Kettering University (then GMI) played an important role in preparing Carol (VanDeVoort) Goodman ‘79 to attain leadership roles throughout her career in the automotive industry and with nonprofit organizations. It also helped teach her the importance of mentoring others.

“GMI/Kettering played an important role in helping me grow into the person and leader I am today,” said Goodman, a Detroit native who now lives in Baltimore. “Women in that era were a small percentage of the class at Kettering, and the workplace was not always welcoming. Kettering didn’t set up barriers -- there were small class sizes, the teachers loved teaching and they went out of their way to help all students. That, along with the co-op work experience, built my confidence, knowledge base, skills and leadership capability.”

As a Kettering student, her co-op placement was with Chevrolet. Goodman was one of the founding members of Alpha Sigma Alpha, and received the ASA National Elizabeth Bird Small award, recognizing outstanding academic excellence and leadership within the chapter, on campus and in the community. She was also elected to Sigma Alpha Chi Society, made the Dean's List all semesters, was the Class Salutatorian and graduated Magna Cum Laude.

Carol Goodman '79

After graduating with a degree in Industrial Administration (now Business), she received a master’s degree from Harvard Business School. Kettering has a history of being a feeder school to Harvard Business School (HBS). In a 2012 interview with Fortune Magazine, HBS Dean Dee Leopold was asked about what it takes to get accepted to HBS and replied in part, “We love Kettering in Flint.”

Goodman notes that her Kettering experience prepared her well for the competitive environment at Harvard Business School. “Everyone had to have two years of work experience to get into HBS, except for Kettering graduates,” Goodman said. “Harvard recognizes that the quality of work experience students get at Kettering is great preparation -- you are working in substantive positions, not entry level jobs, and that combined with the strong academics provides a really solid foundation.”

After earning her master’s, she continued to work with Chevrolet, including in roles with the financial staff, the Corvette product team, the dealer audit team, and the GM reorganization team, until she transferred to the GM Treasurer’s Office in New York City.

Goodman left General Motors in 1990. However, she continued to use the leadership principles she’d learned in her career to impact others. She has been a key volunteer with various organizations in the Baltimore area, focused in particular on positively impacting the lives of women and children.

“Most of my time over the past 25 years has been spent as a community volunteer,” Goodman said. “In particular, I’ve been passionate about helping women and children in need achieve their potential. I’ve been involved in everything from fundraising to strategic planning, to influencing legislation and creating tutoring, fitness and after school programs for children.”

Goodman’s community involvement includes serving in leadership roles in the Junior League of Baltimore and Association of Junior Leagues International, as well as volunteering with local school districts and for both of her alma maters, Kettering and Harvard. Her civic-mindedness will be recognized with the 2014 Kettering University Civic Achievement Award, which recognizes significant and unselfish contributions of time and effort that benefit a community. Goodman credits her father for inspiring her commitment to serving others, and in particular, is inspired to help women and children based on some of her own positive experiences at Kettering.

“When I was in high school, most female students didn’t get the exposure to math and science that male students did,” Goodman said, “I could have easily fallen behind in college because of that, but I was mentored by both faculty and students at Kettering, helping me to achieve and perform at the highest levels. It was an example of the power of mentoring that has stayed with me throughout my life, and it is why I strive to give back to others whenever possible. Just as I am grateful to Kettering for the doors it opened for me, I try to encourage both the women and the children I work with to believe in themselves, see the doors that education and college can open for them, and find ways for them to pursue their dreams.”