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This International Women's Day, we proudly spotlight the diverse perspectives and powerful contributions of Ford women who are not just working, but leading the charge across the Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa regions. From manufacturing floors to customer experience strategy, these leaders are shaping the future of Ford, each in their own distinct way.
Juanita Smith is responsible for delivering sustainable sales growth, dealer performance, and customer satisfaction across South Africa while leading and developing a high-performing team of five. For her, a good day means dealers are aligned on objectives, her team feels supported and empowered, and obstacles impacting sales performance have been removed.
The biggest misconception about her role? That it's purely about numbers. "In reality, it's about leadership, relationship management, negotiation, strategy execution, and balancing short-term objectives with long-term brand health."
The most common challenge? Performance gaps, whether a dealer is missing objectives or market share is slipping. She tackles it head-on: analyse the data, identify root causes, align on a corrective plan, and hold teams accountable through consistent follow-ups.
What makes her proudest is building a team that takes ownership and consistently delivers results. "Seeing individuals grow in confidence and capability while improving regional performance is rewarding because it creates sustainable success, not just short-term wins."
