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Name: Lerato Barrett
Role: Commercial Manager – Agency, Leasing & Rental, Fleet Procure
How long in role? 3 months
Current drive: Hyundai Kona
LERATO describes her 14 years in automotive as ‘controversial’ because she ‘isn’t passionate about cars’. She says her experience of the sector has been ‘mixed’, so how did her career come about and what made her stay?
Back in 2003, Lerato finished high school in South Africa and came to the UK to visit her mother ahead of taking up a place at Wits University, Johannesburg. She enjoyed the UK and decided to stay a year and defer her university place. One year became two and then rather more. Lerato ruled out studying here as it was too expensive, as a non-UK citizen at the time, so she needed a job.
Lerato’s first rung on the work ladder was in fashion, which even included a purchasing role for an online fancy dress retailer. From there, she moved to a contract at Vodafone and, just as that came to an end, a Manufacturing Relationship Manager position came up locally at Hitachi Capital Vehicle Solutions (now Novuna). She decided to go for it, despite ‘knowing nothing about cars or leasing’, she got the job and an unexpected automotive career was born.
From that first position at Hitachi, Lerato was approached by Skoda for an Area Fleet Manager role – a sales based position. Being new to sales, she debated it but decided to make the move which ‘felt like a big leap of faith’. Lerato enjoyed the job and felt she had joined a supportive organisation where people understood her. This was key as she had not always found the motoring industry easy, she explains:
‘Working in automotive has definitely been a journey and it can be overwhelming when you’re starting out. I felt I had to work twice as hard as a guy who was putting less effort in, because they have that locker room camaraderie and can bond over golf, football or cars. I definitely feel like I had an identity crisis early on, I thought I had to be like a guy to fit in, but it was exhausting. Over time I realised that I brought value in other ways and learnt the importance of being true to myself. I’ve also learnt to be ok with the knowledge that there will still be people who do not see me because I don’t fit the model of this industry.’
Lerato’s resilience and hard work clearly paid off. She was selected for the Volkswagen Group talent programme which took just 12 individuals a year across its brands. That programme facilitated the move to a role in the wider group as Fleet Development Manager for SEAT. But then Dieselgate hit and ‘everything was paused’.
Lerato decided this was the moment to pursue her passion projects and take some time to travel. An extended visit to see her family in South Africa turned into 18 months of travelling with an envy-inducing itinerary including the US, Europe and the Far East.
With the travel bug out of her system, in 2019 Lerato decided it was time to ‘start adulting and get a job’. A friend at Renault tipped her off about a Corporate Sales Manager vacancy for car and van products. Despite describing it as ‘a baptism of fire’, she enjoyed the technical aspects of the position. Lerato was promoted almost every year at Renault and held posts including Direct Supply Manager and Contract Hire and Leasing Manager.
Five successful years at Renault Group came to an end following an interesting conversation with Fleet Procure. The team was hiring for a different post but they shaped a position to suit Lerato’s experience and appointed her as Commercial Manager – Agency, Leasing and Rental in August this year.
Whilst it is still early days, Lerato says she is relishing working in a smaller business which means that the role is ‘always wider than what is on the job spec’. A typical day involves meeting with prospective customers, leasing companies and manufacturers. She is also involved in the business strategy in areas such as future software development. Plus, she is supporting Fleet Procure’s events such as its ride and drive event Fleet Procure Live for leasing brokers and broker awards. And she is clearly a big advocate of the broker channel, saying:
‘Brokers are the young blood of an industry that can feel old and static, especially because our industry is made up of banks and OEMs who can be slow to change. The pace and energy of broker businesses is refreshing – they are often early tech adopters, have progressive workspaces and they invest in their people.’
So, it has been quite the automotive journey so far, but does Lerato feel the industry has improved since she started out?
‘To give credit where it’s due, automotive has evolved and there is more awareness of diversity and inclusion now. I think part of that is because we’re finding our voices, female leadership is so important and the talent pool is strong. The work that organisations like Broker News and Fleet News are doing to highlight women in the industry all helps. I would also love to see more networking and mentorship opportunities so that the next generation can benefit from those who have already walked this path.’
Lerato says that she has surprised herself with how long she’s stayed in the automotive industry. For her, it is all about the people, who she describes as ‘a tight network where your contacts become your advocates’. The combination of great people and her love of problem solving has kept her in the industry which she says has offered her ‘many opportunities’. And for those looking to join the industry, what is Lerato’s advice?
‘Ten years ago, my advice would have been to have a plan. Now I would say, look for spaces where you feel you could belong and learn. Follow that feeling and you will thrive and be supported to learn and develop.’
About Fleet Procure:
Founded in 2017, Fleet Procure was designed to increase efficiency and accuracy in the leasing industry, initially and primarily for brokers and dealers. Its e-procurement and order management software links automotive dealers, finance companies, OEMs and leasing brokers from the beginning of the procurement journey, all the way through to delivery and payout.
More On Our Women in Broking Series
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Women in Broking is our regular series of features highlighting some of the great women who are so influential in the leasing broker sector – a sector that has been male dominated for too long. The series celebrates the Women in Broking – both those working in brokerages and those working with the broker channel – and hopes to encourage more women to have a successful career in the leasing broker market. If you would like to take part in this series please contact Laura.Lerwill@mortonmedia.co.uk

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Laura is a writer and Head of Marketing for Broker News, with extensive automotive experience from senior marketing roles with RBS/Nat West, Lombard Vehicle Management and Unipart. She is also a self-confessed petrol-head.