What Drives Her: These 6 Women Are Shaping the Cars You Love, and the Young Minds They Love, for Mother’s Day
Career, family, and cars. These industry moms in automotive share their top takeaways for success, both in the office and at home for Mother's Day.
Cars are more than just machines for commuting, mall crawling, or running errands. They are the livable spaces where we experience our daily lives, and for many of us, they represent a place of comfort, guidance, and assistance when we need it most—from the front to the back seats.
The automotive industry as we know it would not be the same without the powerful women who influence the design, safety, culture, and very future of what we drive. These leaders are doing more than just shaping metal and software; they are also raising families as intentionally and heartfelt as the designs and communities they support. It is incredibly affirming to hear, mom to mom, that there is a common theme in our journeys.
Reflecting on our What Drives Her podcast episodes, we’ve gathered six key takeaways in time for Mother’s Day that these women in the automotive industry hope to pass down to their children as their lasting legacy.
This story is 100% human-researched and written based on actual first-person knowledge, extensive experience and expertise on the subject of cars and trucks.
1. Jannice Jacobson – Senior Manager, Strategic Planning and Integration at Mazda
With over 20 years of experience at Mazda, Jannice Jacobson grew with the brand, too. Having these professional and personal moments of self-discovery and family life, Jannice infused her need for updates in the Mazda DNA and influenced the overall experience as a parent in the 2026 Mazda CX-5.
Jannice has two kids, a son and a daughter, and her takeaway was for her kids to pursue what makes them happy.
“I want to be with you guys, but at the same time, I wanted to take away that go find something that makes you happy and go find something that you could be proud of, whatever that is, right? And I think that’s the point,” she said during her chat with Scotty Reiss. “I’m doing something I love and I’m talking about something that I love and that I’m proud of.”
Jannice is passionate about creating these experiences for us to drive and enjoy every detail. Her craft is present in the details from the two-tone interior, accommodating both easy-to-clean surfaces and beautiful style that parents can enjoy, too.
2. Karen Madill – VP Jeep Brand Global Product
Karen Madill is the Head of Product Planning for Jeep Grand Cherokee and one of the original planning engineers on the Chrysler Pacifica. If there is anyone to thank for these family cars, it is Karen. She rethought everything and ensured that the minivan had everything the parents needed for safety, comfort, and style without centering the vehicle solely on the kids’ interests.
Adhering to the true Jeep spirit, Karen wanted to maintain the momentum and excitement around the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee. It is their number one selling vehicle around the world and the number one midsize 4-wheel drive SUV sold in the country. It has all the family’s needs in mind, and the inspiration came from her own children while working for Jeep over the years.
“I want my kids to find something that they enjoy. I really do enjoy my job,” she told Scotty on our podcast episode. “I have for a very long time. I love working in brands, specifically the Jeep brand. And this may sound cliché, but if they find something they enjoy as a career, they never have to work a day in their life.”
In that same vein, Karen listened to her customers who wanted a third row without sacrificing performance in mind. It is clear that when feedback is implemented and keeps these drivers coming back over the years. That is real love woven into the fabric of bringing her personal touch into each vehicle.
3. Alison Rahm – SVP Chief Vehicle Engineer, EU, Stellantis
Alison Rahm has grown with Stellantis over the years from the U.S. to now leading in Europe as the SVP Chief Vehicle Engineer. She was one of two women in her engineering school, and it’s more encouraging than ever in automotive for women to get involved. There were no women in leadership when she started, let alone barely any women at all. Now, there are more women colleagues. As a boy mom to her sons, she’s a role model and the standard of what women can be in the world and towards her own family.
“I know that what they [her sons] have seen is that they think it’s normal that a woman can be very powerful in a technological field. They’ll come home and say, ‘Yeah, we had a class and talked about you and what you’ve done.’ Because to them, that is normal,” she said during her chat with Scotty. “It’s normal, of course, that a woman could be a power figure within that kind of industry. And if I can do nothing more than make that their normal, then I’m over the moon.”
Engineering involves software and batteries, but there are moments when it can be glamorous and exciting, with a lot of opportunities. Alison is leading the way and empowering her sons and women in automotive alike, so that we can be anything. Talk about support: her husband supports her dreams and proudly embraces her new opportunity. To be celebrated, recognized, and embraced in so many ways, the energy is electric and is powering the industry and gender normative conversations forward.
4. Melody Lee – Mercedes-Benz CMO
Melody Lee, Mercedes-Benz CMO, first started her career early on with Cadillac. And this smart, dynamic woman has a knack for sensibility, and she keeps the luxury automotive customer in mind. And after leaving automotive, Melody took her creative marketing work to Shiseido for Laura Mercier, Herman Miller with American modernism furniture, and a design company working with Ace Hotels and Gucci, to name a few.
Melody’s branding DNA is the thread that creates an emotional connection rather than a transaction with connecting drivers to freedom, lifestyle, and family.
“I think it’s really important for them to see their mother working. I think it is really critical for boys to see their father, my husband, also working. We’re a dual-income household. It’s chaos sometimes, but what they see is their primary caretaker is their father, not their mother,” Lee said to Reiss on her podcast episode. “And I want them to embrace that that is okay and that is a choice that they can make as well, because I think that’s really important. They’re not seeing a gender normative household. They’re seeing a household where we both have careers…I also think that it’s really good for them to see their mom working in the world of cars.”
Melody’s key takeaway for her kids is something we experience as moms in the workplace, and it’s refreshing to a fellow boy-mom to challenge gender norms at home.
5. Lisa Reeves – Head of Interior Design – Volvo
Lisa Reeves is the Head of Interior Design at Volvo and is working on incorporating more sustainable materials in each car for us to enjoy. Lisa has two kids and travels a lot. Her greatest takeaway she hopes for her kids is rooted in joy and her work ethic coming through in the user experience inside each Volvo.
“I really want them to be who they are, and I love to understand what they enjoy and how to be part of that. They experience that I work hard and everything, but when we went on the last launch, I was lucky enough to have them visit,” she said during her interview. “My daughter opened the door of the EX30 at the time and just said, ‘Wow!” And I was like, right there, I couldn’t have wanted a better response. And I let my son get in the back and find the moose for the first time. And I filmed it. Just those moments seeing their faces; that was perfect.”
Sharing your craft with your colleagues and car buyers is one thing, but to show her own kids the inside of the car and her design influence is priceless.
6. Kim Coure – Nissan’s Sr. Manager Residual Value Strategy
Kim Coure is from Tennessee, went to school there, and has spent over 23 years with Nissan’s marketing team. After recently launching the first-ever INFINITI QX65, the value of being homegrown and impacting your own community is monumental. It’s an exciting opportunity in her own backyard, where she can show both her son and daughter how she’s leaving her mark in the auto industry.
“You know, my daughter said to me about a year ago, when I asked, ‘Am I doing a good job?‘ She answered, ‘Mom, what I’ve learned from you is you can do it all,’ she recalled during our talk with her. “I think we all, as working moms, feel that pull of being a mom and having demanding careers. And that to me just meant everything.”
While working in the auto industry, Kim started a foundation and reached out to GiGi’s Playhouse for her oldest son, Cameron, who has Down syndrome. Kim was looking for support and resources, so she built a community while connecting with other parents. Kim opened up the 16th GiGi’s Playhouse in Nashville, and they support families from pre-diagnosis all the way through adulthood. Now there are over 60 locations in the U.S. and even in Mexico.
Creating impact starts at home and Kim’s Nashville location now brings in well over $750,000 to a $1 Million every year to support all participants for free. We definitely hope Kim has a happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Mother’s Day, From These Hardworking Moms
Ultimately, these women are proving that the impact they make at work is inextricably linked to the love they pour into their homes. Whether it is a thoughtfully placed purse hook, a more accessible cargo space, or the use of sustainable materials, every detail is a reflection of their dedication to improving our daily lives. They aren’t just building cars; they are crafting the backdrop for our families’ most precious moments, ensuring every drive feels a little more like home.
As we celebrate Mother’s Day, we thank these leaders for showing us that it is possible to lead with both strength and heart. To the moms shaping the future of the automotive world and those navigating the road at home: your legacy is felt in every mile. Here’s to the balance, the beautiful chaos, and the reminder that when we drive with purpose, we truly can do it all on our own terms.
Also, be sure to follow us on Spotify and subscribe to our YouTube to keep up on our empowering chats with women like Jannice, Karen, Alison, Melody, Lisa, and Kim.
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