Ford Motors, one of the Detroit Three automakers, is counted among the biggest carmakers in the world, with its legacy dating back to the early 1900s. But, for more than sixty years of its existence, not one woman had been a part of the auto manufacturer, until an Indian engineer changed things for good.

Damyanti Hingorani Gupta, an Indian woman engineer, made history by applying for a job at Ford Motors in Detroit in 1967.

She is not only one of India’s first female engineers but also the first mechanical engineer to graduate from her college. Being the only girl in the college came with its fair share of problems.

"Everyone including the dean thought I'd quit after a few days. But I rode a bike to my college every day with many tools needed for practicals and did everything that was done only by male students. It was challenging but nothing discouraged me,” Hingorani Gupta told The Better India.

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At 19, she dreamt of working with Henry Ford after reading his biography, which eventually inspired her to take the cheapest ship to Michigan after her graduation.

The HR team was astonished to see a woman applying for such a role and initially rejected her. When she applied again a few months later, the HR person was puzzled. Reviewing her resume, he remarked that she was applying for an engineering position, but the company had no female engineers. That’s when Damyanti asked if they were to never give a change to a woman, how could they have any?

Her courage and boldness prompted a policy change, making her the first woman engineer at Ford Motors.

Damyanti's story serves as a compelling reminder of the importance of challenging the status quo and never giving up. Her determination didn’t just open a door for herself; it paved the way for countless other women to follow. By persevering through obstacles and standing firm in the face of resistance, she not only achieved her own goals but also created opportunities for future generations of women in engineering. Her legacy underscores the impact one person’s courage and resolve can have in transforming established norms and inspiring progress.

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