Influential Woman · Automotive
Rebecca Vazquez
Automotive, --
Houston, TX
Her Story
About Rebecca
I originally started in the service department at a luxury dealership, where I moved into service advising and consulting for repairs. After gaining that experience, I decided to give sales a try, and that transition opened up new opportunities for me. Right now, I'm currently in the car buying department of the automotive field, which is a role that really took off during the surge in used car values. Traditionally, people would trade in their vehicles, but there was a big increase in people who had more than one vehicle and were interested in only selling outright. So I went to the department that inspects those cars and pays people on the spot. A typical day for me looks like making about 100 calls on average, reaching out to leads, and then I discuss values with customers who reach back out and are interested in selling. From there, it's just talking to people in person and paying them on the spot if everything checks out on the car when I see it in person. My main area of expertise is customer service, and I've been able to build really good networking just from the fields that I've been in. It's been really fulfilling work, and I'm proud of the customer experiences I've been able to create.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Rebecca
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to work-life balance. If I didn't take the necessary breaks that I needed to, I feel like I would definitely burn out. I'm so busy with work and school, but I do like to take a break from everything, and I don't like to really see it as another thing on my list to do for the day. It's just a break from what I have to do for the day, so family time is really important to me. A lot of the motivation that I have comes from personal goals and not wanting to fail, because I do have a lot of people that are dependent on my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've received is not to take anything personally. I think working in automotive, you definitely run into positions where people are upset, whether it's wait times, prices, or repairs, and it's just important that a lot of times the issue isn't you personally. It's just you being the middleman to the issue to find a solution. This advice has really helped me navigate difficult customer interactions and maintain my professionalism even when situations get tense.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say definitely don't bend your schedule for things that don't align with your goals. It's so important to stay focused on what matters to you and not let yourself get pulled in directions that won't help you achieve what you're working toward. Stay true to your priorities and make sure that how you spend your time reflects what you actually want to accomplish.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Balance with my kids is the most important value to me. I love that even though I'm so busy with work and school, I do like to take a break from everything, and I don't like to really see it as another thing on my list to do for the day. It's just a break from what I have to do for the day, so family time is really important. I need that balance to avoid burning out, and spending quality time with my family helps me recharge and stay motivated in everything else I do.
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