Vivian Pickard

Sphinx Board of Directors

Ms. Pickard was named President of the General Motors Foundation and Director of Corporate Relations for General Motors Company in December 2010. She is responsible for leading the company’s efforts to strengthen communities across the United States through partnerships and investments in the areas of education, health and human services, environment and energy and community development. Over the past decade, the foundation has donated more than $350 million to send students to college, keep teen drivers safe, educate parents on child passenger safety, promote diversity and support vital non-profit organizations. A community advocate and philanthropist, Ms. Pickard currently serves on the board for the Washington, D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial, Inforum, Friends of African and African American Art (Detroit Institute of Arts), Detroit Regional Chamber Foundation, The Parade Company, New Detroit The Coalition, Fifth Third Bank – Eastern Michigan, Michigan Women’s Foundation, Council of Michigan Foundations, and the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. In addition, she is the Immediate Past-President for The Black Women’s Agenda, Inc. and serves as a member of The Executive Leadership Council and on the Executive Committee for The Links, Inc. Ms. Pickard has been widely recognized for her dedication to serving others recently receiving the 2011 Bridge Builder Award from the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the 2011 Alpha Award of Honor from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. and the 2009 Women of Excellence Award from the Michigan Chronicle. She was also a 2010 Inforum Inner Circle Honoree. A 33-year veteran of General Motors, Ms. Pickard has also held several other key roles at the company, including administrative and management positions within the Finance, Human Resources and Public Policy functions. Born and raised in Sturgis, Mississippi, and then moving to Flint, Michigan, Ms. Pickard earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Ferris State University and a Master of Science from Central Michigan University. She is a lifetime member of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro Women, the National Black MBA Association and Leadership Detroit.