The Women’s Inspiration Network (WIN) employee resource group at WeDriveU brought employees together for an inspiring event celebrating emerging talent and the remarkable women who are shaping the future of WeDriveU and the industry.

Supporting the Next Generation

We kicked off with a WINtern Fireside Chat hosted by SVP Joanna Rustin, featuring this year’s summer WINterns: Brandon Adreani, Maylea Aguirre, Max Nakano and Mia Chastain. The discussion offered a behind-the-scenes look at the raw talent coming up through our third-annual WINtern program.

This six-week ERG signature program creates opportunities for college students and recent graduates to explore careers in transportation, gain hands-on experience, and connect with leaders across WeDriveU. Through meaningful projects and real-world learning, our WINterns bring fresh perspectives while building the skills and confidence to shape their future careers.

Bright Future for Transportation

Brandon, Maylea, Max and Mia immersed themselves into our operations, safety programs and technology systems at WeDriveU customer service centers across the U.S. Each WINtern took ownership of a capstone project focused on solving real business challenges, developing innovative solutions, and tackling real-world challenges.

Joanna asked the WINterns how the program helped shape their professional growth and expand their understanding of the transportation industry. Here’s what they had to say:

Maylea Aguirre, WINtern in San Jose, CA, shared: “This is one of the rare internships where you get to actually show some kind of ownership in the project that you want and make a real impact.”

Max Nakano, a WINtern in Chicago, IL, added: “Something that really surprised me is how much effort WeDriveU puts into leadership development and turning employees into great leaders. I was really pleasantly surprised by just how much this company does to support employees and push them to the next level in their careers.”

Brandon Adreani, WINtern at our Hyde Park, MA location, shared: “This internship put me in a really cool spot to meet so many different people across the drivers, the operations management, and even the corporate teams. It was really amazing to see all the different personalities come together under one roof, hold each other accountable, and still have fun with each other.”

Mia Chastain, a WINtern in the Pacific Northwest, agreed: “It was inspiring to see how a team spread across different states and time zones still works together so seamlessly.”

Revolutionary Women: Lessons in Leadership

The celebration continued with an inspiring look at the “Revolutionary Women of WeDriveU” hosted by Gillian Zoss, Vice President of Business Development. Speakers and WIN members Jhashe Holloway, Lashanda Brown Smith and Mariana Gerres shared reflections on their career journeys, personal stories and lessons learned that inspired the audience.

 

 

Here are highlights of the panel discussion highlighting three revolutionary leaders within the company who are a part of WIN’s network. They didn’t just share their resumes; they shared the grittier, human side of climbing the ranks in the transportation world.

💡 “Never Give Up”

Jhashe Holloway, General Manager (Los Angeles, CA)

Jhashe has spent over 21 years in the industry, and she started at the very bottom as a data entry clerk for reservations. Her big takeaway for anyone looking to grow:

“Don’t be a gatekeeper. When you learn something, pass it down. Lift up the people on the front lines, because the drivers out there in the hustle and bustle are the ones making our success possible every single day.”

💡 “Stay Focused”

Lashanda Brown Smith, General Manager (Lansing, IL)

Lashanda started her journey with WeDriveU behind the wheel as a driver. She spoke about what it takes to navigate a highly competitive, traditionally male-dominated industry. There will be speed bumps, late-night emergencies, and sacrifices, but Lashanda reminded us that if you keep your hunger, stay focused on the main goal, and lean on your team for support, you can break through any barrier.

💡 “Stay Curious and Say Yes”

Mariana Gerres, Executive Assistant (Austin, TX)

Mariana came to us a year ago to support our highest executive teams. She is living proof that the best way to grow is to dive into things that stretch you thin and push you out of your comfort zone. To Mariana, leadership isn’t about the title, it’s about becoming the reliable anchor your team can count on to catch things that fall through the cracks.