Notable Champions of Diversity

It doesn’t take an automotive expert to employ best practices building diversity, equity and inclusion among stakeholders. That’s the acumen of Sophia Cavalli, who has spent the last two decades championing diversity in both the public and private sectors.

Cavalli joined Kia America nearly three years ago as senior manager of DE&I, marking her first foray into the auto industry.

She already has set Kia on a positive path. Since January 2021, 35 percent of Kia’s new hires identify as people of color, which Cavalli said meets her three driving forces: legacy, unleashing potential and making an impact.

“As people of color come into entry-level positions, they’ll continue to grow and rise to the ranks, and we’ll see them in executive positions over a period of time,” Cavalli said, noting that this evolution will help change the industry.

“Gender- and empathy-diverse companies outperform in innovation and sales. I’ve seen it in my career, and I’ve seen it even here at Kia,” she said. “Smart teams do great things, and inclusive and diverse teams make the impossible possible.”

Cavalli said that before the pandemic, the concept of belonging meant something different than it does now, which is why she launched unconscious bias training for all managers, including C-suite leadership, at Kia. To date, more than 240 people have spent 1,400 hours in training sessions.

“It created a common language around the organization and raised awareness for a collective understanding of what unconscious bias is, where might it be taking place and how is it impacting our decisions,” Cavalli said. The training will continue for the rest of the company next year.

Cavalli is a first-generation Mexican-American who grew up in an area that lacked diversity. Her father was a small business owner and often provided extra services to those in need. She said giving back to the community is innately part of who she is. 

That is evident in the relationship she has fostered with the school district in Kia America’s hometown of Irvine, Calif. 

The automaker is funding programs to help low-income kids get adequate breakfast and snacks to keep their minds fueled so they can focus on learning. 

Kia also is working with the Dallas school district to fill special vending machines with books for underprivileged kids to select and take home.

“When you think about what that one book might mean to that student in the trajectory of their life, maybe they read it to their siblings, and then what that book means generationally, it’s so powerful,” Cavalli said.

— Carly Schaffner