CAC and BEN team member Ola Ajayi-Salako (left) interviews CAC President, Maria Soklis, as part of the BEN “Real About Race” video series.
Cox Automotive Canada recently signed the BlackNorth Initiative’s CEO Pledge, and has established a new Employee Resource Group (ERG) called the Black Employee Network (BEN).
The BlackNorth Initiative is led by the Canadian Council of Business Leaders Against Anti-Black Systemic Racism and aims to end anti-Black systemic racism in Canada through a “business-first” mindset.
“As leaders in our industry and communities, we have a responsibility to champion positive change,” said Maria Soklis, President of Cox Automotive Canada and Brazil. “We need to set an example by providing equal opportunities and ensuring everyone feels welcome and comfortable to bring their true self to work without any form of discrimination.”
In its news release, Cox Automotive Canada said it is the first business in the automotive industry to sign the pledge, which along with the ERG, is meant to help combat systematic racism and promote diversity through inclusion and equal opportunity in the workforce.
The Black Employee Network was inspired by the organization’s Women With Drive (WWD) and is meant to help company team members that seek to better understand and combat anti-black and systematic racism through three pillars: Education, Celebration and Inspiration.
“I am confident that BEN will generate intuitive ideas and initiatives that will continue to have a real and lasting positive impact on the opportunities for Black people within Cox Automotive Canada, the industry and our community,” said Soklis.
So far the company has more than 50 team members contributing to BEN’s efforts, with several initiatives set to launch in the coming months.
One of the first BEN initiatives aims to educate and inspire others through a video series called “Real About Race,” where company team members, Soklis, and other members of the company’s senior leadership team “have honest and difficult, but professional and meaningful” conversations about racism.
“These are difficult conversations because they matter, and I was pleased to see the BEN team present this initiative and the immediate willingness of our leaders to participate,” said Soklis.
“By sharing our efforts and leading, I hope that we can encourage others to do the same,” said Soklis about the pledge and the Black Employee Network.
From left to right, CAC team members, BEN co-chairs Emiliano Void and Pako Tshiamala and CAC CFO, and BEN Executive Sponsor, Anna Giagkou.
