We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ambar Martinez Palacios a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ambar, appreciate you joining us today. undefined

In 2019, I noticed the shift towards Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in vehicles, and I saw it as an opportunity for innovation in the auto glass industry. While many of my peers in the field were reluctant to take it on, I knew we had to step up. I became the only woman in the class, investing in the equipment and learning how to recalibrate ADAS after windshield replacements. It wasn’t easy—my husband, a fellow auto glass technician, was hesitant, and others made fun of me. But I was driven by the vision of growing our business, setting us apart, and ultimately working smarter, not harder. Now, after six years, we’re ahead of the game. Not only do we calibrate windshields, but we also handle all types of sensor calibrations, including blind spots, bird view, and more. We’ve come a long way, and I’m proud of the impact we’ve made on the industry. I’ll never stop growing and innovating.

Ambar, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m the proud owner of Cali Auto Glass, and my journey into the auto glass industry started long before I opened my business. Growing up, I knew the value of hard work and discipline, but as an uneducated Mexican, I struggled to find opportunities in a world where people weren’t always eager to give me a chance. But I wasn’t discouraged. I’d learned about auto glass back in high school and decided to build on that knowledge. I started working in the field, and over the years, I gained invaluable experience. I realized that with enough determination and vision, I could open my own business and make a real difference for my family.

Cali Auto Glass wasn’t just a business to me—it was a dream to support my family, to provide stability, and to create opportunities for growth, not just for us, but for the people who work with us as well. I’m a disciplined entrepreneur, always looking for ways to innovate and stay ahead of the curve. I began expanding our services to include Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) calibration, something many of my competitors were slow to adopt. We now offer full sensor calibrations, from windshields to blind spots, bird view cameras, and even collision recovery. This innovation has helped us stand out and put us ahead of the curve.

What sets us apart is our commitment to staying ahead of the industry, our relentless pursuit of excellence, and the personalized care we put into every job. We don’t just replace windshields; we ensure the safety and functionality of every vehicle we service. We’re constantly learning, evolving, and striving to be better.

What I’m most proud of is the fact that we’ve built a business that provides for our family and our team, and we’re empowering others to grow alongside us. Our goal is not just to serve customers, but to make a lasting impact on the auto glass industry. I want people to know that we’re here to offer more than just a service—we’re here to provide quality, care, and innovation in everything we do.

I’m not done growing, and Cali Auto Glass will continue to evolve to meet the needs of our clients and keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in this industry.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

When it came time to fund my business, I didn’t have much to work with. I had only $5,000 to my name, and I knew that no one was going to hire me because of my background. I’d have to create my own opportunities. I found a spot that I believed had potential, a place I could see my business thriving, and I decided to take the leap. I rented the space, even though I was starting with little more than hope and determination.

A close friend of mine loaned me a worker for a couple of months to help get things off the ground until my husband, who was hesitant at first, was ready—or maybe not quite ready—to join the adventure with me. But we made it work. I didn’t have the luxury of waiting for perfect timing or huge investments; I simply trusted my vision and took that first step, knowing that the rest would follow.

It wasn’t easy, but every penny, every risk, and every decision made in those early days was a step toward creating something more than just a business—it was about building a future for my family and my community.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

One of the most defining moments of my journey was when I realized that despite not having a college education—just a high school diploma—and the weight of raising four children, I couldn’t afford to give up. There was a time when opportunities seemed scarce, and I was constantly told that people like me didn’t belong in certain spaces. But I had a fire inside me, and the drive to survive and provide for my children kept pushing me forward.

With limited resources, I started in the auto glass industry, learning everything I could on the job. I knew that if I wanted to give my kids a better life, I couldn’t wait for opportunities to come to me. I had to create them myself. The resilience to keep going, even when things felt impossible, is what kept me moving. The fear of failing wasn’t stronger than my need to succeed.

In the face of adversity, I built my business from the ground up, not letting anything stop me—not my lack of formal education, not the hardships, and certainly not the doubt from others. It was the relentless belief that my family deserved better and that I could build something lasting that kept me going. Today, Cali Auto Glass is proof that no matter where you start, with determination and resilience, you can create your own success.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://caliautoglass.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/caliautoglass/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caliautoglass/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caliautoglass/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@caliautoglass
• Yelp: https://biz.yelp.com/home/4blTxWJB_FwN9qM-G4_Tiw/

Image Credits

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