Women Up Front: Asma’s first year in the driver's seat

As the inaugural cohort of Kinetic New Zealand’s Women Up Front (WUF) program celebrates their first year on the road, we caught up with Auckland alumna, Asma, to discuss life behind the wheel.

Asma will never forget her first official day as a Kinetic bus driver. She drove the 871 route from the Constellation Bus Station on Auckland’s North Shore to Takapuna with a pounding heart and a huge smile on her face,

“I was a mix of nervous and excited. Every turn, every stop felt like such a huge responsibility. By the end of the day, I felt a real sense of accomplishment. That first day was a turning point, and I’ve kept growing in the role ever since.”

Asma’s journey with Kinetic began after following a bus during a long drive, where she noticed it was displaying a “hiring now” message on the digital display. Shortly after arriving home, she came across a Facebook post promoting Women Up Front, which was the push she needed to apply.

“Driving a bus was never something I pictured myself doing. But I truly believe everything happens for a reason. Driving up from the South Island and coming across that advert was what first sparked the thought. 

“Once I learned more about the role, I realised it offered both stability and the opportunity to contribute to the community every single day. Now, I absolutely love it, and I want to embrace it for as long as I can.”

Women Up Front provides a comprehensive, fully paid, four-week training program, that enables recruits to upgrade from a full car licence to a Class 2 licence (medium vehicle) with passenger endorsement. Recruits are offered on-going mentoring and support to help them excel in their new role. Asma finished her training feeling confident, prepared, and ready to get behind the wheel.

“The training process was very structured, supportive, and well thought out. It was clear from the start that the trainers genuinely wanted us to succeed. They guided us step by step, making sure we understood not just the technical side of driving a bus, but also the responsibility that comes with being behind the wheel.”

Having driven a bus for close to a year now, Asma has truly found her feet. She describes each day as a new opportunity to learn, grow, and meet new people – taking pride in the fact she is helping people from all walks of life get to where they need to be safely and on time.

“What I enjoy most is the people. Over time, I’ve built little connections with regular passengers, and it often feels like a community on wheels.

"WUF has given me the chance to be part of a movement that’s bigger than just driving buses, it’s about breaking barriers, creating opportunities, and showing what women can achieve in an industry historically dominated by men.”

As she continues to progress in her role, Asma is looking forward to more learning, growing, and taking on new challenges. She hopes to one day pass on her knowledge to a new group of Women Up Front trainees, welcoming them into the industry with the same guidance and care she received.

As for other women considering joining the transport sector, she has one piece of advice:

“Go for it! Don’t let doubt hold you back. The Women Up Front program provides strong support at all levels, and you’ll discover skills and confidence you may not have realised you had. With the attitude and the drive to succeed, you can achieve so much.”

Find out more about Women Up Front and register your interest in the next intake opportunity.