That confidence comes from working hard to gain in-depth understanding of the fundamentals of business and to become experts in their own industries.

PAMELA: They didn't think women at that time had what it takes to make it in this business. They thought this business was too challenging, too competitive. That women were too frail, too gentle. That, you know, they just didn't have that tough skin to be successful in this business.

HATTIE: (Voiceover) Americans and cars go together like hotdogs and mustard. Like summer and sun. But for Pamela, this is all strictly business. Don't you think women influence the purchasing at a huge percentage?

PAMELA: Huge! Very huge.

HATTIE: Do you all have any research?

PAMELA: The statistics are women own or purchase 50% of all automobiles sold and influence about 85 to 90% of all automobiles that are purchased. So women play a major role!

HATTIE: And you have some women salespeople?

PAMELA: We have women salespeople; we have a woman Parts Manager, F&I Manager, Controller. We have women at all ranks of our business. Which is unusual for a car dealership.

HATTIE: (Voiceover) Pamela is the right person in the right place at the right time. She is one of the few women in the world who owns a car dealership in her own right. It wasn't passed to her by her father or a husband. And, she took a failing location and turned it around. Today, with a team of 85 employees, her business, Rodgers Chevrolet, generates 73 million in revenues by selling nearly 200 cars per month and by servicing as many as 1200 a month. Pamela's mom was the first to hear that she would leave her big corporate job for a much tougher path.

MOTHER: I remember vividly the day that she announced that she wanted to become an automobile dealer. We were having dinner and conversation was going very ordinarily and she announced, "guess what?" I said, "What is it?" She says, "I have an announcement to make." I said, "Gee, let's hear it." So she said, "I am going to become an automobile dealer." Of course, I choked. I couldn't believe it. Because, it was so -- so far fetched from what she's always done. And that is a pretty tough arena. And being a mother, you naturally think -- well, my little girl is going into this tough competitive arena. I know she has what it takes, but -- so I did have the reservations. But her father said immediately, "Go for it!"

PAMELA: So, yes, I was going against the grain, but when you're the underdog -- and that is exactly what I was -- there was more people trying to push me out of the way. So I was the underdog and there is always somebody rooting for the underdog. So you have to find those mentors, find those people, find that support system. I mean, it's difficult to do -- easier said -- but as many people are trying to push you away there is somebody in there trying to help.