Alex Monahan
WinA Member of the Month
This month, we are featuring Alex Monahan.
Alex tells us about her current role as the Business Relations Manager for Smart Repair Australia, her career to date and shares some exciting words of encouragement for women in the automotive industry.
Know of someone you would like to see featured as our next Women in Automotive Member of the Month, or interested in sharing your own automotive story? Get in touch below and let us know.
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Tell us a bit about your current role or involvement in the automotive industry.
I am the Business Relations Manager for Smart Repair Australia. We are one of Australia’s largest hail damage repair companies. I travel all over Australia, moving from our permanent sites to our temporary storm locations.
My role is to work closely with all heads of departments to understand and refine processes to ensure our customers and work providers receive the best service and results possible. I also manage our admin team and perform the reporting to our work providers so it’s important I have a thorough understanding of all aspects of the business and maintain healthy relationships throughout.
What was your first professional experience within the automotive industry?
I started with Smart Repair in a customer facing administration role at a temporary site in Sydney early 2019 and was able to grasp the job requirements and industry expectations quickly as I have a love for customers and the role. This resulted in me training other new staff throughout my first year and the company promoted me into a senior management role later in 2019.
Do you think you have experienced challenges within the industry that your male counterparts have not?
In all honesty, no. I have been extremely fortunate to work for a company that does not determine your potential to succeed around gender and promotes amazing diversity.
What is your biggest achievement within the automotive industry, personal or professional?
I was asked to assist with a complete company review and restructure in late 2019 alongside our General Manager. Interviewing all current employees and helping create a 35-page report for our Directors and an action plan to re-invigorate the business and help it grow from a small family group into a large sustainable corporate success.
This took the following 12 months to complete the many personnel, systems and culture changes but was something I’m very proud to have been involved in and see the results of today.
Do you have a favourite resource as a woman working in the automotive industry? Maybe a book, event, organisation, mentor, or online platform?
Women in Collision. Paint & Panel have created a great platform to acknowledge and celebrate women in the automotive industry.
My General Manager has been a great mentor and has pushed me to tackle and achieve things I didn’t think I could, he also allows others in the business to grow and thrive in their roles and to lead great new initiatives and projects whilst guiding us all along the way.
Who is your inspiration as a female in automotive?
I do not have a specific person, however I personally love seeing new talented and passionate female apprentices.
What is the best piece of advice that you have received or that you could give to another woman working in the automotive industry?
My advice would be that as much as the industry is male dominated, this is only due to an outdated prejudice and has nothing to do with your talent and abilities. The technology tsunami the industry is going through allows more opportunities than ever before for women to play key roles and excel in these roles, some of which didn’t even exist years ago. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for women in automotive.