For women aspiring to senior roles in automotive, one message comes through clearly – expertise builds confidence. Mastering your role, staying ahead of industry developments and committing to lifelong learning positions you as a trusted authority. That depth of knowledge creates credibility, strengthens decision making and opens doors to leadership opportunities. When your expertise is solid, confidence follows naturally.
Alongside expertise sits instinct. Trusting your judgement and resisting self-doubt is critical in a fast-paced, high-pressure sector like automotive. Confidence does not require imitation. Women do not need to mirror traditional leadership styles to be effective. Pausing, allowing silence, speaking with clarity and ensuring your information is robust can be just as powerful as being the loudest voice in the room. Presence is often about precision, not volume.
Resilience is equally vital. Career progression is rarely linear, and setbacks are inevitable. The ability to reframe challenges as learning opportunities – rather than failures – helps maintain momentum and perspective. Every obstacle can become a positive if it strengthens problem-solving skills, adaptability and self-belief.
Importantly, resilience is not about pushing endlessly without pause. Pursuing progress over perfection, setting realistic expectations and knowing when to step back reduces burnout and supports long-term performance. Creating space to reset, switch off and regain perspective is essential for sustainable leadership, particularly in a demanding and evolving industry.
As the automotive sector becomes increasingly technical and data driven, leadership skills, confident decision making and integrity will define success over the next decade. With vehicles, customer journeys and business models growing more complex, the ability to interpret insight and act decisively will be critical. Women who think big, set ambitious goals and trust their expertise will be well placed to shape the future of the industry.
Steph Newbery, Group Director, and Lisa Casey, Group Director, Warranty Solutions Group
