In this episode of The Showroom with Gavin McGrath, we have the pleasure of hosting Melissa Corken, the Service Director at the GM campus in Cedar Rapids. Melissa, or Mel, Missy, or Mo as she’s also known, joined Gavin to discuss her journey in the car business and her experiences as a woman in a male-dominated industry.
Women Lead Change Week
Gavin points out the significance of having Melissa on the show during Women Lead Change Week, highlighting her leadership role in a predominantly male industry. As the Service Director of the entire GM campus, Melissa oversees a large team, including nearly 50 technicians and 12 advisors. In total, she is responsible for around 84 or 85 employees.
From Computer Graphics to Cars
Melissa shares her unconventional journey into the car business. With a degree in computer graphics and animation, she initially struggled to find a job. It was her brother who suggested she work at a dealership, which led her to a customer service role in the service department. Melissa’s role involved test driving vehicles, ensuring repairs were done correctly, and quality checking them before customers picked them up.
Despite it being a temporary job, Melissa found herself enjoying the work, particularly the challenge of turning around upset customers. When she received an offer from John Deere to teach virtual reality software, she turned it down, realizing her passion for the car business.
Navigating Challenges
Gavin asks Melissa about the challenges she faced, particularly in managing a predominantly male team. Melissa admits that there were indeed challenges, especially early in her career. One of the biggest hurdles was learning to understand that people think differently, especially when she had to provide feedback to technicians on their work.
Melissa learned to navigate these situations by collaborating and communicating effectively, which sometimes meant changing her own way of thinking. She also emphasizes the importance of not pretending to be something she’s not, especially in terms of technical expertise. Melissa credits the technicians she worked with for being open to teaching her and helping her understand the technical aspects of the job.
This episode highlighted Melissa Corken’s resilience and growth in the automotive world. Her story underscores the value of self-awareness and appreciating supportive colleagues. Don’t miss the details – watch this week’s episode of The Showroom with Gavin McGrath!