Dealer principal off to Harvard

A dealer principal is looking forward to networking and learning from global leaders at Harvard University in the US after winning a scholarship from MITO and the Inspiring Futures Foundation.

Michelle Findlater, of Southern Automobiles, is the 2025 recipient of the Janet Lane Scholarship and will use it to complete the Harvard Division of Continuing Education’s Certificate of Leadership Excellence in Strategy and Innovation. 

The scholarship, named to honour MITO’s former longstanding chief executive Janet Lane, is awarded to an individual each year to support an intensive and comprehensive course of management and leadership study. 

Findlater, pictured, has more than twenty years of experience in the automotive sector and before joining Southern Automobiles in 2024 she held senior roles at Scania NZ and GWD Motor Group.

MITO says she has a demonstrated commitment to governance and leadership and also shown dedication to continued learning after recently completing bachelor’s and master’s degrees in applied management alongside her employment. 

Earlier in her career, Findlater completed MITO’s Certificate in Automotive Electrical Engineering and Certificate in Business (First Line Management). 

In 2016, she won the Motor Trade Association’s (MTA) Female Achievement in the Motor Industry award, and five years later completed its Aspiring Directors programme. 

Findlater says she is delighted to have been awarded the scholarship.

“This opportunity represents a critical step in my academic and professional journey, and I look forward to the possibility of learning from and contributing to the esteemed Harvard community with the support of MITO and the Inspiring Futures Foundation.” 

The certificate programme will take a year to 18 months to complete. She will do three of the required four courses online and travel to Harvard to complete one course on-campus. 

“This in-person experience will be an invaluable opportunity for networking and learning from global leaders,” she adds.  

“Harvard University is well known for its academic rigour and commitment to fostering innovation and leadership. I’m really excited to learn from an institution at the cutting-edge of knowledge and to gain the skills I’ll need to navigate our rapidly evolving business landscape. 

“I believe my studies will help me enhance our business performance at Southern Automobiles, and will also allow me to foster innovation, strategy, and effective leadership in my future governance roles in the automotive community.” 

Verna Niao, MITO’s executive director, says Findlater is exactly the kind of person the scholarship was intended to support. 

“MITO is committed to enabling our industries to achieve their development and training goals,” she explains. 

“This scholarship is designed to grow our talent at the senior leadership level, and Michelle’s aspirations are very exciting and should be of great benefit, not only to her current employer, but to the wider automotive sector. I look forward to seeing her progress as a leader.” 

Sturrock Saunders, convenor and chair of the Inspiring Futures Foundation board and MTA president, says: “There was a competitive field of applicants but Michelle’s vision and desire to make a meaningful contribution to the automotive sector really stood out. 

“It’s fantastic to be able to support this kind of educational opportunity for the long-term benefit of our industries.” 

Findlater was one of 133 individuals this year to receive a scholarship from MITO, in partnership with the Inspiring Futures Foundation.

Each year, the organisations identify and empower motivated learners, whether they are aspiring, current, or recent graduates, to advance their education and training. 

To see the full list of 2025 scholarship recipients, click here.

From left: Sturrock Saunders, convenor and chair of the Inspiring Futures Foundation board and MTA president; Michelle Findlater, 2025 Janet Lane Scholarship recipient; Verna Niao, MITO executive director; and Nick Leggett, Inspiring Futures Foundation trustee and Infrastructure NZ chief executive