difficult projects internally to be considered for external opportunities. It was not easy.

I tell people a story: sometimes you come to work and I’d walk to the elevator with all my peers. We’re all walking, talking, having a coffee. They push the elevator button. The elevator opens up for them, but as soon as I get ready to get on, it closes. But I still had to get to the twelfth floor. So what does Carlene do? She takes the stairs up. I still get there — but it’s going to take a little longer.

Sometimes you’re making momentum on those stairs, then all of a sudden there’s chairs coming down, lights go off, there’s a couple of stairs missing. So it’s never an easy path. But I took on difficult assignments. I went into white spaces where nothing was clearly defined and went in and created my own.

How did the Women Rising® program change your approach?

I would say I was not candid enough until I took the Women Rising® Program. I remember coming into my Women Rising meeting and I was mighty low — 95% of the time Carlene Bills has a smile on her face, but I was in that other 5% and I was ready to quit. But my coach said, “You know what Carlene, you’ve got to ask for what you want. The men do it all the time — they say, ‘I need a promotion. I’m looking for a promotion. I’m not getting equal pay.’” Instead of us waiting as women, because we’re a little bit less vocal when it comes to pay issues and we figure our work would speak for itself — it doesn’t.

And lo and behold! After that conversation, she said, “Ask for what you want.” I ain’t stopped asking.

You said to put it in writing — tell us more about that.

Don’t just verbalize it — put it in writing. When you put it in writing, there’s a document. There’s a trail. So, I tell any young lady as you’re coming up and starting your career: document what the issues are and what you want.

Every step of the way, because I know when I take over a role, my predecessor often made more money than me and didn’t have as many responsibilities. So typically when I get into a new role, they say, “Well, you can have this role and everything else!” but don’t want to pay me what my predecessor was paid. So what do I do? I ask for it. In writing.

What stood out to you most from the program?

Understanding what you value versus what other people value, and how everyone’s values are relevant. Make sure that you stand firm to what you value, and you don’t deviate. But be flexible and understand what other people value, and try to find that sweet spot in the middle without compromising what you value.

Also, the strengths assessment — focusing on overcompensating on the things that I was good at, and focusing on those to help lead and open up doors and discussions for me. I’ve got to work on the things that I need help with, but really highlight and hone in on my strengths.

What words of wisdom would you leave for women coming up behind you?

I’m in my “legacy phase” of my life. If I break my life into 3 phases: the first phase out of college, I call it the “puppy phase” — you’re getting out, trying new things, being curious about your surroundings. You’re just learning, absorbing everything.

The next phase was the “do something” phase. In this phase, you go out and build things, curate, publish, get patents, launch products. This is where the coaching comes in to start helping and enabling young women to ask, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”

And then the final phase — it’s the legacy phase I’m in — and that’s really about helping others go through the journey. My goal is to make sure the next generation have the tools in their toolkit to be successful and not give up. Let that path be a little less rocky for them.

Know that you belong, know that you have purpose. Know that everybody’s walk in life is different. But how unique you make your life is about you.