Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker Is Leading by Example

I stressed the importance of trailblazers in the beginning of MotorTrend's first-ever Black History Month series earlier this year because they guide us to new places and show us what's possible. Through their actions, they inspire new trailblazers and new leaders. Hyundai Motor America CEO Randy Parker is a prime example of someone who recognizes his position as a leader but is also completely aware that he walked through doors that were open by those who came before him.

Parker is among a very small group of African American CEOs at major automotive manufacturers within the past 100 years. Other notable names in that club include Ralph Gilles, who served as CEO of Dodge, and Edward Hightower, CEO of Lordstown Motors. In Parker's case, were it not for a chance encounter at a college job fair, things would have been completely different. A proud Texas Christian University alumnus, Parker's original goal was to enter law enforcement.

"I had plans to work for the FBI or CIA," Parker says. "However, that changed when I met a representative from General Motors/GMAC at a job fair. I recognized GMAC from when my dad would make his car payments though a car payment booklet. I didn't know much about financial services at the time, but I handed him my resume anyway. I started working there one week after graduation."

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That decision to hand the General Motors rep his resume led to a career that has lasted over three decades with several OEMs. "I moved 14 times, and I've worked in four states," Parker says. "Texas, Michigan, Tennessee, and California—and two countries, including Yokohama, Japan. My broad experience throughout the world has enriched my perspective and has aided and enabled me to become Hyundai's CEO, where I continue to drive forward innovation and excellence."

No matter who you are, moving 14 times and working in two countries is a lot of commitment. However, Parker is a self-proclaimed "proud military brat" and is used to adapting to different environments. "My father—a World War II Army veteran—fought in the third wave in Normandy as Allied forces liberated France," Parker says. "He met my mom while stationed in Germany after the war ended and remained there for many years. I give much of the credit for my success to the examples of tough, compassionate, and ethical decision-making from my parents."

In addition to his military upbringing, Parker credits his success to his Black Greek-letter experience at TCU. Specifically, Parker pledged Alpha Phi Alpha, which was the first Black Greek-letter organization, founded at Cornell University in 1906 before expanding to other colleges. The organization was started by seven individuals who saw the effect that campus segregation had on the retention of Black students. What initially started as a study support group evolved into Alpha Phi Alpha. Activist and sociologist W.E.B. Du Bois and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. are among the fraternity's notable members.

"Pledging Alpha Phi Alpha was one of the best things I've ever done," Parker says. "My Black Greek-letter experience allowed me to join a supportive community and network of like-minded individuals who I still lean on today. Playing basketball in college and being a part of the fraternity helped shape my leadership style. I'm all about team play, performance, relationship building, and the power of giving back to the community."

As impressive as Parker's background is, he still isn't immune to the fact that as a whole, the executive levels of the automotive industry aren't very diverse—especially for African Americans. How does he handle situations in which racism or discrimination arise in professional settings? "I think because of the color of my skin, some people don't recognize that I'm African American," Parker says. "With that, things may be said that wouldn't otherwise. I've learned that it isn't my job to correct people and that it's best to remain professional. Sticks and stones."

"Playing basketball helped me develop tough skin," Parker continues. "There isn't time to focus on the opposing team's comments when you're focused on playing the game. I learned to absorb negativity and turn it into motivation."

As you might imagine, Parker's tough skin and focus also helps him during those inevitable times when he finds himself as the only Black person in the room during high-stakes professional situations. "For me, it's always been the norm," Parker says. "I try to assimilate in any situation. I like to keep it about business and remain professional. My job is to perform, lead, and deliver on profit—I've always stuck to that. I try to earn respect by giving respect and don't let the color of my skin get in my way."

That strategy also paid off for Parker when he was working abroad for Nissan in Yokohama, Japan. It would be easy to think that he faced double the isolation in Japanese board rooms, but he embraced the culture and stayed focused on results. "I tried to do my best to earn the Japanese respect because if I was going to live in their country, I want to better understand and respect the culture," Parker says. "I also wanted to speak the language. I found that over time, the Japanese embraced me as a foreigner because I was respectful and tried to assimilate as best I could. The numbers are the same regardless of your language or the color of your skin. Performance is performance."

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Despite Parker's determination to not let the color of his skin be an obstacle to his career progression, he is completely aware of his position as being one of the few Black CEOs in the automotive industry. More so, he doesn't discount the fact that the path he has walked was cleared by previous trailblazers. "I stand on the shoulders of giants before me, and a lot of African Americans have help opened the door for me to be in the situation I'm in," Parker says. "I take that very seriously. I have a lot of people that I feel I owe to be the best I can be every single day—to lead, to give back, to mentor, to coach. I didn't get here simply because I'm Randy Parker. I played a big role in that because of my performance and can-do attitude, but I've also had a lot of people who believed in me, and now it's time for me to show up and deliver. In this case, help Hyundai be the best automotive company. I am proud to have broken barriers as one of the first African Americans to serve as CEO of a major automotive company and leader of the most diverse C-suite in the automotive industry."

As someone who has worked their way to the literal top position at a major OEM, Parker has seen each level of an automaker's structure. I wanted to know from the perspective of a CEO, what are the best ways to foster diversity in the automotive industry? "Improving diversity and inclusion in any industry requires a multifaceted approach," Parker says. "There needs to be top-level commitment where leaders are actively championing diversity initiatives, allocating resources, and holding themselves and others accountable. I also recommend proactive recruitment strategies to attract diverse talent and employee education through trainings and awareness campaigns to foster a culture where differences are celebrated and valued."

"I'm happy to say that Hyundai values inclusion and diversity," Parker says. "We have one of the most diverse executive leadership teams in the automotive industry. And at the dealer level, according to a recent census from the National Association of Minority Auto Dealers, Hyundai leads the industry with the most minority-owned dealerships."

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Speaking of recruitment strategies, if you're a young person looking to follow in Parker's footsteps, he has three very important pieces of advice for you:

"Number one: build your personal brand. Establish how you want people to view you. For me, it came organically. I have a basketball background and have always been very competitive. What I learned in sports guides me every day and helps me to identify strengths and opportunities in others. Don't drag others down; help them to always strive to be a better version of themselves."

"Number two: Get recognized. I like to think of it as Main Street. Everything happens on Main Street. Figure out how to position yourself on Main Street to get visibility. Be brave, get in front of the power players. Knock on executives' doors, take on different projects, and always perform and do well for the company."

"Number three: The quality of your work is critical. Make sure when you step up on a project that you put your best into it and pay attention to the details."

If you've read this far, then it shouldn't be surprising at all that Parker has such concise and specific advice at the ready for anyone who desires to follow his example. "I consider myself a servant leader and a coach," Parker says. "I put others before me and help them reach their peak potential to then help improve the organization. I take the role of a mentor very seriously. As a leader, I feel it is my responsibility to share knowledge and help shape my mentees (and maybe a future CEO). It's about being a part of something that is bigger than you."

As part ofMotorTrend's Black History Month celebration, each week in February you'll hear from one of the African American people who help shape the automotive industry. Check out our profiles onAAAA founder Chris Harris,Indy NXT driver Myles Rowe, and motorcycle drag racerDystany Spurlock.