About Patrice
About US
Patrice Banks is opening up the male dominated automotive industry and changing the way women experience car care. A former engineer turned mechanic, entrepreneur, and author, Patrice is the founder of Girls Auto Clinic, a trailblazing auto repair shop that educates and empowers women through their vehicles. She’s also the author of Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide and the creator of the viral #SheCANic movement, a call for women to own their power under the hood and beyond.
Patrice’s story of going from “auto airhead” to CEO has inspired women everywhere to break barriers. Frustrated with the way women were treated in auto repair spaces, she left her engineering career, enrolled in automotive school, and built a business model that speaks directly to women. Her work has been featured by NPR, TIME, The Washington Post, Good Morning America, Glamour, and more. She’s partnered with Ford, Dell, Honda, Girl Scouts, is a TEDx speaker, and a founding member of the Women of Color Automotive Network. In 2025, she was inducted into the African American Automotive Association Hall of Fame.
Today, Patrice continues her mission through the SheCANic Foundation, expanding access to car care education for women of all ages and backgrounds. She brings over a decade of speaking experience to stages nationwide inspiring individuals, companies, and communities to challenge the status quo and create spaces where women feel seen, heard, and supported.
"The lowest of lows that you've had, only equate to the highest you can go."
– Patrice Banks.
Book Patrice for your next conference or event.
Speaking Topics & Credits
Female Empowerment
STEAM Education
Industry Disruption
Automotive Care & Maintenance
Entrepreneurship
Business Leadership
#sheCANic Movement
Automotive Industry Trends & Innovation
Patrice Banks at Ford HQ!
Patrice Banks is driving change in the auto industry, literally. She was featured in Ford’s “Car Girls” campaign for International Women’s Day, spotlighting women reshaping the future of mobility. Patrice also appeared on Ford CEO Jim Farley’s podcast Drive, where her passion for empowering women through car care left a lasting impression.
During a visit to Ford HQ in Detroit, what began as a casual coffee chat with Jim turned into a 90-minute strategy session with top Ford executives. With no formal pitch prepared, Patrice spoke with clarity, vision, and confidence about the Girls Auto Clinic mission. Her story is proof that when women bet on themselves, powerful partnerships happen. This is just the beginning of Girls Auto Clinic x Ford.
Girls Auto clinic
Girls Auto Clinic (GAC) is a company founded by Patrice Banks in 2013. Patrice was frustrated with her car buying and repair experiences and the lack of resources available
to educate women on car care. Unable to find a female mechanic in the Philadelphia area, she left her engineering career and enrolled in automotive technology school to learn how to work on cars. Her mission with Girls Auto Clinic was to create the kind of place she wanted to take her own car, one rooted in trust, education, inclusion, and empowerment.
GAC provides auto repair services, car care education, and community through its shop, workshops, and signature #SheCANic movement. For more information, visit girlsautoclinic.com.
#sheCANic Movement
The #sheCANic movement educates and empowers women through their cars. Patrice was tired of feeling helpless with repairs and car maintenance. She realized she was not the only woman who felt this way. Millions of women out there are thirsty for empowerment and education. It is her goal to reach ever women driver and to create a community of car savvy women that are smart consumers and make confident decisions when it comes to their cars and auto purchases! Welcome #sheCANics!
Patrice educates in a shame-free, relatable, and engaging way to women looking to learn practical information about their vehicles. Patrice:
-hosts monthly free car care workshops
-Penned a car care book
-blogs, car care tips, and
-Created the #sheCANic Facebook page, a private group that connects female drivers with female mechanics to get answers to their car questions.
The sheCANic movement is a growing community of CAR-SAVVY women. Join Us!
Writing
Glove Box Guide
A do-it-herself guide to auto maintenance, roadside emergencies, and the real scoop on how women can get honest car service at the garage, from engineer turned auto mechanic and award-winning entrepreneur Patrice Banks.
#sheCANic Blog
Stay up – to – date and in the know with car, driving, and safety tips that are informative, relatable, and fun with topics like "Does Your Car Have Boogies?"
News, Media, Lifestyle Articles
Patrice also writes for other news, media, and lifestyle blogs. Check out her work with Progressive Insurance and her Op-Ed in the Washington Post. Book Patrice to write a piece for you today!
Booking Information
Book Patrice For:
Keynote Speaking
(booking fee, travel, lodging and additional expenses apply)
(booking fee, travel, lodging and additional expenses apply)
Authorship of
Articles/Blog Posts
Articles/Blog Posts
Workshop Session
Information
Booth/Tabling
Booth/Tabling
Book Signing Events
(a minimum book purchase is required)
(a minimum book purchase is required)
To schedule a Speaking Event with Patrice Banks, Please fill out a booking request form or contact:
Email: info@girlsautoclinic.com
“It was great catching up with Patrice Banks at Ford HQ! Patrice is an inspiring entrepreneur and founder of Girls Auto Clinic, which is dedicated to making auto repair and maintenance more accessible and empowering for women. We had a fantastic conversation about her journey on DRIVE Season 1. Patrice, thanks for coming by to say hello. We always learn from you!”
Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology -
Women's History Month Keynote
3/8/2018
Inspirational, empowering, and motivational are a few of many words that we would use to describe Patrice Banks’ presentation. Owner of Girls Auto Clinic and author of Girls Auto Clinic Glove Box Guide, Patrice inspired many attendees. Her spirit of enthusiasm and sincerity made a lasting impression with not only the students, but industry, educators, and parents. Her story and presentation encourages young women to pursue careers in the trades and STEM and to think outside the conventional box – to face their challenges, and continue to work towards their career goals. Patrice Banks is a genuine person. We were honored to host her as a speaker at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology. In the words of Patrice Banks, “The Future is Female!”
- Dr. Zoann Parker, VP of Academic Affairs at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology
Professional Women's Roundtable -
PoWeR Award + 15th Anniversary Event
11/2/2017
When it came time to accept her award, Patrice stepped up to the podium and delivered what can only be described as a powerful, relatable, and charming account of her path to success. Patrice was engaging, making sure to make eye contact with virtually everyone in the room. She was authentic as she described her childhood, school years, early career and transition to the entrepreneur and author we know today. She was completely comfortable, with no speech or notes in front of her, and managed to captivate the entire room. If you are looking for a speaker who is genuine, impressive, and inspirational, Patrice is the perfect person.
Sophia Financial -
Client Appreciation Event
4/19/2017
Patrice gave us practical, easy‐to‐understand information delivered in an amusing and compelling way. My guests were very engaged and interested. I appreciate Patrice’s point of view and honest sharing about the challenges women face in being confident consumers of cars and car care. Her passion for empowering women really shines through. It was a perfect length – long enough to get some good quality content. Everyone really appreciated the information and agreed that they felt like more empowered consumers afterward. We finished with more reception time in the beauty bar. People enjoyed the chance to sit in the comfortable chairs after standing in the garage. This event was a huge hit, and got a lot of buzz from those who attended and those who heard about it but couldn’t attend. It was unique and a differentiator for my brand. It was a pleasure to work with Patrice and Stephanie organizing the event. They were very flexible in accommodating our times and desires.
Delaware County Chamber of Commerce-
Small Business Awards Keynote
3/30/2017
Once I got speaking with Patrice, I knew I had to share her story and shop with the surrounding community. Since Patrice is energizing and engaging, we invited her to deliver the keynote address at the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business Awards dinner. Patrice captivated the audience with her vision to disrupt the auto industry in a compelling and empowering way. Patrice is passionate about her purpose of making auto mechanics understandable at the #sheCANic community.
SW VA Higher Education Center-
Annual STEM Workshops
11/20/2016
Dynamic, energetic and engaging, she related exceptionally well to 700 female middle school students. As evidenced by numerous comments from the students, Patrice’s story will have a lasting impact on these young women, inspiring them to achievements and careers they might otherwise never have dreamed of. Looking forward to collaborating with Patrice again next year.