Empowering Latinas in
the Auto Industry
By Christine Bolaños and Gloria Romano-Barrera
The automotive industry has a history of being traditionally male-dominated from top to bottom.
Ten Latinas representing some of the most widely-recognized and respective companies in the industry, including
Hyundai Motor America, Stellantis, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, and Kia Motors prove otherwise.
They have broken the glass ceiling in their respective companies and industry and have motivated
generations of women in a variety of fields to join the automotive industry. These Latinas are transforming
the automotive industry in multi-faceted ways in everything from engineering to law to global operations
and marketing. They do this while graciously balancing their family life and community service,
and are the epitome of Latina success.
Monique Morin Kumpis
Senior Group Manager of Brand, Marketing & Advertising
Hyundai Motor America
Monique Morin Kumpis was brought up by strong role models so it’s
no surprise that today she serves as Senior Group Manager of Brand
Marketing & Advertising at Hyundai Motor America.
Her grandfather, Raul Morin, played a key role in forming the first Los
Angeles chapter of the American GI Forum. Her grandmother, Ramona Tijerina
Morin, co-founded the League of Mexican American Women to influence politics
in Southern California for the benefit of women, particularly Latinas.
“When I was little she really pushed the focus on reading. Because her
name was Ramona, she had me read books with her name like “Ramona the
Pest” and “Ramona the Brave,” Kumpis says. “She, along with my parents,
stressed the importance of education and doing well in school. When I was young
I saw them overcome obstacles and make things happen.”
Today, Kumpis is making her own mark in the automobile industry. In her role
as Senior Group Manager of Brand Marketing & Advertising at Hyundai, she is
responsible for everything from producing TV commercials to print ads and
social media marketing to point of sale kits for dealers.
“I get to do Superbowl commercial spots. I work with our agency on all
of the advertising, but it’s really the idea of developing who Hyundai is to the
American consumer,” Kumpis explains.
She uses her influence to increase representation of underrepresented
groups both behind and in front of the camera.
Kumpis also played a crucial role in starting a new scholarship for women
in STEM as part of Hyundai’s social media marketing campaign for Women’s
History Month.
Alma Murray
Senior Counsel, Privacy
Hyundai Motor America
Alma Murray was born to hard-working Mexican farmers. Their home had
no indoor plumbing, running water or electricity. She was five years old when
the family moved to the United States and as the oldest of three girls, she
became the family translator, helping her parents with important documents
like tax forms.
18 www.latinastyle.com LATINAStyle V ol. 27, No. 1, 2021
/www.latinastyle.com
