Member Spotlight: Tammy Benevento (Pinkerton)
“Everyone deserves respect and to be heard - we are all equal.”
From the fast-paced automotive industry in South Africa to leading CX Journey Management & strategy across Europe, Tammy Benevento (Pinkerton) has built a career grounded in resilience, collaboration, and a deep passion for CX. She has navigated complex corporate structures, challenged gender stereotypes, and embraced international opportunities – all while staying true to her values.
In this inspiring conversation, she shares her journey, the challenges she’s overcome, and why women rising together is the future of inclusive leadership.
To begin, could you tell us a bit about yourself?
I’m a proud mom to two boys, aged 10 and 8, and two fur babies.
I started working straight out of school, entering the automotive industry at just 18.
After a few years of navigating the corporate world, I decided to further my education. I juggled full-time work and part-time study to earn my Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing Management. I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment, as I sacrificed a lot in my personal life to dedicate my time to my studies.
I found my true calling in customer experience in 2018, particularly in customer journey mapping and love bringing teams together to work collaboratively.
“I will never forget the feeling of accomplishment, as I sacrificed a lot in my personal life to dedicate my time to my studies.”
How did you get where you are today?
My journey began with Wunderman (contracted to Ford Motor Company), where I held a temporary role supporting the dealer launch of the Volvo S40. As I obtained a permanent role starting with data entry and customer calls to organising fleet events, working with fleet rental companies, I worked my way into an agency client service role working on both Ford and Volvo accounts.
When I joined Ford directly, new doors opened. I rolled out a new retail system across the dealer network, transitioned into sales planning and brand analysts roles, and in 2018, stepped into a CX specialist position. That’s when everything clicked. I went on to lead customer journey management and was promoted to the leadership role of CX Manager, which allowed me to learn other parts of the business, such as after-sales.
As I grew, I sought more opportunities and pursued a regional role at Hyundai Motor Europe, where I was given the chance to relocate to Germany. Today, I’m proud to be the Head of Section for Customer Journey Management.
What were the main challenges you faced as a woman in CX?
Many. CX makes disruption, and while I found it easy to bring internal teams together, working with the dealer network posed a different challenge: navigating a service environment, understanding the process, the technical components, and learning how things work. I’ve been told, twice, ‘What can a woman tell me about how to run my workshop?’ Or, ‘You’re stepping into a space you don’t need to step into.’ I’ve even been told, ‘Leave my department alone.’
It was tough, but I worked through it. By staying consistent and proving impact, I earned trust, and those who doubted me at first often became my biggest advocates.
Tell us about a moment that shaped you into the woman you are today.
Before moving - not just to a new country, but relocating continents - I thought I was already a well-rounded woman; I held a leadership role, managing teams and tasks in a way that fostered collaboration and synergy. Dealership's DP's and Franchise Directors would call me for assistance to improve their experiences or share ideas - I always loved meeting with the Dealer Network and listening to all their concerns. It provided a valuable insight into what needed to be tackled next, as they were the ones on the ground facing the customer.
I was full of motivation for this new change.
However, when I arrived, I realised I wasn’t fully prepared… As a divorced mum of two, I’d never been so far away from my family, my support system. Then came the news that my mother had stage 4 ovarian cancer. She passed away in May 2025, just hours before her 79th birthday.
That experience – leaving home, starting over, losing my mom – has changed me. It’s strengthened me in ways I couldn’t have imagined.
“I believe that making the move abroad and going through all of this has toughened me up and given me a stronger character today. ”
What makes a woman courageous / collaborative / inclusive / authentic?
Having the courage to use your voice, especially in male-dominated spaces, is critical. Too often, a woman’s perspective is overlooked until it’s repeated by someone else. I find myself saying things in many different ways until someone (a man) says the same thing, and it is finally heard. We have to speak up, point that out, and claim our contributions.
Women also really need to stick together, work together and support each other. We definitely do not need to compete with each other; instead, we should pull one another up.
What does feminism mean to you?
Please treat me equally.
It means my voice holds the same weight, my ideas aren’t dismissed because of my gender, and tasks aren’t assigned based on outdated stereotypes. If we’re in a meeting, it shouldn’t be assumed I’ll take minutes just because I’m a woman. Anyone can do that.
“Everyone deserves respect and to be heard – we are all equal.”
