2026 What Drives Her Award Winners Highlights From the Chicago Auto Show Program & Award Ceremony Chicago Auto Show organizers, in partnership with A Girls Guide to Cars, held the ninth annual What Drives Her program during the show’s Media Preview on Friday, Feb. 6. Industry leaders from across the country came together for a robust discussion and award recognition ceremony to highlight women in four different categories: Industry Trailblazer, Best in Craft Media, Automotive Ally and Best Retailer. The program gives industry leaders a stage to share trends, stories and personal anecdotes about the integral role that women play in the auto industry. The event opened with insights from Jessica Jermakian, senior vice president of vehicle research at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, who presented “Crash Course 2026: We’re Safer Than Ever in Our Cars. Or Are We?” This was followed by a panel discussion, “The Passenger Safety Puzzle: What Are We Getting Wrong?” moderated by Scotty Reiss, founder of A Girls Guide to Cars and organizer of What Drives Her. Panelists Nancy Heaton, president of Commercial Americas at Britax Child Safety; Jennifer Shaw, product sales and engagement manager CATA UP TO SPEED 14
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