Inaugural Auto Women scholarship recipient, Andrea McCarthy, is fast approaching the completion of the Executive Ready professional development program and has already begun incorporating its many teachings into her panel repair facility.

The program, run by Women & Leadership Australia, is a seven-month career accelerator designed to assist mid-level managers and independent business owners unlock the full potential of their staff and enhance their leadership abilities.

Passionate about life-long learning, Andrea applied for the scholarship back in March, hoping to use its teachings to drive future direction in her business and the industry as a whole.

“I am always looking for new ways to develop my skills, so when the opportunity presented itself, of course I jumped at it!” said Andrea.

“I have always placed high importance on professional development and have fostered a strong workplace culture that supports continual learning.”

Andrea is the owner and operator of McCarthy Panel Works in Mackay, a Director on the Board of MTA Queensland, a member of I-CAR Australia’s Industry Advisory Board, and Chair of MTA Queensland’s National Auto Collision Alliance.

“As a full-time business owner, it can be difficult to find training that works in with my busy schedule, so being a fully online course definitely has its benefits. I can study and complete the program at my own pace, without feeling overwhelmed.”

Delivered through a blend of virtual workshops, webinars, peer coaching, and self-directed learning, the program keeps the content relevant to each individual while also bringing new insights and perspectives on each topic.

“I was actually surprised by how engaging the course was. There are 28 other ladies in my class, all working in completely different industries and types of businesses, so you get a whole new set of experiences to learn from.

“It was also insightful to see how one’s own preferred style of communication impacted on others. With such a diverse group, we were able to grasp the practical implications of managing people with different backgrounds and personalities, as well as how best to build individual capability and support optimal teamwork.”

Having learnt a great deal from both the program coaches and other participants, Andrea has already applied many of the teachings to her business and has redefined her leadership style.

“One of my main takeaways is to take a step back and assess the situation before acting. As humans, we tend to put our own interpretation onto a situation, yet this is very rarely the whole story.

“The course has taught me to ask more questions and let people have their say before jumping to conclusions. Especially when training apprentices, it is easy to forget that they are still learning and need patience.”

Nearing the end of the program, Andrea couldn’t be more thankful for the opportunity, and encourages all those eligible to take a chance and apply.

“The Executive Ready scholarship is a fantastic opportunity for all women, and I strongly encourage anyone who is interested to apply. In only a few months, I have developed greater self, team, and organisational awareness.

“Even when covering basic principles of leadership, the program communicates them in such a practical way that you gain a deeper level of understanding on how to successfully use them… It really is a fantastic program.”

The scholarships, sponsored by MTA Queensland, Spirit Super, and Women & Leadership Australia, aim to support the career advancement of women working across the automotive industry.

“It has been amazing to see Andrea grow and flourish under the Executive Ready Program,” said Kellie Dewar, MTA Queensland Deputy CEO and Auto Women Mentor.

“These scholarships not only offer the opportunity to develop new skills and hone a competitive edge, but the chance to become truly great leaders.

“We have so many brilliant women working across the industry, and I hope to see many of them apply for the scholarships in the future.”

The Scholarships are open twice per year. To find out more, visit the Auto Women page.

26 September 2022