Education: B.S., chemistry, Rutgers University; M.B.A., City University of New York

First automotive job: Investment analyst covering the auto industry at Kidder Peabody, 1972

Proudest achievement: "Writing two books." (Collision: GM, Toyota and Volkswagen and the Race to Own the 21st Century, Doubleday, 1993; and Rude Awakening: The Decline, Fall and Struggle to Recover at General Motors, William Morrow, 1989)

On being successful: "In my previous job, it was because I made people money. The other women (in this issue) have operational jobs in the automotive industry and their success is in increasing revenues, reducing costs or in bringing a new product to market. My success was reflected by the fact that I was named the best auto industry analyst for many years. My ability was to see through the many things that influence the behavior of automotive stocks and to make people money in their investments whether that is to buy them or sell them."

On being a woman in the industry: "I'm the first woman (auto analyst). I don't think it had any effect on me. There have been and still are women covering the auto industry. Sex is less of an issue in the investment research business than it is in an operating job in an auto company. The measurement of value is very different. The measurement of my value was whether I was successful in making people money. Being a woman was not a hindrance."

Career highlights:

• 1986-99 Automotive Industry Analyst, Furman Selz (now ING Barings), New York
• 1983-86 Portfolio Manager, Vilas-Fischer Associates Inc., New York
• 1980-83 Automotive Industry Analyst, Paine Webber, New York