Heart & Hustle

by Jill Tuggle, ABAT Executive Director

This past month, we had the privilege of hosting our Ladies’ Night of Honor in Lubbock, and what a night it was!

With so many incredible women gathered in one room, the energy was undeniable – there was connection, encouragement and a whole lot of laughter. The theme of the evening was “Galentines,” and I had prepared a keynote titled “Heart & Hustle.” Earlier that week, though, illness tried to sideline me and quite literally took my voice. However, I still want to share my message with you all.

Women in the collision repair industry are a force to be reckoned with. We are often recognized – and rightfully so – for our hustle. We manage shops, write estimates, make repairs, lead teams, solve problems, juggle customers, get our hands dirty and still somehow keep everything moving forward. We know how to work. We know how to grind. We know how to get things done.

But there’s another side to who we are that deserves just as much recognition: our hearts.

In a male-dominated industry, it can sometimes feel like our emotional side needs to be tucked away in order to be respected. Early in my career, I was given “advice” more than once by other industry women on stifling any emotion that showed “weakness.” Things like not nodding my head in agreement when a man was speaking on stage with me (what?!?) and holding back my tears – even if something truly struck a nerve. And while I absolutely believe in emotional intelligence, professionalism and self-control, I have come to reject the idea that we must hide our humanity (or burn our bras) to earn our seat at the table.

The truth is, our heart is not a weakness. It’s a strength.

As women, we care deeply about our teams, about the quality of repairs leaving our shops, about the customers who trust us during stressful moments in their lives. To many of us, this is not just a job. It’s personal. We pour ourselves into it. That level of care cannot be taught in a manual or included in any SOPs. It comes from intuition, empathy and passion.

For all the times we push hard – wanting to show up just as prepared and capable as our male counterparts – we also feel. We notice when someone on our team is struggling. We sense when a customer needs reassurance. We push for excellence, not just because it’s required, but because we genuinely care about the outcome. That combination – the yin and yang of heart and hustle – is what makes women in this industry so powerful.

So to every woman reading this: be yourself. Feel the feels when you need to. Lead with strength and with compassion. It’s okay if a tear falls – go wipe your eyes and straighten your crown because there is room for both Heart and Hustle. In fact, our industry is better because of both. XOXO

Want more? Check out the March 2026 issue of Texas Automotive!