Trudi Micallef will tell you upfront that most people assume she sells car parts when she says she works at Repco. She does not! After years building a career in recruitment, she stepped into an unfamiliar corner of the automotive world and, by her own admission, felt like a fish out of water learning new systems from scratch. She stuck with it, and the shift became one of the most pivotal moments of her career. Read on for Trudi’s thoughts on staying ahead of an industry being reshaped by EVs and connected vehicles, why women do not need to be motor enthusiasts to belong here, and the advice that still guides how she works.
How did you get started in the automotive industry?
My career started in the automotive industry with RACV (Royal Automobile Club of Victoria) in a sales role before transitioning into recruitment. Most of my time has been spent in recruitment roles although wherever my career has taken me, I’ve always been drawn back to the automotive industry. I do love the industry! It’s dynamic, full of passionate people and offers lots of different opportunities depending on where you want to take your career.
Tell us about your role?
I’m a B2B account manager for Repco’s Key Accounts. I work closely with our sales team to ensure our customers using our workshop digital solutions (Repco Navigator Pro, SmartQuote and Autopedia) are well supported. I also help identify and participate in opportunities that support our customers’ long-term success. Relationship building and communication are at the heart of my role.
What is the pathway to your job?
While there aren’t any formal qualifications required for my role, I’m passionate about continuing to build my knowledge of the industry, its challenges and opportunities. This means I can use these learnings to help workshops continue to thrive into the future. One thing I will say is, I have been fortunate to see so many success stories throughout my recruitment career. Individuals who started their careers as automotive technicians or similar, progressing to careers in sales, training, operations, account management, marketing, etc. The world really is your oyster.
What does a typical workday look like?
My workday is never typical! In a nutshell, I work closely with our sales team to ensure our customers using our digital tools (Repco Navigator Pro, SmartQuote and Autopedia) are well supported and maximising their potential. I’m a point of reference for the team and Key Account customers, including enquiries, reporting, managing issues, support material etc. I also have several projects on the boil.
What are some important skills required to be successful in your career?
My career has always centred around people so communication and the ability to build relationships are critical. I am driven by providing a superior customer experience; therefore, being able to empathise and see things from a customer and stakeholder point of view is important. Reliability, honesty and consistency are also important skills which have helped build my brand and credibility.
Pivotal moment in your career?
Moving from recruitment into my current role was a challenge. While I had transferable skills, I initially felt like a fish out of water as I learned new systems, adapted to a different way of working and tried to explore ways I could add value in an unfamiliar role. Looking back, it was a pivotal moment and really reinforced that growth rarely happens in your comfort zone. While that transition was difficult at times, having the support of a great leader gave me the confidence and determination to succeed.
One thing the industry can do to make itself more appealing to women?
The industry has made positive progress over the last 30 years, although it remains male dominated. Strong female leaders that can help guide, support and mentor the next generation will help to break down that traditional ‘boys club’ perception.
It’s incredibly encouraging to see women’s connection circles, communities and networking opportunities emerging where we can connect, learn from and support each other. In saying that, we are fortunate that Repco as an organisation genuinely champions diversity and inclusion and are committed to attracting, developing and retaining talented women. The automotive industry offers a huge range of career opportunities, but we need to do more to promote these roles to women and challenge that ‘male dominated’ perception.
Time management is an issue for everyone. How do you plan work and life when you’re at your busiest?
I have a natural sense of urgency and ability to multitask, which comes from many years spent working in fast-paced recruitment environments. Managing expectations and communication are important to me in those times when there are competing deadlines. I am also a big note taker, which helps me stay on track and ensures nothing falls through the cracks. While I like to block out time in my day to work on specific tasks and projects, I’m comfortable adapting when priorities change. My focus is always customer first, so if something is impacting our customer and their workshop, that becomes my priority.
What is the biggest change in your area/industry that you’ve seen happen in the past 2 yrs?
Without a doubt, the biggest change is the increasing complexity of vehicles creating new demands on workshops. EVs and hybrids continue to gain momentum, and workshops need to be ready for what’s coming. Having the right diagnostics, digital tools and technician capability will be key to ensuring workshops stay competitive and successful in our rapidly changing industry.
What is the biggest challenge you think you will see in the next 5 years?
I think a few issues will continue to challenge our industry over the next five years. The increase in vehicle complexity I highlighted earlier is one of those challenges, including connected vehicles. Skills shortages, changing customer expectations and cost of living pressures will also be big challenges. To succeed, workshops will need process integrated tools that drive efficiency, upskill technicians and help protect margins as well as elevate the customer experience at every touchpoint.
What are some of the assumptions people make about you and your work? Do people understand what you do?
Interesting question! I think the moment I mention I work for Repco, the assumption is that I sell car parts. The core of what I do is to partner with our customers to support initiatives that help them become more efficient and profitable and survive the challenges that our industry is facing. Repco does so much more than supply parts to our industry. Our digital workshop tools (Repco Navigator Pro, our online parts ordering platform, SmartQuote, our logbook and repair quoting tool and Autopedia, our technical resource) support our customers with the right tools needed to help drive productivity and profit.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
Find something you love doing and get great at it! We spend such a big part of our lives at work, so it’s important to find something that motivates and inspires you. It doesn’t matter what the job is, what really matters is the attitude, dedication and passion you bring to it as well as how much you are willing to learn and grow along the way.
What is your advice to young women considering a career in the automotive industry?
Journey before destination and enjoy the ride! The automotive industry is so dynamic and full of opportunity. I also think it’s a common misconception that women entering the industry need to be motor enthusiasts, but that is not the case. What matters is being passionate about the customer, providing solutions and being willing to learn.