WOMEN IN TRUCKING: MICHELLE PAPALIA, GROUP GENERAL MANAGER OF NORTH EAST ISUZU

Once an industry considered to have limited space for women as genuine decision makers, trucking and road transport has changed drastically over the past few decades, seeing more and more women work their way into a range of leadership roles.

In Adelaide, a shining example of this changing of the guard is Michelle Papalia, who has worked her way through the ranks to now hold the title of Group General Manager of capital equipment giants, North East Auto Group, which includes North East Isuzu.

Joining the organisation fresh out of high school at age 18, Michelle relished the opportunity to experience the many different disciplines within the business as she continually bolstered her knowledge and business acumen within one of South Australia’s largest capital equipment retailers.

Hi Michelle, thank you for taking time to speak with us. To kick off, can you describe the journey you’ve been on with your career in road transport?

When I finished high school in 1998 I applied for a position here at North East Isuzu as the receptionist - which was 25 years ago now. The environment was interesting and exciting.

I was fortunate to be able to work in various parts of the business over the years. I began in finance administration, then I was able to move into fixed operations, sales administration also the bodybuilding section of North East.

In early 2013, Tony Emanuele was appointed as the managing director after the passing of his dad, Charlie. I learnt a lot from him while he was managing the business which led to 2019, when he appointed me as the Group General Manager of the North East Group.

What was your experience like as a young woman starting out in the trucking industry?

It’s been amazing - the automotive industry is so exciting and rewarding!

There's something about it which I enjoy, and I think working here at North East helps with that as well. There's something about being involved in this business where there's so much going on where you never get two days the same. 

There's so much diversity within our group and we have amazing staff and amazing customers as well. I genuinely love coming to work. 

Tell us about the experience of growing professionally at North East?

We have a unique culture here at North East and a lot of us have been here a really long time.

Many of us started back in the late nineties, so we have grown up within the business and this has allowed us to really channel our careers.

Tony has always given us opportunities to explore ourselves within the organisation. The people here are everything to us, from the North East team to our customers as well. When you have an amazing team like we do, it's easy to put them first.

How have you seen the industry change during your time in it?

The industry has definitely changed over the last 25 years.

Early on I was often the only woman in meetings, but as the business has grown and evolved, we’ve had a lot more women join the organisation.

It's really exciting to have young women entering the trucking industry, whether it's through the workshops as a diesel mechanic or as a detailer, right through to sales and management. I encourage a lot of women to join the industry because there's no limit to what a woman can do in the automotive space. 

What types of education and programs did you undertake for professional development to become the Group General Manager?

I didn't have a typical pathway to becoming a Group General Manager.

I learnt a lot as I moved through different areas of the business and when I was taken under Tony's wing things began to take shape. 

I completed the Isuzu Dealer Management Program (IDMP) in 2018, which is a business management course run by Isuzu Australia Limited. It was a fantastic experience; you actually get to sit in a room with like-minded people who are progressing into senior management within a dealership. 

It covers finance, human resources, marketing, and it's an all-encompassing course to help you grow within the Isuzu dealer network. 

It's an amazing opportunity for someone to learn and connect with other people that are striving for the same goals in the same sector. I thought it was a fantastic course and I'm so glad I completed it.

What benefits do you see in having more women in the trucking industry?

I think a lot of women are very much used to having to multitask in their daily life and it's an ability that those women bring with them into the workplace too.

They often have very busy lives, and so I think they're able to be organised as well as maintain structure and consistency in their work ethic which is a bonus. I think women can bring some levelheadedness to decision making as well.  

At home I am supported by strong women in my family such as my mum and mother-in-law. I am also supported by my husband – it all helps me balance home life and the responsibilities of my children. They are supportive and encouraging of what I do in my role at North East.

It's great to have diversity within the workplace because each team member brings something fresh and important to the table from their experiences and background.

Have you any goals for employing women at North East Isuzu or hopes for the future?

The are now more women entering the Isuzu dealer network moving from management in businesses into departmental managers or senior management and it's fantastic to see.

At North East we will often hire people who have experience outside of the automotive and trucking industry, to bring in fresh ideas and experiences. Just because someone is new to the world of trucking doesn't mean they don't have value or insight to offer.

I hope to be paving the pathway for future women in encouraging them to come through and I can't wait to see what the next generation of young women and girls bring to the trucking and transportation industry.