What happens when you've climbed to the top, proven yourself a hundred times over, and still find yourself fighting the same battles — until one day you realize you're just done?In this episode of The Exit Interview | On Air, hosts Shana Ayabe and Kisha Imani Cameron sit down with Katie Naughton, founder of Drive Her Forward, former dealership owner, and one of the less than 1% of women who have owned automotive dealerships. From elite gymnast to co-owning a Kia dealership in Canada to navigating the cutthroat world of mergers and acquisitions, Katie has spent her career in one of the most male dominated industries in America. And she's done fighting.Katie opens up about the moment she realized the Iron Fist leadership style she inherited wasn't working, the painful pivot to leading with empathy instead of ego, and why she walked away from M&A to build a community for ambitious women who are tired of proving their worth. She gets honest on negotiating watching a male competitor get offered 100% more for the same role, Katie breaks down what it actually takes to navigate ambition, competitiveness, and boundaries as a woman in a space that wasn't built for you.This conversation goes deep into the uncomfortable truth that most women face: you can be successful, capable, and respected — and still hit a wall where you're just exhausted from the fight. Whether it's the constant proving, the lack of female role models, the emotional labor of being the only woman in the room, or the realization that the career ladder you climbed is no longer worth the climb, this episode is for every woman who has ever thought, I'm done.In this episode:The truth about ambitious womenThe leadership shift from Iron Fist to empathy and why it transformed her dealership overnightHow to navigate being competitive without being threatening in male dominated industriesThe brutal reality of negotiating as a woman and why she bombed her own contract negotiationWhy male colleagues openly share salary numbers while women stay silentThe emotional cost of selling a family business and feeling like you abandoned your teamWhy automotive still sits at 20% female representation after a decade of advocacy effortsHow to build confidence by tracking your wins and responding to imposter syndromeThe power of unlocking the golden handcuffs and asking for what you're worthWhy success today means helping others become better instead of fighting to stay on topWhether you're navigating a male dominated industry, trying to lead with empathy in a cutthroat environment, negotiating your worth, building confidence after years of proving yourself, or simply exhausted from the fight, this episode proves that sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is stop fighting and start building something new.Because when you're successful but done fighting, it's time. Time to pivot.Guest: Katie Naughton | Founder, Drive Her Forward | Former Dealership Owner | Leadership Coach for Women in AutomotiveLinkedIn: Katie Naughton (https://www.linkedin.com/in/katienaughton/)Web: https://driveherforward.com/Hosts: Shana Ayabe x Kisha Imani CameronIG: https://www.instagram.com/theexitinterview_onair/IG: https://www.instagram.com/shana_onair/IG: https://www.instagram.com/cameroncareercoaching/Produced by: Grace Media DigitalThe Exit Interview | On-Air — Real conversations. When you're successful but done fighting, it's time.Chapters