Leslie Ruhe didn’t exactly pursue the car business, she says.

“It actually pursued me! I was a brand-new mom, content with where I was.  I had a friend encourage me to apply for a newly created job in the lease remarketing group where he worked,” said Ruhe, a 2016 Women in Remarketing honoree and a vice president and senior relationship manager at U.S. Bank

“Initially, I didn’t think it was the right time to make such a major life change, but after two days back from maternity leave, I realized I needed something new,” she added. “I have never looked back!  I knew this is where I belonged very early on and have never considered a career change outside of the car business.”

In fact, that’s a big part of what Ruhe enjoys about the car business — that people tend to stick around.

“I feel like once people are in this business, they stay here. Even if they leave a company, they still stay in the industry.  I love getting to know people personally and professionally,” she said. “Everyone is so supportive and willing to help.  The people I work with every day are like family. We’ve all worked together for many years and really enjoy working together. “   

Beyond her teammates and folks with whom she collaborates, Ruhe said some of the most rewarding parts of the job have been attending and speaking at industry conferences. She enjoys meeting new industry peers and getting the chance to compare notes.

The invaluable opportunity for professionals learning from each other is one Ruhe appreciates.

Of course, that requires some confidence, which is the main point of advice Ruhe had for people looking to become leaders in the car business.

“Be confident. Walking into a full conference room or meeting hall with people you don’t know can be intimidating,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to walk up to someone, offer a strong handshake and introduce yourself.”

That’s sound advice in any industry. And so is Ruhe’s approach to problem-solving.

“You can’t just put a Band-Aid on the problem; you have to solve the real issue. You have to really understand the problem and what causes the problem before you can come up with a good solution,” she said. “Often it requires thinking outside of the box and not being afraid to try something new or risky.”

To get a sense of how Ruhe and her teammates have applied the latter part of that strategy, look no further than how she answered this question: In your specific area of the industry, where has the car business changed the most during your career?

“It has been very interesting watching online sales become more and more acceptable. The first month I worked in remarketing, we sold four cars online.  We had no idea just how big this sales channel would become,” she said. “In more recent years, we have seen so many changes due to government regulations and the CFPB.  We have had to become more creative in this environment.”

Check out the April 15 edition of Auto Remarketing to learn more about the entire class of 2016 Women in Remarketing honorees.

These outstanding leaders will be honored at Used Car Week 2016, where we will be launching our National Remarketing Conference partnership with the National Auto Auction Association.

Used Car Week is scheduled for Nov. 14-18 at the Red Rock in Las Vegas.