As a woman in the automotive industry, Cindy Schutz is driven by a strong desire to succeed. Fuelled by passion and determination, Cindy has carved out a successful career for herself.
Cindy Schutz (52) is the youngest of four children and was born in Pietermaritzburg. She was born into a very conservative Indian family.
She highlighted: ‘My upbringing was strict and conservative, I don’t know how I managed to move from Pietermaritzburg to Johannesburg but I was so determined to do that and I did it.’
Initially, Cindy wanted to become a food and clothing technologist but she happened to be late for registration. When Cindy came to Johannesburg, she had the dream to become a flight attendant but due to the height restrictions back in the day, she didn’t qualify.
Working at PG Glass at the time, Cindy then decided to continue to pursue her career in the company and the automotive industry. When she transferred to Johannesburg, Cindy met her husband. ‘We worked for the same company and have worked together our entire lives. We have been happily married for 23 years but have been together for 30 years.’
When she’s not visiting her family back home in Pietermaritzburg, she loves spending time with her family in Johannesburg. Having downtime for Cindy means dining out, watching movies or spending time with hubby and friends.
Cindy expresses her enthusiasm for her professional and personal lives, effortlessly balancing the two. She eagerly anticipates starting her workday and cherishes returning home to her husband in the evenings. ‘I feel just as passionate about beginning each morning as I do about finishing my workday.’
Woman in auto and business
‘I worked at PG Glass and transferred to Johannesburg. I worked at the company for 12 years and had various positions in the company. It was like going to university for business because whatever I learnt at PG Glass is what helped me with my businesses,’ she said.
After Cindy left PG Glass, she and her husband invested in a franchised panel beating business. Despite lacking prior knowledge of panel beating, they pursued entrepreneurship to become their own bosses, embracing the associated risks. ‘The franchise was new, and we were probably the tenth franchisee to buy into the business and it was extremely difficult, but we made it a huge success. The business had 30 staff members and won franchise of the year three years in a row and after four years, we sold and delved into other smaller businesses.
‘Having been with PG Glass for such a long time, taught me all the life lessons and business lessons I needed to run a successful business,’ she added. Strangely enough, Cindy never wanted to get into the motor industry and is not a car fanatic, and yet her entire career has been surrounded by cars.
Honouring women
According to Cindy, a strong woman is made of confidence. ‘Confidence is essential, especially when taking on whichever challenge awaits you.’
She also believes in being true to oneself. She is fulfilled by her honesty, her strength and positivity – as being positive in these trying times just makes your life better. Radiating with positivity, Cindy practices gratitude and loves the movie ‘The Secret’ by Rhonda Byrne. She practices the principles found in this movie and highlights that ‘the secret’ is just being grateful for everything you have, no matter how little you have.
She attributes her success to her diligence, emphasizing, ‘Hard work is key to achieving rewards. You can’t expect everything to come to you effortlessly. In my view, dedication is essential, even if you’re not in your ideal job.’
Continued success
Cindy currently works for Ceramic Pro as the director of operations. When Cindy sold her panel beating business, she was headhunted to be a consultant in the panel beating industry. Cindy did this for a year and then became a network manager. Cindy then started a consulting business in the same industry, teaching people how to start up and run their business and how to maximise business space.
She started working at Ceramic Pro on a part-time basis as marketing director and when she stopped her consulting business, she joined the company full-time. In 2017, Cindy became a shareholder and became a part of the business. ‘Ceramic Pro is in my blood, and I am grateful to be part of it.’
As a woman in the automotive industry, Cindy finds working predominantly with men has strengthened her confidence. She believes in the philosophy of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’.
‘I’ve developed strong skills in my position in the automotive industry and have become a strong advocate for my own interests.
‘To women considering careers in any field, my advice is to seize opportunities wholeheartedly. Never doubt your abilities or question your suitability for any role. Belief in oneself, positivity, and pride in one’s capabilities are essential.
Never give up, stand up and be counted – we are truly extraordinary beings.’
Never doubt your abilities or question your suitability for any role
Text: DESNAY PETERSON. Photo: EVE SMITH PRODUCTIONS. Make-up: ALAMAIGNE ERASMUS LOUW
