• ROADTRIPS
  • CAREER EXPLORATION
    • Stephanie Martinez

    Stephanie Martinez

    Senior Coordinator, OEM & Product Development

    SEMA Garage

    Diamond Bar, CA USA

    “If a woman can follow her passion, do it, be successful in it, and live her dream, that’s success.”

    Videos

    Videos

    By Roadtrip Nation

    Stephanie Martinez

    Highlight
    Themes: Goals
    Now Playing
    01:28
    Stephanie Martinez HighlightInterview Highlight
    Now Playing
    04:23
    InterviewThe Interview
    Now Playing
    00:29
    Work Your Way To The TopWeb Exclusive
    Now Playing
    00:43
    Bringing Ideas To LifeWeb Exclusive
    Now Playing
    00:54
    Learn All You CanWeb Exclusive
    Now Playing
    01:38
    Women In The Auto IndustryInterview Excerpt
    Now Playing
    01:07
    Proving People WrongInterview Excerpt
    Now Playing
    00:52
    First ImpressionsInterview Excerpt
    Now Playing
    00:43
    I Thought I Would Go Into Makeup And HairInterview Excerpt
    See More
    Milestones

    Milestones

    My road in life has been direct.
    Currently serving as the Senior Coordinator at the SEMA Garage in Diamond Bar, CA where she is in charge of overall logistics.
    Originally wanted to become a cosmetologist, but after getting pregnant at a young age, she felt she needed a more steady paycheck.
    She started out by bouncing around different companies in their customer service departments, until she eventually landed a job at Yokohama Tires.
    With that job, she says she “fell” into the auto industry—worked her way up at Yokohama for the next ten years learning everything she could about cars.
    Encountered a lot of gender bias early on; for one interview, she was blindfolded and tested on whether she could identify tires by their tread, which was not something they did to male applicants.
    Viewed it as a personal challenge to see if she could do it—ended up feeling empowered by the fact that she was the only woman in her department.
    Says that first impressions have often worked against her—she constantly struggles to gain people’s trust and prove that she does know what she’s talking about.
    Believes that women interested in going into the auto industry are lucky because they have the benefit of a growing pool of women who are genuinely interested in helping you succeed.
    Keep following my journey
    Education

    Education

    highschool
    High School
    associates
    Associate's Degree
    Medical Office Assistant/Specialist
    Career

    Career

    Senior Coordinator, OEM & Product Development

    I coordinate all logistics for the SEMA Garage including billing, budgeting, and any other administrative needs.

    Career Roadmap

    Roadmap
    My work combines:
    My work combines:
    Engineering
    Engineering
    Technology
    Technology
    Accomplishing Goals
    Accomplishing Goals

    Day to Day

    I run all of the logistics at the Garage. My day is spent dealing with an influx of people calling, emailing, or visiting the Garage in hopes of making their own automotive dream a reality. Its really a place where our sole purpose is to help our members achieve their goals.

    Skills & Qualities Beyond School

    Networking, although this industry seems huge it really is a small community of people who can offer a lot of help, advice, and direction. Make you sure you are asking questions, taking business cards, and making connections, you can always reach out to someone and they may know someone else who can help get you where you want to go.

    Advice for Getting Started

    Here's the first step for high school students

    I know its hard but try to find your passion now and then focus on that passion in college. Don't waste your time. You don't want to get stuck in something you aren't passionate about for very long.

    Hurdles

    Hurdles

    The Noise I Shed

    From Peers:

    "Your interview is going to be harder because you are woman, but we need to know you can handle this job. "

    When I was first interviewing for positions in the auto industry, I was constantly "tested" because I was a woman. People assumed I didn't know anything about this industry or that it would be too hard to learn. This pushed me to prove them wrong. Plus, the women that are in this industry are really willing to help you succeed and that gave me the support structure I needed.

    Challenges I Overcame

    Learning Issues
    Learning Issues

    I never graduated college.

    Gender Discrimination
    Gender Discrimination

    Being a woman in a male dominated field for over 10 years has sometimes been a struggle. I felt I always needed to go above and beyond to prove to employers that I know what I know and I can do what I was hired to do.