Sheryl Connelly Biography

Consider the ability to peek into a crystal ball and foretell the future. That's what Sheryl Connelly does on a daily basis in her work as Ford Motor Company's manager of Global Trends and Futuring. Instead of a soothsayer's ball, she depends on an ever-expanding knowledge bank, a remarkable capacity to investigate and evaluate data, and a natural skill for connecting with people. "My job is to go beyond the automobile business to understand what's occurring in the social, technical, economic, environmental, and political arenas so that we can comprehend upcoming trends that may affect customers' values, attitudes, and behaviors," Connelly explained. "I seek out those discoveries and work with colleagues in Ford Design and Product Development to transform them into commercial proposals." Connelly, for example, claims that customers emerging from the previous economic downturn are becoming more cautious about their purchases, holding on to things longer, and making incremental purchases rather than buying everything they want all at once. "In automobile terms, it implies buyers may maintain their old vehicle rather than purchasing a new one and try to improve it to receive the new features they desire," she noted. "As a result, the firm may take that notion and look at methods to make more creative accessories available through car customisation or investigate the creation of new technologies with readily updated software." Connelly says one of the reasons she enjoys her job so much is that it allows her to stay in contact with people. "I adore figuring out what inspires people, what hooks their hearts and minds," she says. "I also love working with others because I think that whenever I have the opportunity of sharing my work with someone else, I will always learn something from what they say in return." Connelly is unabashedly enthusiastic about her job, but she readily admits that the path that got her to where she is today was not without unforeseen twists and turns. She dreamed of being an artist as a youngster growing up in Huntington Woods, Michigan, and was especially fond of whimsical artwork, which she still enjoys now. But, understanding that painting was unlikely to be a successful professional option, she chose a "more practical" path. She earned a bachelor's degree in finance from Michigan State University before going on to acquire a law degree and a master's degree in business administration from the University of Detroit-Mercy. However, following a brief time as a civil litigation attorney in Buffalo, N.Y., Connelly says she immediately recognized that law might not be the best fit for her. "I wasn't satisfied, so I set out to find the sweet spot of convergence between finance, business, and law," she explained. "I also wanted to return to Michigan." Connelly secured an entry-level work with Ford in the company's Marketing and Sales division after a few job applications, where she learned about everything from dealer connections and owner loyalty to new vehicle releases and regulatory regulations. She joined Global Trends and Futuring six years ago. "I traveled an unusual route to get here, but I believe everything I learned along the road was beneficial. Law school taught me how to construct a convincing case as well as how to study, evaluate, and synthesize facts "She stated. "I also believe that my love of art helps me grasp how to think visually and use simple visuals to emphasize complicated thoughts." Connelly lives in Birmingham, Michigan. She is married with two kids, Kate and Tess.

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