In a world that often overlooks the contributions and capabilities of women—especially Black women—Zoe Carmichael has emerged as a trailblazer in the male-dominated automotive industry. Her story is one of grit, self-discovery, and an unrelenting desire to create opportunities for the next generation of women in automotive.
Growing up in Shallotte, a small beach town in North Carolina, Zoe’s fascination with cars began early, though it was initially rooted in aesthetics rather than mechanics. She fondly recalls her father’s BMW and the unforgettable smell of its leather interior, which left an indelible mark on her childhood. Although her father passed away when she was just ten, the memories of that car planted a seed of passion that would eventually shape her life.
Zoe’s connection to cars deepened during her teenage years, though it remained primarily visual—capturing photos of classic cars and dreaming of owning one someday. But everything changed when she purchased an air-cooled Volkswagen Beetle. Frustrated by its frequent mechanical issues and unable to afford constant trips to the shop, Zoe decided to take matters into her own hands. With the guidance of a mentor, she learned to repair the car herself. This hands-on experience ignited her love for automotive mechanics and set her on a path toward turning that passion into a career.
After high school, Zoe’s determination to learn more led her to pursue an associate’s degree in automotive technology at Wake Technical Community College. She graduated during the pandemic in 2021 and immediately sought ways to expand her expertise. Considering her interest in vintage cars, she found the perfect fit at McPherson College in Kansas, enrolling in their classic car restoration program. The transition to Kansas, however, was not without challenges. Adjusting to life in the Midwest, far removed from her familiar surroundings, often left her feeling out of place. Yet, her resolve to succeed and grow in the automotive industry kept her focused.
While at McPherson, Zoe discovered her love for the unique character of vintage cars. “They just have a sort of character that you can't find in newer cars,” she shares. This passion led her to “The Garage” Automotive Museum, where she started as a front desk employee. Her dedication and vision quickly earned her the role of Vehicle Operations Manager, allowing her to curate rotating exhibits and highlight the beauty and history of classic cars.
Throughout her journey, Zoe encountered obstacles that many women in the industry face—ranging from sexism to the lack of representation and support. These challenges only strengthened her resolve. She found inspiration and solidarity through her involvement with the Jessi Combs Foundation, joining as a scholarship recipient in 2021. The foundation provided her not only with financial support but also with a network of women navigating similar struggles in the automotive space. “It’s good to have people to share your experiences with,” Zoe explains. The legacy of Jessi Combs, a trailblazing welder and racer, has deeply influenced Zoe’s approach to mentoring and empowering others.
Zoe is committed to paying it forward. She regularly teaches women practical skills like driving a stick shift and performing basic car maintenance, moments she describes as deeply rewarding. Her long-term vision includes starting a school to teach automotive skills and launching a mobile motorcycle shop—a dream that combines her love for travel, vintage vehicles, and empowering others.
Motorcycles, a newfound passion, add yet another layer to Zoe’s diverse automotive journey. After earning her license before moving to Kansas, she now owns two Hondas—one vintage and one modern—each bringing her a unique sense of joy and freedom.
Zoe’s story is not just about her personal accomplishments; it’s about the legacy she’s building for the women who will follow in her footsteps. Her resilience, passion, and commitment to making the automotive industry more inclusive serve as an inspiration to anyone navigating uncharted paths.
“I just kept doing what I enjoyed, and it’s led me to great places,” Zoe reflects. As she continues to carve her space in the industry, her mission remains clear: to empower, inspire, and ensure that the next generation of women has the opportunities she once dreamed of.
For Zoe Carmichael, the road ahead is filled with potential, not just for her own growth but for the transformation of the automotive world as a more inclusive and innovative space. She’s not just restoring cars—she’s restoring possibilities for women in automotive.
Full Transcript of the Interview Formatted for Clarity and Readability
Chris Harris: Let’s start from the beginning. Were cars always something you were interested in?
Zoe Carmichael: In a way, yes. I liked looking at cars when I was younger, but I didn’t know much about them until about five years ago.
Chris Harris: So, it was more about the aesthetics than the mechanical side?
Zoe Carmichael: Exactly. My dad had a BMW when I was growing up, so I remember the smell of an old German car. It's kind of imprinted in my brain, and it's one of my favorite smells.
Chris Harris: Did your dad’s car spark your love for cars?
Zoe Carmichael: Yes, but he passed away when I was about ten, and we didn’t have that car for long. My uncle says it was an M3. Id love to tack it down someday.
Chris Harris: Where did you grow up?
Zoe Carmichael: A small town called Shallotte, near the beach in North Carolina.
Chris Harris: North Carolina has such a rich racing history. When did you realize you wanted to turn this passion into a career?
Zoe Carmichael: I didn’t figure that out until later. As a teenager, I would notice cars, like old classic cars, on the road and take pictures of them, hoping I'd have one someday, but that's as far as it went. Then, one day, I decided I needed a car because I got tired of taking the bus everywhere. So i decided to buy a Volkswagen Beetle, an air-cooled hippie Bettle.
Chris Harris: A Beetle! How did that go?
Zoe Carmichael: I was told old cars require time or money—neither of which I had, though I convinced myself I did. After a year of constant trips to the shop, I decided to fix it myself, and that's how I officially got into cars. I had an amazing mentor that helped me along the way.
Chris Harris: That’s impressive. In your High School years, did you take any Autoshop or auto design classes?
Zoe Carmichael: By the time I had gotten to high school, they had taken out the shop class, which is really unfortunate because I really would have liked to take it. But I didn't take an electrical class, learning circuity and things like that.
Chris Harris: That's dope that you took the initiative to find more, figure out a way to learn more.
Zoe Carmichael: After high school, not only am i trying to repair my own car, but i want to learn more to get into this industry, so I enrolled in Wake Technical Community College for an associate's degree in automotive technology.
Chris Harris: That’s great. What came next?
Zoe Carmichael: I graduated in 2021 during the pandemic. I considered working at Girls Auto Clinic in Philadelphia, but then I found McPherson College in Kansas, which offered a bachelor’s in classic car restoration. I really wanted to keep going along the line of working on older cars and doing welding, restoration, upholstery, and fabrication. So, two days after graduating from Wake Tech, I packed up and moved to Kansas.
Chris Harris: How was the transition to working on vintage cars?
Zoe Carmichael: It's much more detailed, I'd say, because they are much older cars, and depending on what a person wants to restore it back to, you'd have to do a lot of research to make sure things are back to where they're supposed to be.
Chris Harris: What is it about vintage cars that captivates you?
Zoe Carmichael: They just have a sort of character that you can't find newer cars. I don't know how to describe it. They just sound different; they are louder, kind of quirky. Each one is unique.
Chris Harris: I couldn’t agree more. I'm a huge fan of resto-mod cars. I love old styling.
Zoe Carmichael: It solidified my love for restoration. I also started working at a new automotive museum called “The Garage,” about 45 minutes away, where I eventually became the Vehicle Operations Manager.
Chris Harris: What did that role entail?
Zoe Carmichael: They opened in 20222 or so and I was there since day one. It's a local car museum, and it has mostly cars that people in the area own. There is a big car community up there with lots of classic, beautifully kept cars. I started as an entry-level employee working at the front desk. Then, I stepped into other responsibilities and grew my role to eventually become the vehicle operations manager, and I helped curate the cars and exhibits that came into the museum.
Chris Harris: That’s fantastic. How would you describe your journey in the automotive industry, and what were some of the, if any, struggles and pitfalls that you experienced as you grew in this space?
Zoe Carmichael: That's a great question. I would describe my journey as pretty off the beaten path since this is very atypical of women, especially black women at that. So i don't really have too much of a road map so far. I just kept doing what I enjoyed, and it's led me to great places.
Chris Harris: Were there any bumps in the road?
Zoe Carmichael: Definitely. Living in Kansas was really different out there. It’s about as midwest as you can get, I'd say middle of nowhere. I'm used to trees, beaches, water, and rain, and they don't have any of that there, just cars. They had nice cars, but there is no soul food. It was kind of like a fish out of water. I missed culture, and feeling like I belonged there was one of my challenges.
Chris Harris: Has it gotten better?
Zoe Carmichael: I can't say so, especially since the election, which is hard to talk about but I've learned to accept things for what they are. I hope things get better; if not, I'll be working to change it.
Chris Harris: You’ve been involved with the late great Jessi Combs Foundation. Can you tell me more about that?
Zoe Carmichael: I joined as a scholarship recipient in 2021 while I was at McPherson, but It was not just a monetary thing; they also try to build a network of women who can kind of lean on each other and talk to each other about things that most women go through in the industry like sexism, and it's just really tough to work out there. So it’s good to have people to share your experience with. It's in Jessi’s honor. She was a trailblazer, no doubt, textbook, like the definition of it. She was a great welder and fabricator and just loved racing and all things motors. She was so nice, a great personality, and really made other people feel welcome in the space, which is what I think we all really need now; she was absolutely awesome.
Chris Harris: That’s incredible. You're truly a unicorn in this space. What’s your dream for the future?
Zoe Carmichael: Being a unicorn is not as bad as it could be sometimes. Just to show people that you shouldn't stereotype everyone. Most women that I get to talk to do have interest in cars but never had the opportunity to get involved. Their dad didn't want to teach them how to drive a stick, so I taught a few women how to drive a stick, and I really felt honored to do so.
Chris Harris: I know this is a typical question, but where do you see yourself in the next 3 - 5 years?
Zoe Carmichael: So, in the next 3 years, I want to keep working with Jessi Combs Foundation. They’ve got a lot of really cool projects in the works to bring more women into the trades and to feeling inspired and empowered. I'd also say I want to start a school to teach people car maintenance and how to drive a stick, which are just things that they want to learn how to do but don't have the opportunity to do. I want more people to have the opportunity. But my crazy dream is to have a mobile motorcycle shop, like out the back of a big long school bus, and just pebble around the country and fix people's motorcycles.
Chris Harris: Motorcycles? That’s a curveball! Tell me about your love for bikes.
Zoe Carmichael: I got my license before moving to Kansas and now own two Hondas—one vintage and one modern. Motorcycles bring a different kind of joy.
Chris Harris: That’s amazing. Zoe, your story is inspiring. Thank you for sharing it with me. I look forward to seeing all that you accomplish.