As Engineering Business Manager for GM Motorsports, TaiJaune Robinson M’21 plays a pivotal role in some of racing’s biggest moments, an impact powered by her Kettering University graduate education.
Raised in Youngstown, Ohio, Robinson’s educational journey began at Youngstown State University's Early College program, where she earned her associate’s degree before completing her high school diploma. That early acceleration laid the foundation for her pursuit of advanced study at Kettering University, where she earned her Master of Science in Lean Manufacturing, a program built around systems thinking, operational decision-making, and real-world application.
Today, Robinson works at the center of one of the world's most competitive and fast-moving industries. From overseeing the HVAC module of the C8 Corvette to now coordinating GM’s motorsports efforts across NASCAR, IndyCar, IMSA, WEC, off-road, supercars, and Cadillac’s newest entry in Formula 1, she has built her career on technical depth, confidence, and cross-functional leadership.
Robinson credits her Lean Manufacturing degree at Kettering with providing her with the tools to optimize complex systems and the people who operate within them. That systems-level mindset is increasingly visible across GM Motorsports, including within Cadillac Racing, now led by Kettering alumna Keely Bosn, as the organization aligns teams, technology, and long-term strategy across series.
One standout project required Robinson to design a comprehensive work cycle for a product from scratch. “Building this work cycle forced me to see all of the contributing factors for running a successful organization with minimal waste,” she recalls. “I learned how to manage budgets, engineering services, legal agreements, capacity planning, and operational priorities that extend well beyond the shop floor.”
Kettering’s emphasis on teamwork was equally formative. In labs and collaborative projects, students are expected to contribute as both individuals and team members. “You’re forced to contribute as a team member, identify the strengths in your team members and leverage them,” she explains.
Those skills became critical when Robinson entered the motorsports industry. “I had absolutely no idea that I would end up in Motorsports,” she admits. “This role came to me through a mentor who challenged me to look beyond what I thought I knew and reminded me that my goal is to make a difference. What better way to do that than to BE the difference?”
That philosophy resonates as Cadillac prepares to take the global stage. “The Cadillac Formula 1 Team project is super exciting, and I am extremely proud to be a part,” Robinson says. “We are doing something here that none of our competitors have done. This effort brings global visibility to the technical expertise within General Motors.”
Not surprisingly, things move fast in motorsports, and that’s exactly what Robinson loves about it. “One of the coolest parts about my job is that no one day looks the same,” she says. “While the majority of my work is done prior to unloading at the track, when I am at the racetrack, I am typically meeting and collaborating with leadership from our partner teams and sanctioning bodies.”
From simulations to predictive analytics, her team’s “invisible” work determines how cars perform. “Our tools must be as close to real life as possible to be effective in prepping our drivers for what’s to come once the green flag drops,” Robinson explains.
But the best part about raceday? “Victory Lane!” Robinson explains. “We have some pretty awesome race teams under the Chevy and Cadillac umbrellas, and the most rewarding feeling is celebrating a win with the team.”
Just as Kettering opened doors for her, Robinson now makes it a priority to open doors for others. She leads inclusion activities at tracks, partners with programs like Racing with Rajah, and invites students who have never set foot in a garage to see behind the scenes.
“When I meet students who have never been around racing before, I open the door by simply sharing my own story,” she says. “As a kid from the east side of Youngstown, my story and journey have been everything but traditional. I encourage students to see that it doesn’t matter where you come from, as long as you are willing to learn and grow, you can have a career in motorsports.”
