In this seven‑minute interview, Professor Pete Alexander hosts Jill Trotta, Vice President of Industry Marketing and Sales at RepairPal and President of its subsidiary RepairPal Express. Jill shares why she believes the people in the automotive industry are its greatest asset, stresses the importance of authenticity in business interactions, and advises leaders to prioritize self‑care before business demands. She acknowledges her mentor, Tammy Tecklenburg, CRO of Germinator and former president of Women in Auto Care, highlighting the role of mentorship in her career growth. Jill recounts her first paid job working at her uncle’s gas station in Los Angeles, where she performed basic car maintenance and earned trips to Disneyland, an experience that sparked her long‑term interest in the industry. The episode concludes with Jill’s contact information (email and LinkedIn/Facebook) and a plug for the Winning at Business and Life podcast.
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This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast, where business leaders share their insights. It is 6 questions in 7 minutes because successful business leaders are busy and rarely have more time to spare. So let's get to it. Question number 1: In a few sentences, please tell me who you are, and what you do.
So my name is Jill Trotta. I am the Vice President of Industry Marketing and Sales at RepairPal. I also run a subsidiary of RepairPal called RepairPal Express, and I'm the President of RepairPal Express. I'm an industry veteran. I've been in the industry about, um, about 26 years, and I started out as a technician.
Jill, it's great to have you on the show. Question number 2: What's the best thing about working in your industry?
I think the people are the best thing about working in my industry. I love the people in the automotive industry. That's, you know, that's— it's about the people.
I totally agree with you. It's, you know, because If you don't have the right people to work with, it's not going to be fun. In fact, it could be very miserable.
It can be. No, I have a great time. I have great, you know, industry colleagues and friends, and the industry has wonderful people in it. Despite the reputation that the industry has, the people in the industry are good people.
Question number 3: I have a fictitious book with all the answers for business. What chapter would you think most companies should read?
The chapter on authenticity.
I like that. You want to expand at all on that?
You know, I think people get really into personas and different things and the way that they, you know, are perceived, but it's like Showing up and just being your authentic self is so important. You know, people want to do business with people that they know, even in this digital age. So showing up, being your authentic self is super important in making those connections that will push business forward.
Mm-hmm. Couldn't agree with you more. Question number 4: Other than the generic work harder, have a great attitude, and care for customers, What advice or insight would you give to other business leaders?
To take care of yourself first. That's the biggest thing, to make sure that your own house is in order is important, and then business is secondary to that. But you always— I know it's hard to do at times, but putting yourself first and taking care of yourself will make you more productive in business. I've learned this the hard way.
Oh yeah, and I have too. It, you know, it's, it's very insightful that, that listeners should take, take heed of, because if, and at least in my experience, if you don't take care of yourself, nobody else will, and you're not going to be any good to anyone if you are burned out. Am I right?
Yeah, no, you're absolutely right. And you, and you're, you become less effective.
Absolutely. Question number 5: other than— what other business leader like yourself would you like to acknowledge and invite to be on my podcast?
So, um, Tammy Tecklenburg is my mentor. She currently is the chief revenue officer, um, for Germinator, and she has a background in, um, with Spectrum. She was also the former president of Women in Auto Care and she's been my mentor for a long time and really helped me grow my career.
Wonderful. Well, I'll reach out to her. I appreciate that referral. And our last question, question number 6: Please tell me about your first job.
So, yeah, um, the first actual job that I kind of got paid for was I would go to LA. I'm from the Bay Area, San Francisco, and I would go to LA in the summer to work at my uncle's gas station, and we would pump gas and he would let us do little things like change wipers and things on cars, and he would pay us with a trip to Disneyland.
Wow, I like that trade. That's, that's actually pretty darn good.
We'd work for a couple of weeks and then he would take us to Disneyland, and that kind of sparked my getting into the industry as well.
That's a great story. So Jill, thank you so much for being on the show. How could people find you?
Um, just Jill@repairpal.com, or you can find me on LinkedIn. You can find me on Facebook, Jill Trotta. It's not a very common name.
This is Professor Pete Alexander with the Winning at Business and Life podcast. For more insights and ideas, please go to LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, or iTunes and search for the Winning at Business and Life podcast. Thanks for listening.
