Through a series of anecdotes that women in the automotive industry could relate to, Friederike spotlighted the challenges she faced when starting out in the industry and how Nissan's culture of embracing equal opportunity and creating an environment that fosters talent and ambition were strong motivators to join the brand nearly fifteen years ago. As a key player in the automotive industry, Nissan has long led the way for gender diversity in the workplace, hiring the first-ever female car designer in Japan in 1967 – a whole 19 years prior to the Equal Employment Opportunity Act for Men and Women being introduced in the country. Bringing out the brand's diversity and inclusion initiatives, Hashim Khalid, Deputy General Manager – Legal Affairs at Nissan Middle East said: "The multicultural workforce at Nissan Middle East is a true reflection of the rich diversity of the region.