AYANDA MTETWA, A SELF-MOTIVATED TOUR DE FORCE
They say that dynamite comes in small packages, and this would probably best describe Ayanda Mtetwa, as she’s definitely a focused and driven woman in the industry! Automotive Refinisher took time out to get to know her journey a little better.
Q. How long have you been in the industry?
A. I have been in the automotive and auto body repair industry for 23 years. It has been more than a career – it has shaped my resilience, leadership, and long-term commitment to transforming the industry. Over the years, I have worked across operational roles, business ownership, and training environments, growing alongside the industry as it evolved.
Q. How did you come into the industry?
A. Entering the automotive industry at a time when women were rarely seen in workshop environments meant there were very few clear pathways and very few visible examples of women thriving in technical spaces.
The person who changed my trajectory was Val Renkal, who at the time owned one of the BMW franchises. She saw potential in me before I fully recognised it in myself. She gave me an opportunity that could easily have gone to someone else. It was more than employment – it was affirmation. It was someone in a position of authority saying: ‘You belong in this industry.’
That belief carried me through the early years when credibility had to be earned repeatedly. From that moment I made a commitment that when I have capacity and influence, I will open doors for other women just as she opened one for me.
Q. Have you done any studying towards what you know now or is it all hands-on learning?
A. My knowledge comes from a combination of hands-on experience and continuous learning. Auto body repair is highly practical, but long-term success requires understanding business management, insurer compliance, operational systems, and financial discipline. Over 23 years, I have continuously developed myself both technically and strategically.
Q. What was the highlight of having your own body shop?
A. Owning Inevitable Auto and Electric was one of the proudest chapters of my journey. The highlight was building something from the ground up – creating employment, establishing systems, and earning trust from clients and insurers. It proved that women are capable of leading, operating, and sustaining technical businesses in this industry.
Q. What were the challenges of having your own body shop?
A. The industry is capital-intensive and operationally demanding. Cash flow pressures, insurer compliance standards, and maintaining productivity while delivering quality workmanship were constant challenges. Additionally, as a woman in a male-dominated space, credibility often had to be earned repeatedly, which required resilience and excellence. Unfortunately, the economic impact of the pandemic, combined with significant personal challenges at the time, including going through a divorce, created pressures that became unsustainable. Although closing the business was difficult, that period strengthened my resilience and deepened my understanding of sustainability and risk management.
Q. How did you come into training at MAGALS Training Academy?
A. My transition into training was intentional. After years in operations, I recognised that access into the industry – especially for women – was not structured. Training allows me to institutionalise opportunity and create clear pathways for women to enter, grow, and lead within automotive parameters.
Q. What is your highlight of your current position?
A. My greatest highlight is witnessing transformation. Seeing women grow from uncertainty to confidence in technical workshop environments is incredibly rewarding. It is not just skills development – it is confidence development.
Q. What are the challenges about training?
A. The industry is evolving rapidly with electric vehicles, hybrid systems, and advanced technologies. Training must continuously adapt. Beyond technology, one of the key challenges is shifting perceptions and dismantling the idea that technical competence has a gender.
Q. Do you mentor another specific person or a few?
A. Yes, I mentor several individuals, particularly women entering the automotive sector. Mentorship is about shortening the struggle curve, providing visibility, and offering guidance in spaces where representation has historically been limited.
Q. How do you wish to leave your mark on this industry?
A. I want to leave a structural legacy. I do not want to be remembered simply as a woman who succeeded in automotive matters – I want to be remembered as someone who made it easier for other women to enter, lead, and thrive. If it becomes ordinary to see women running body shops and leading technical teams, then meaningful progress has been achieved.
Ayanda concluded: “Opportunity changes lives. Someone once opened a door for me. My mission is to ensure that door remains open – and wider – for as many women as possible.”
By Claire Macfie
Pics by Jay Groat
