Beatrice Ten-Thye

Whenever I am asked the question, tell me your story… (what you wouldn’t grasp from my bio)

I was born in Venezuela; my mother was a medical librarian, and my father was an internal medicine physician. I had an older sister, a brother, me, and then my youngest brother.

When I was very young, my parents got a divorce and that was one very difficult experience, and I became my mom’s key supporter. After I finished high school, my mom decided we would move to the USA to learn the English language. She wanted to grant my grandfather’s wish (my dad’s father) who truly believed that if you spoke two languages, you were worth two people. In preparation for our move, we had a tutor who only taught us the alphabet.

With my light high school level English knowledge and knowing the alphabet inside out, my mom, younger brother and I started a brand-new life 2600 miles away in Lawrence, Kansas. Both my mom and I took the exam at University of Kansas to see which English as a second language level of class we would go into. Since I was seven, I wanted to be an architect. Once I went to the college dean, I was advised that for me to be able to practice back home I would need to pursue a graduate degree. At that juncture, I thought it would not be fair for my mother to have to finance undergrad and graduate school. After researching, I decided to switch to business administration and computer and information sciences. Mom did not like the weather and we moved to Florida where I got my undergraduate degree with double majors, I was 21 years old.

We moved back to Venezuela where I started my professional career in IT, first as programmer and then systems analyst in the metallurgical industry. I was recruited by General Motors where I met my husband and traveled to Brazil to bring the new inventory system for the parts division, left after getting married and started another great career – management consulting and coaching at KPMG. I became the mother of 2 amazing boys.

After five years, I left and launched my own consulting firm and became an advisor at the college of engineering at a local university. Ford visited us to attract soon to be engineers and they offered me to join the organization. I sold my business and became a Training Manager for Venezuela and Colombia and then got offered to become the Process Reengineering Manager and was trained and certified at corporate headquarters in Michigan and I had the opportunity to build a network and great relationships. Ford offered me an international assignment in the USA, and we moved with our kids being 5 and 3, this would change our lives forever.

After multiple moves, domestic and internationally, taking assignments nobody else would be offered I earned the company’s sponsorship to become a USA citizen. This was my dream, to be able to provide a better future for my boys. I was with Ford for 23 years with the support of amazing advocates, I had an incredible cross-functional career which is not the common path in automotive. Being one of the few or only woman of color I delivered extraordinary results and left a legacy in the work I did to support Women and Latinos in the company.

I had many highlights in my journey at Ford –

• Implemented and Integrated lean manufacturing with safety, quality, and environmental globally.
  
• Created the customer service organization in the business-to-business exchange.
  
• Led one of the most successful vehicle launches for the company in Mexico.
  
• Oversaw assembly plants during 8 years and coached many executives, including my bosses.
  
• Got my MBA while being a full time executive.
  
• Reestablished the global industrial engineering capabilities for the company across Stamping, Powertrain, and Assembly operations.

I have worked, lived, and served many different cultures, generations, and countries and delivered extraordinary results to the company’s bottom line.

Towards the end of 2017, I made the decision to take early retirement and once again re-invent myself. I initially thought I would go after my next executive role somewhere else; however, I found my calling and decided to launch my business, Focus On Solution and become an executive coach and be able to help make a difference in people’s lives.  

Last but certainly not least, I have been happily married for 33 years. From my husband’s first marriage, we have 3 kids, 5 grandkids, and 2 great grandkids. From our marriage you already know I have 2 kids and 1 grandkid. We are also furry babies’ parents of a dog and a cat. I know what losing loved ones is, I lost both my parents and older sister and have had to overcome that grief. My values and so many life lessons that have defined who I am were shaped by my courageous mom.

I love being a wife, mom, grandma, friend, and dog & cat mom. I enjoy traveling, reading, meditating, listening to music, dancing, eating different cuisines, and exercising.

You now have a tiny glimpse of who I am and I look forward to meeting you!

 
When I was very young, my parents got a divorce and that was one very difficult experience, and I became my mom’s key supporter. After I finished high school, my mom decided we would move to the USA to learn the English language. She wanted to grant my grandfather’s wish (my dad’s father) who truly believed that if you spoke two languages, you were worth two people. In preparation for our move, we had a tutor who only taught us the alphabet.

 
With my light high school level English knowledge and knowing the alphabet inside out, my mom, younger brother and I started a brand-new life 2600 miles away in Lawrence, Kansas. Both my mom and I took the exam at University of Kansas to see which English as a second language level of class we would go into. Since I was seven, I wanted to be an architect. Once I went to the college dean, I was advised that for me to be able to practice back home I would need to pursue a graduate degree. At that juncture, I thought it would not be fair for my mother to have to finance undergrad and graduate school. After researching, I decided to switch to business administration and computer and information sciences. Mom did not like the weather and we moved to Florida where I got my undergraduate degree with double majors, I was 21 years old.

We moved back to Venezuela where I started my professional career in IT, first as programmer and then systems analyst in the metallurgical industry. I was recruited by General Motors where I met my husband and traveled to Brazil to bring the new inventory system for the parts division, left after getting married and started another great career – management consulting and coaching at KPMG. I became the mother of 2 amazing boys.

 
After five years, I left and launched my own consulting firm and became an advisor at the college of engineering at a local university. Ford visited us to attract soon to be engineers and they offered me to join the organization. I sold my business and became a Training Manager for Venezuela and Colombia and then got offered to become the Process Reengineering Manager and was trained and certified at corporate headquarters in Michigan and I had the opportunity to build a network and great relationships. Ford offered me an international assignment in the USA, and we moved with our kids being 5 and 3, this would change our lives forever.

After multiple moves, domestic and internationally, taking assignments nobody else would be offered I earned the company’s sponsorship to become a USA citizen. This was my dream, to be able to provide a better future for my boys. I was with Ford for 23 years with the support of amazing advocates, I had an incredible cross-functional career which is not the common path in automotive. Being one of the few or only woman of color I delivered extraordinary results and left a legacy in the work I did to support Women and Latinos in the company.

 
I had many highlights in my journey at Ford:

• Implemented and Integrated lean manufacturing with safety, quality, and environmental globally.
  
• Created the customer service organization in the business-to-business exchange.
  
• Led one of the most successful vehicle launches for the company in Mexico.
  
• Oversaw assembly plants during 8 years and coached many executives, including my bosses.
  
• Got my MBA while being a full time executive.
  
• Reestablished the global industrial engineering capabilities for the company across Stamping, Powertrain, and Assembly operations.

I have worked, lived, and served many different cultures, generations, and countries and delivered extraordinary results to the company’s bottom line.

Towards the end of 2017, I made the decision to take early retirement and once again re-invent myself. I initially thought I would go after my next executive role somewhere else; however, I found my calling and decided to launch my business and become an executive coach and be able to help make a difference in people’s lives.  

Last but certainly not least, I have been happily married for 33 years. From my husband’s first marriage, we have 3 kids, 5 grandkids, and 2 great grandkids. From our marriage you already know I have 2 kids and 1 grandkid. We are also furry babies’ parents of a dog and a cat. I know what losing loved ones is, I lost both my parents and older sister and have had to overcome that grief. My values and so many life lessons that have defined who I am were shaped by my courageous mom.

I love being a wife, mom, grandma, friend, and dog & cat mom. I enjoy traveling, reading, meditating, listening to music, dancing, eating different cuisines, and exercising.

You now have a tiny glimpse of who I am and I look forward to meeting you!