Kelsey Henning

The best career advice I've ever received, which I just recently realized how much I needed, is being comfortable in the uncomfortable. There's a really cool quote about student athletes or college athletes in general that says you notice how people who are athletes carry something different in how they approach hard things. Not because sports build character exactly, but because they have a physical memory of being uncomfortable and continuing anyways through that discomfort. That memory in itself is a resource, and it's why some people can push through things while others can't. That's always been something I've kept in the back of my mind, knowing that I am a college athlete and bringing that to the table, because it comes naturally to me. I don't even notice that I am uncomfortable at certain points because I've just been so used to having to push through discomfort.

I would say never doubt the gifts that you have naturally. Know that where the automotive industry is lacking, it can sometimes be in that sympathetic nature that comes naturally to us women. I cannot tell you how much of a power and a strength that is. So I would give that tidbit of advice - to know that your strengths can come in your sympathy.

The biggest challenge is that it is such a fast-changing industry, because a vehicle is a vehicle at the end of the day - it's a car that gets you from point A to point B. However, underneath all of that, there's just so much changing in the automotive world, from the engines to the huge transition into electric vehicles. You're so commonly seeing all these hybrids, plug-in hybrids, battery electric vehicles, because at one point, it was just Tesla running the market when it came to battery electric vehicles. Now, there are so many other brands trying to catch up, and it's so competitive from brand to brand. It was really eye-opening going from a German-ran company, BMW, the driving machine, to Toyota, which is one of the most reliable vehicles that could literally last generations, versus a BMW where their focus is solely on performance. That's the biggest challenge in automotive - whenever someone works in it, they are constantly, constantly having to study their profession. That was one of the really challenging parts about the roles.

I would have to say strong work ethic and accountability are the biggest ones for me. You always thrive in an environment where you're surrounded by people that want to work just as hard as you do and enjoy what they do.