A Letter from Cheryl Thompson

Over the past eight years, CADIA has had the privilege of doing meaningful work alongside an extraordinary community of members, partners, and supporters across the automotive industry. Together, through programs, conversations, and collaboration, we have worked to advance the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion in ways that I believe have made a lasting impact.

After thoughtful consideration, we have made the difficult decision to wind down the CADIA organization.

This decision was not made lightly. The business model that supported our work was built around DEI programming, and in today’s environment, that model is no longer sustainable. While this chapter is coming to a close, my belief in the work itself has not wavered.

I remain deeply committed to the principles that have guided CADIA from the beginning—fairness, inclusion, and the value of diverse perspectives. These are not trends or initiatives; they are essential to building strong organizations and a thriving, innovative industry. My sincere hope is that the progress we have made together will continue to live on across the mobility sector, creating opportunity and a true sense of belonging for all.

As I reflect on the past eight years, what stands out most are the relationships. The people who showed up, leaned in, shared openly, and committed themselves to growth—this community is CADIA’s greatest legacy. It has been an honor to build this work alongside you.

While CADIA as an organization is winding down, this is not the end of the work—nor is it the end of my commitment to it.

I am excited to share that I will be continuing this work through Cheryl Thompson Advisory, with a focused expansion into AI, HR, and leadership strategies. The landscape of work is changing rapidly, and I believe there is an incredible opportunity to help organizations navigate this moment thoughtfully and responsibly.

Our AI Learning Labs will continue, evolving to meet the real-world needs of leaders and teams. In addition, I will be expanding offerings to support organizations in building practical, forward-looking strategies that integrate leadership, talent, and technology in meaningful ways.

As we close this chapter of CADIA, I hope you will stay connected as we carry this work forward in new and important ways.

To honor what we have built together, we will be hosting one final CADIA Community Call—an opportunity to reflect, share gratitude, and look ahead. I hope you will join us.

Thank you for being part of this journey. It has meant more than I can fully express.

With deep appreciation,

Cheryl Thompson
Founder & CEO, CADIA

Article exclusively written for cadia.org
Authored by Cheryl Thompson with AI assistance