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Article

High-Performance Culture, Inspired by Mom

People & Culture

Adriana Huntington, Magna Exteriors Vice President, Global Human Resources
June 10, 2026
3-min read

My “seize the opportunity” mindset is inspired by my mother Angelina, who came to Canada by herself when she was 16, seeking something bigger and better. It was a gutsy move for a girl from the mountains of Molise, Italy, who never took a bus, crossed a busy street or spoke English.

Undaunted, she landed a job at a Mattel factory in Toronto making toys, attended college, got married and raised three children, and eventually spent most of her career as a successful office manager.

"While every path will be different, we all have the opportunity to learn, grow and be ready for how work may change over time."

Adriana Huntington and her mother smiling with palm trees in the background

She exemplifies the importance of “drive your development,” a concept that is embedded in our Magna culture. While every path will be different, we all have the opportunity to learn, grow and be ready for how work may change over time.

My own “seize the opportunity” story began when I was an HR intern at a Magna technical center following my third year of university. It was a summer job, but I was asked to stay on as a full-time HR administrator. I took the job and reworked my classes to accommodate completing my final year of university at the same time. Working full-time with a full-time courseload wasn’t easy, but it led to even more opportunities at four Magna divisions and eventually into group leadership.

I grew up in the Magna culture shaped by the Employee’s Charter that emphasizes the importance of people and their growth. Magna encouraged my growth by supporting my curiosity to learn.

As an HR professional now with 26 years at Magna, I believe in enabling people to shine through formal and informal development opportunities. Our company culture is designed to foster a high-performance team by supporting ambitions and encouraging people to embrace challenges as part of the learning process. Throughout the years, I have encountered many people like my mom – immigrants who, through dedication and ambition, built an amazing life for themselves and their families. This is the Magna spirit.

It starts with investing in yourself and developing the skills and knowledge to achieve your career objectives. Every employee has a story – a reason why they come to work every day. Our goal is to understand what that story is and help them build on that.

My mom lived that belief, turning opportunity into advancement in ways that still inspire me.