Kristy Rubino, a student at Southern Illinois University, was honored with the SEMA Businesswomen’s Network (SBN) Jessi Combs Rising Star Award at the 2024 SEMA Show.
The Jessi Combs Rising Star Award recognizes a woman under the age of 30 who is making significant strides in the advancement of her career in the automotive aftermarket along with paving the way for her peers. Let’s get to know Kristy!
SBN: What drew you to the automotive industry, and what does it mean to you to be pursuing a career in this field?
Kristy Rubino: My love for the automotive industry started at an early age. The fumes from the gasoline, clicking of the torque wrench, and sounds of engines starting that filled our small home garage were intoxicating. I assisted my father every chance I had--working on brakes, oil changes, and any project I could get my hands on. As I got older, I was performing these projects unassisted with only an inspection when completed. It is because of the hands-on experience my dad gave me growing up that I have always been captivated by the automotive industry. However, I never saw it as a career choice until my junior year when my high school shop teacher gave me the confidence that I needed to apply to Southern Illinois University's Automotive Technology program to ultimately pursue a career in the automotive industry.
Now that I am a Junior in college, I am preparing for what life will look like post-graduation, this means seriously evaluating my career and internship choices. I have decided to deviate from the clear path laid out by SIU’s training for a corporate career at an OEM and pursue a career in motorsports.
Although this is a hard shift from what I have been engulfed in for the past three years, I am excited to be entering a field where I will find a sense of fulfillment that is not influenced by salary increases but by my dedication to my craft and thriving in an environment where as a team, we push the limits of what is possible to ultimately win races.
SBN: How did you first hear about the scholarship, and what inspired you to apply?
KR: I heard about the SEMA scholarship when I was a freshman. A previous recipient Emma Ricketts told me about the scholarship and the opportunity to attend the SEMA trade show and encouraged me to apply.
SBN: What are some of your dreams and goals for the future, both in your career and personally?
Over the past year, I've made significant progress toward achieving many of my long-term goals, and as a result, I've been constantly searching for new challenges to pursue.
In terms of my career post-graduation, I'm focused on securing a full-time position with a racing team, ideally within the IndyCar series. Long-term, I aim to continue building my skills and eventually work my way up to a crew chief role.
In my personal life, I plan to graduate next year with a bachelor's degree in automotive technology, along with minors in advanced diagnostics and dealership management. I also intend to finish with both academic honors and as a graduate of the honors program. Additionally, I'm hoping to upgrade from my CBR 250R to a CBR 600RR, and eventually, have the space and financial means to take on a project car. In my personal life, I want to drive anything I can and keep developing my skills behind the wheel. Eventually I want to have my own garage and be able to keep (and race) my own cars.
SBN: Who has been a major influence or mentor in your life, and how have they helped shape your path?
KR: I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have had so many great people in my life. With such diverse influences, it’s difficult to name just a few major influences.
My dad was the one who handed me an impact wrench at age six and taught me how to pull the tires off his truck. In high school, it was Mr. Murrin, my automotive instructor, who encouraged me to enroll in the SIU automotive program when I was still uncertain about my career path.
Since arriving at SIU, I’ve been fortunate to have several mentors, from tutors, instructors, and industry professionals during my internships. I’ve learned several valuable lessons from each experience, whether it was technical skills, improving soft skills, or gaining life lessons. Every person I’ve encountered has contributed to shaping the person I am today.
I am truly grateful for the support systems that have challenged me to grow and consistently pushed me to improve so that I could not only see but work to achieve my full potential.
SBN: Tell us something about yourself that you think people would find inspiring or surprising.
KR: I was one of the two applicants selected from Southern Illinois University to spend six weeks studying abroad at the Nagoya University Summer Intensive Program in Nagoya, Japan. This program focused on autonomous vehicle systems with an emphasis on the Japanese domestic market. I was exposed to research currently taking place at the university. This research covered a wide variety of topics, such as remanufacturing seat belts to be safer for all body types and health situations, such as pregnancy, and how the use of autonomous vehicles can be used to combat several cultural challenges within Japan and other countries around the world. This exposure was extremely beneficial, providing me with valuable insights into cutting-edge technologies and safety measures that could shape the future of automotive design and engineering.
I also connected with like-minded students from around the world, even despite the language barrier I was able to take part in the school's automotive club and share a passion for car culture and motorsports.
It is because of this experience that I found it within myself to push my overwhelming fear of failure aside and pursue a career in motorsports. I realized that if I was able to travel to a foreign country alone where I did not speak the language and still find a community of people who share the same interests as I did that I would be able to navigate myself through the highly competitive world of motorsports and be successful as long as I continue to push myself beyond my comfort levels.
SBN: With hundreds of students applying, what does it mean to you to be selected for this scholarship?
KR: If you had told me as a freshman that I would have an opportunity like this, I simply wouldn’t have believed it. I always knew I needed to work hard and push myself to be successful one day. However, I never truly understood what that meant, because I never felt a sense of accomplishment when I reached my goals. No matter the area of my life—whether maintaining a 3.9 GPA or earning leadership positions and promotions at work—none of these achievements felt like milestones. Instead, they were just things I had to check off my to-do list. Even though those around me were impressed, I never felt that internal satisfaction.
It wasn’t until I received notice from SEMA that I had been selected as a scholarship winner that everything began to feel different. The scholarship also included an invitation to attend the SEMA Show—a dream I’ve had as long as I can remember, just like so many other automotive enthusiasts. While at the trade show, I was honored with another award from SEMA: the Jessi Combs Rising Star Award. This award, presented to women under 30 making significant progress in the automotive aftermarket, was a surreal moment for me. Attending the SEMA Show had always seemed like an unattainable dream, and receiving such a prestigious award—named after one of the most influential women in the automotive industry—felt almost unreal.
As my mind and body began to process the shock of being honored in such a way, I realized that, for the first time, I had accomplished something bigger than myself. It wasn’t just another item on a to-do list—it was a true reflection of the hard work and passion that had fueled my journey. In that moment, I recognized that my motivation had always been driven by a sense of imposter syndrome, where I felt nothing I did was worthy of celebration. But now, for the first time, I saw the real significance of my journey and the progress I had made.
SBN: What are your next steps in pursuing your career, and how do you plan to continue growing in the industry?
KR: I am beyond excited for what’s to come this summer, as I will be working as a technical intern for a race team that I can’t yet publicly name. I’ll be traveling to races, assisting the team, and helping repair and prepare the cars for the races throughout the week. This summer, I’m looking forward to experiencing life as a crew member and getting a firsthand taste of what a career in the motorsports industry is really like. I’m also eager to continue making valuable connections within the motorsports world and exploring the many opportunities I didn’t even know existed. It’s an incredible opportunity to apply what I’ve learned at SIU, further develop my technical skills, and carve out a space for myself in the highly competitive world of motorsports.