Donna Bell

M.S. in Electronics&Computer Ctrl Sys, WSU
M.S. in Engineering Management, WSU
Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering, WSU

Dr. Donna Bell is Director, AV and Mobility Strategy at Ford Motor Company, a $150B company. Collaborating with key stakeholders, Donna establishes and communicates customer driven strategies that increase corporate growth in autonomous technology, mobility, and new businesses. 

Previously, Donna served as global director, Technology and Features Stratey and Planning at Ford. Prior to that she was CTO Chief of Staff, where she improved research processes, managed strategic university alliances, and enhanced Ford’s STEM strategy. She led strategic partnerships and external relationships, including Ford’s involvement in US CAR (U.S. Council for Automotive Research). 

Donna also served as research operations director at Ford’s Palo Alto Innovation Labs. Her transformational leadership was important in building the new facility, acquiring the highest caliber talent, managing a multi-million dollar operating budget, creating a culture of innovation, and connecting new technologies and innovations that were created in Silicon Valley to Ford’s winning portfolio. Trained in design thinking, Donna was instrumental in promoting and delivering transformational technologies including AI, Machine Learning, Autonomous Driving Technology including LiDAR, in-vehicle infotainment (IVI), and Connectivity. 

From 2014 to 2017, Donna served as the electrical Global Product Development (PD) Quality manager at Ford. She collaborated with product development to ensure designs delivered revenue generating customer experiences. Through Donna’s continuous improvement experience and using proven quality tools such as failure mode avoidance, quality function deployment, and customer driven quality design electrical quality improved by more than 35%. Bell’s inspirational leadership led to the electrical organization achieving best in class quality for Lincoln vehicles multiple times, and Ford being recognized by the 2017 JD Power Initial Quality Study for overall quality improvement. 

Donna’s proven delivery and technical excellence led to her receiving multiple patents and delivering many revenue generating 1st to Ford technologies including the award-winning Sync infotainment system, the fuel saving stop-start technology, and the first-to-industry MyEnergi Lifestyle project, in conjunction with Georgia Tech, projected a 60% energy cost savings and CO2 improvements of over 8,000 kg by incorporating key energy efficient solutions into an average U.S. home. 

Donna’s involvement in the community is extensive and involves creating programs that educate and develop students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). She has held multiple leadership positions in professional organizations including National Society of Black Engineers, Society of Women Engineers, and Ford’s first employee resource group, FAAN (Ford African Ancestry Network).