Penske Automotive Group is proud to have female leaders at every level of the organization. Every Thursday for the next 10 weeks, we will feature a female leader from the Penske organization who is empowering women in the industry and paving the road for the next generation of female leaders. From their earliest interest in the industry to their proudest moments, you’ll learn how these women got their start, who influenced them the most, and how they are helping change the face of the industry in positive ways.
This week we are pleased to introduce Jackie Szramowski!
Meet Jackie Szramowski – Talent Acquisition Manager, Penske Automotive Group
“Focus on what is within your control. Find your passion and follow it.”
Industry experience: 10 years
First automotive job: Human Resources Specialist
PAG tenure: 10 years
Current role & responsibilities: I am responsible for guiding the overall success of the PAG recruiting department. This includes creating and implementing processes for greater efficiency and successful hiring, facilitating change management, as well as managing and supporting the team of recruiters in their efforts to positively impact hiring for their individual markets.
What attracted you to the auto industry: My previous experience was in Public/Media Relations and Recruiting but I wanted to get more experience in all aspects of Human Resources. PAG was one of the few companies that didn’t segment their HR functions, so I was able to gain exposure to more areas including Recruiting, Benefits, Employee Relations, and more.
Most satisfying part of your job: Watching candidates become valued employees and find success in the company brings me great satisfaction. More personally, seeing the team of recruiters and coordinators learn, challenge themselves, and take on additional responsibilities while the department itself continues to evolve has been very rewarding.
Proudest professional achievement: Conceptualizing and executing the creation of the PAG recruiting department from the ground up. With the support of mentors and an upper management team that understood the need, appreciated my vision, and saw the potential, the department has grown to teams of recruiters in markets across the country.
Who has had the biggest influence on your career: My parents instilled the importance of hard work, loyalty, self-confidence, and independence in me. My husband is my biggest supporter and helps makes it possible for me to pursue my career. Sports have always been a big part of my life, and my teammates and coaches taught me the value of teamwork, communication, and perseverance. In business, I have been fortunate to have incredible females to look up to and work alongside for support advice.
Advice for young women considering a career in the automotive industry: Go for it! If you look across our company, there are very successful women at all levels. Find your passion and follow it. There are a lot of opportunities to be exposed to different areas of the business and many career paths to follow.
Favorite weekend activity: Spending time with my husband and two kids. The past year forced us to slow down a bit and I really enjoy the time we get to spend together as a family.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years: Continuing to do my part to drive PAG forward, advancing ideas and processes to keep ahead of the competition.
How have you seen the auto industry landscape change and evolve to engage more women: When I started in the business, I saw more women in traditional office types of roles but not as many in management positions. Today, there are women succeeding at every level. There is a commitment at PAG, that starts at the top, to hire and promote the best based on qualifications and contributions. That commitment feeds into the diversity and inclusion of the company.
Check back next Thursday as we add another Penske female leader to the Women in the Driver’s Seat series!
