Auto Women has partnered with Performastery Leadership Facilitation to introduce dedicated leadership development pathways for women working in automotive and other traditionally male-dominated industries.
The partnership will deliver two Leaders Unleashed programs aimed at supporting women at different stages of their careers, from those moving into leadership for the first time through to experienced professionals preparing for strategic and executive positions.
Auto Women co-founder Kellie Dewar said the initiative represented an investment in developing the automotive industry’s future leadership pipeline.
“While there are many leadership programs available, very few are designed with the unique experiences of women in male-dominated industries in mind,” Dewar said.
“This partnership with Performastery enables us to offer dedicated leadership pathways that support women at every career stage, helping them build the confidence, capability and networks needed to step into leadership roles and continue progressing throughout their careers.”
The first program, Leaders Unleashed: Sprint Hurdles, is a 16-week course for emerging leaders, supervisors and professionals entering leadership for the first time. It covers leadership confidence, communication, emotional intelligence, leadership presence and practical people-management skills.
Leaders Unleashed: Ascension is an 11-week program for experienced leaders seeking greater leadership impact or preparing for senior strategic and executive positions. Its focus includes executive influence, strategic leadership, decision-making and organisational thinking.
Performastery director Fiona Cullen said leadership development was most effective when it recognised the challenges participants encountered in their working lives.
“There is no shortage of capable women in our workforce,” Cullen said.
“What we often see is a shortage of confidence in women who are more capable and leadership-ready than they realise.”
Dewar said attracting women into automotive was only part of the challenge, with the industry also needing to support their long-term career development.
“If we want to see more women progressing into leadership and executive positions across automotive, we need to do more than encourage them to enter the industry,” she said.
“We need to support them to stay, grow, and lead.”
Established by MTA Queensland in 2022 and expanded nationally in 2025, Auto Women provides scholarships, events, resources and advocacy supporting women across the automotive industry.