Millennials Thriving at Magna

I work on larger scale mergers and acquisitions and venture capital investments. I’ve had the opportunity to work on some super-exciting transactions alongside senior members of the team. At Magna, age and number of years of experience aren’t the only prerequisites to having an impact. There is an opportunity to step up and contribute, and a willingness to listen to anyone who is able to add value.

It’s very cool and interesting to be able to leave a mark and contribute on these transformational strategic decisions. The ability to work very hard on deals and help shape the company is what drives me.

It’s got a bed in it.

Coffee. I’m energetic, motivated and driven to come up with a good outcome. But I’d also like to think I’m thoughtful like a cup of tea. I’d be more of a cat guy. Cats have a certain level of independence but can be good companions.

The people and the concepts we work on. Engineers are the coolest, nicest people you’d want to meet. Our tech team is awesome, with everyone coming from different backgrounds. I feel comfortable around my team which means I can speak and act freely. We’re working on new mobility, which encompasses everything. We’re looking at using solar power for vehicles and micro-mobility applications. The creative possibilities are endless.

I do back-end research for new mobility and other projects. As a research engineer, I don’t have the biggest voice in the room – data has the biggest voice. My mentor Ron Zak could tell I was nervous before a big presentation. He said, ‘Marisa, you did the research, you know it’s right. Speak confidently.’ That really stuck with me.

Most definitely it will be completely solar- powered. It will be very sleek, no spinning wheels, autonomous, with an endless supply of snacks.

My partner and co-manager is Hexin Li, who has worked for Magna for 29 years and is one year younger than my father. I consult him whenever I have questions or face challenges. He has a big heart. His best advice is to ‘let your work do the talking.’

Our lab is audited by automakers to make sure we are qualified to do testing and they don’t need to outsource anything to a third party. One of my proudest moments came when we were certified by Geely. Geely is a major customer and that was a big milestone. I was also proud when we were recognized as a national laboratory by the Chinese government. It is a big honor.

I would paint. The lessons I’ve learned in painting can be applied to my job. The mindset is the same. Don’t panic. Don’t rush. Step-by-step.

The work is challenging. It varies and it’s never boring. I’m also very shy. I learned to communicate better with people in the bookshop, and I’m getting even better at communicating in my new role.

My promotion. I was happy to be given more responsibility.

I don’t have just one mentor or one piece of advice. I have lots of female colleagues who helped me and are still helping me. They are from the shop floor and the quality department. They give me advice on how to be quick and effective at my job. In this job, speed is very important to the customer.

I would like to work in administration at the plant.

It will be a flying car.

I’ve been learning so much and making a big effort to be the best. This is my second job out of high school. My first job was making electronic parts in the solar industry. It was also a manufacturing job but I’ve found that I like automotive much better.

My Magna mentor is Shengping Fang. He’s an experienced production operator who reminds me to be mindful, careful and treat the job seriously. A little mistake could cause big trouble. It could damage the vehicle and the company’s reputation.

I want the safest vehicle, so it will have exterior airbags. Safety is critical for me and my family.

Furious 7: Back to the Starting Line, from The Fast and the Furious franchise.

Soccer. It’s about teamwork and getting the goal. I enjoy working with a team and winning.

I have friends here. The quality leader is a friend; I can talk to him about work and any personal concerns. It’s important to have good colleagues and leaders.

There is no specific moment because I feel proud at all times. I feel good about having responsibility for checking quality. Besides, Magna has brought me luck. Every year, our plant hosts a New Year’s party for employees with a drawing. I’ve won the biggest prize twice. Both times, it was a gold necklace, both of which I gave to my mother.

I like to control quality, so I would like to be the quality manager someday. I also love coffee, so I would like to own a coffee shop.

It will be completely autonomous, with a coffee maker.

Jog in the park.

Not three words, four words. They are 'easygoing, serious at work.'

The people on the floor are the most important. They get the job done with the support of others. Also, I’ve learned the importance of communication and friendship. When I got trained on the third shift, the team was good at communication which helped them exceed the productivity rate. They knew each other and talked to each other. It made a difference.

Using my lifelong learning within Magna. Understanding the business as a whole has been my education. Magna is entrepreneurial, and I can fit in anywhere today because I understand the concepts of launching a business.

The next step is autonomous. Convenience is key. People appreciate goods and services that make their life more convenient.

Running and lifting weights have become my hobbies. I also enjoy trying new restaurants. I love music and literature. And I read articles on Industry 4.0 and the National Football League.

When I was working on my post-graduate diploma in quality engineering management at Lambton College in Ontario, I had a teacher who used to work for Magna. His name was Dhaval Vyas. He would tell us about the great experience and knowledge he gained working here. It was inspiring, and I wanted to have the same experience. I knew the minute I walked into MSM for my interview that this is the place I wanted to work.

We didn’t have a car on the farm in India where I grew up. While my father didn't go to school, we all know in the Indian culture that education leads to opportunities. I felt that furthering my education in Canada would help me focus on the more practical aspects of what I would need to be successful. Much of what I learned has applied to my current job.

It doesn’t matter how stressful a situation may be, just be confident and trust yourself. You need to believe in yourself. This is a lesson that I’m sure will benefit me throughout my career and in my life.

I would play badminton. Growing up, I was the best badminton player in my school. Backhand was my best move.

As a purchasing engineer, I get to work with so many people, often talking to suppliers about issues, purchasing orders and pricing. My job also connects me to different Magna departments, such as human resources, IT and engineering. It really helps me be a better communicator and to express my thoughts, something engineers like me aren’t always expected to do.

My mentor is Maggie Qian, the senior purchasing manager in my department, and it seems like we’re always juggling 20-30 tasks. She’s really helped me better prioritize my work and improve my efficiency. And along the way, she’s become like a sister to me.

I feel like I’ve found my dream job right here at Magna.

Kind, brave and decisive.

My mentor was Flor Garcia, a production leader who is now retired. She supported and encouraged me to develop my skills when I was a machine operator. She always said, 'Take care of the people. The business really depends on them.'

Supporting the professional growth of the production operators on my team. I tell them they need to take advantage of the opportunities that Magna offers. Many of them have been promoted to better jobs in materials, maintenance and production. The encouragement I got from the company motivated me to help others.

It will be a self-driving vehicle with massaging seats. After you leave work, you need a place to relax.

I would spend more time with my wife and my two children, Dylan, 8, and Ian, 2. We’d probably play soccer.

At first, kind of shy, but when people get to know me they realize I’m funny. I’m always looking for ways to make people smile.

Soccer. I’ve been a soccer player since I’ve been four. Soccer taught me leadership is the key to being a winner.

I work on a team of eight people. We test and validate weld qualities on seat frames for customers like General Motors and Stellantis. We run quality checks on an hourly basis. When we find an issue, we get a toolmaker or a weld technician to correct the mistake on the machine.

The team checks around 4,000 welds a day. It would be incredibly difficult to get a problem through the system because there are so many double checks and triple checks. As I work, I think of my six-year-old daughter Kali. I don’t want to put her in a seat I’m not going to trust.

Since we’re all equals, we finish things as a team. We support each other. Every day is a proud day. You successfully achieve something every day as a team.

A magnetic vehicle would be interesting, one that uses electromagnetic propulsion technology. It would reduce pollution, allow for renewable resources, and reduce traffic accidents.

At home, with my fiancé Haley, my daughter Kali and my 40 fish tanks. Yes, that’s 40 tanks. We also have reptiles, two hedgehogs, two dogs and turtles.

Tea. I try to be calm and I already have enough energy. I’m friendly like a dog, but I’m probably more like a coyote. I’m everywhere and I don’t stay on one track.