By Ashley Reyes
The SEMA Businesswomen's Network (SBN) has named Nolan Jamora, chief operating officer at Isky Racing Cams, as its newest allyship honoree.
Learn how Jamora supports women in the industry and promotes the ally mindset in the SEMA News interview below.
SEMA News: What do you do to support the ally mentality and women's empowerment?
Nolan Jamora: Being raised around powerful women, my mom Bettie was very involved in California State politics, and my Aunt Joan McCraw was vice president at USA Today, publishing director at National Geographic and finally publisher of Los Angeles Magazine. Working with both, I was naturally exposed to talented and diverse leadership teams composed mainly of women. I was also exposed to the difficulties these high-value women faced in male dominated fields and the above and beyond work they had to do to just be treated as equals. The experiences I had led me to always support women's empowerment to the fullest and to have an ally mindset when looking to fill positions or support women.
SN: Can you share your favorite experience being an ally?
NJ: We can start with someone who has risen through the ranks of our industry and is now the SEMA Vice President of Technology, Data & Strategic Initiatives Gigi Ho. I first met Gigi in 2002 when she was starting a company called Digital Performance. Isky was looking to build a website and get set up in ecommerce and we met with her and her partner Tom. I immediately understood she was highly capable and would be the main person setting up eCataloging, eCommerce and eMarketing at Digital Performance. Being one of the icon companies in the industry, they felt that if they could work with Isky as one of its first customers it would show they were a capable company because Isky has always been very cautious on who they work with. I made the decision to go with them, and it went very well for both of us. Gigi and Tom were able to work with many companies, and Gigi started to grow a reputation as the data goddess. To this day we are very good friends, and it's great to see her success.
The other examples would be Alex Taylor and more recently Megan Taylor. Alex Taylor is well known in the industry, but four to five years ago she was still growing. I was introduced to her and saw how she worked with her family, was a real racer and could actually work on her equipment. Being a family-owned company, I was looking for an influencer/brand ambassador at the time that would reflect Isky's hard working values and needed someone with substance instead of flash. In meeting with Alex, I told her I was looking for someone we could grow with who would also grow with us, and she liked the idea of having input and a say in the direction we would go. I asked her to be a brand strategist and not just an influencer, and she agreed. Her background and the knowledge that she had just graduated from college made it an easy decision. Her influence in the industry has grown as well as her portfolio of sponsors, and I am so excited to see her successes. With her younger sister Megan Taylor, I was able to observe how integral she was to Alex's success and the work she put into all of Alex's social media. Alex and I agreed to share her talents once she finished college with her marketing and graphics design degree. She started doing our social media as well and now is our social media and marketing manager. She's in charge of all social media, sponsorships, shows, events and catalogs. From being behind the camera all those years for Alex, she has become the Isky representative on tracks around the country and a growing brand ambassador. I think many in the industry have observed the path we took with Alex and now Megan and have tried to emulate it. I could not be prouder of them, and I am thankful we have such a great partnership.
SN: Why do you feel that being an ally is important?
NJ: I think being an ally is very important if we want our industry to grow. There are so many talented women who can contribute so much that it would be a huge mistake not taking advantage of it. Even as a member of the Motorsports Products & Media Council (MPMC), I have pushed the ally agenda and am very much in favor of getting more women on all of our councils.
SN: What have you found to be the most important/valuable part of being an ally?
NJ: It's very rewarding to help high achievers succeed to their fullest. Of course, in a selfish way it's great for our business but it also brings me great satisfaction that I am helping to carry on the mission my mom and aunt started and to support that vision.
SN: How long have you been in the industry?
NJ: Thirty-five years.
SN: What advice do you have for those that want to become an ally?
NJ: Do your homework. I look for someone with a clear body of work. They don't have to have been in the industry long, but they must show they are very capable by bringing some examples of the skills they have to the table. Make the best choice with an open mind and ask some important questions about what ideas and direction they see the partnership going in the future. Look at it as a partnership that both need to invest in for the long haul. Once the decision has been made, you must maintain great communication and create an environment where ideas and honesty are welcome.
SN: How does someone spread the ally mentality?
NJ: By example. It's great to talk about being an ally and then employ someone capable but if you do not entrust them to do a job and give them the freedom and power to get things done then you are holding them back. Actively support women's empowerment by example; action speaks louder than words and token gestures.
Fill out an SBN Ally Spotlight form to highlight how you or a colleague is being an ally to women in the automotive specialty-equipment industry. Selected candidates are eligible to be featured on SBN's social media and in SEMA News.
