In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, when most people were putting their plans on hold and simply trying to stay afloat, Durdona Mukhiddinova decided to open a driving school. She had no business experience and no guarantees that it would succeed. The only thing she was certain of was that women needed the opportunity to learn how to drive in an environment where they felt comfortable.
I had no experience.
At one point, I thought: what if I tried to create a driving school for women—for those who, like me, value feeling comfortable and safe while learning to drive?
I knew almost nothing about the business and had no idea what challenges and processes I would have to navigate. I had neither experience nor an understanding of how everything worked behind the scenes. There was no business plan and no sense that I had everything under control. What I did have was a strong desire and a feeling that such a driving school was genuinely needed—and that I was willing to give it a try, even without knowing how it would turn out.
What if I tried to do it not for just anyone, but for women—women like me?
Curiosity proved stronger than fear.
I never even considered the possibility that it might not work out. Looking back, I realize that I felt very little fear at the time. What I felt instead was an inner sense that this was the right path for me. It was neither excitement nor confidence, but a calm acceptance of what I was doing.
When I first found myself alone at the Faizabad site, the atmosphere itself was intimidating. I was the only woman in a place where raised voices were considered normal. I hid my tears and focused on doing my job better than anyone else—without complaints, proving myself through actions rather than words.
What Others Say
Before launching the school, I visited an existing driving school. I wanted to observe how things worked and ask for advice. Instead, I heard a phrase I will never forget: “What? You’ll never be able to do that. It will never work out for you.”
About Uncertainty
The hardest part was the lack of stability. Every year brought new requirements and new challenges. The most difficult moment came when all driving schools across the country were shut down in a single day. Your team looks to you for answers, and you realize that, at that moment, there is nothing you can do. It is an incredibly difficult feeling.
Why Giving Up Was Never an Option
I had no idea how much women needed this driving school. Some told me they had been waiting for a school like this for 10 or even 15 years.
One student, in particular, has stayed in my memory. She had dreamed of driving her entire life but always put it off—family, responsibilities, other priorities. When she finally found time for herself, she was diagnosed with a serious illness. Before undergoing surgery, she asked her husband for one thing: if everything went well, she wanted permission to start driving lessons.
That was the moment I realized I had no right to give up. For some women, AutoLady is more than just learning to drive—it is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream.
Moving Forward, Even When You’re Afraid
The fear never disappeared. I kept moving forward on trembling knees, but with unwavering determination. The past few years have been especially challenging for driving schools. Yet realizing that you have managed not only to survive, but to grow and become one of the best, gives you tremendous strength.
Support
My family—my mother, my husband, and my children—became my greatest source of support. I could not have done it without them. Encouragement often came from places I least expected. And over time, the concern of my loved ones gave way to pride.
A Woman in a Male-Dominated Industry
Yes, it is still a predominantly male field. But over time, results began to speak louder than any words. In November, we presented our driving school and development strategy to guests from Turkic countries, who were particularly interested in our experience of teaching women to drive.
Our school was presented as a model example. In 2023, we received the Brand of the Year award. We were also among the first driving schools to resume operations after the nationwide shutdown in 2024.
Personal Transformation
Business has made me stronger, calmer, and more confident. I stopped downplaying my own journey and became less afraid of responsibility. Today, I know for certain that a woman’s strength does not lie in toughness, but in resilience, integrity, and belief in herself. When one door closes in front of me, I look for another way forward.
It is never too late to begin. Fear only fades through experience.
Durdona Mukhiddinova is an entrepreneur, founder of the AutoLady driving school, former mathematics teacher, and mother of three children. The AutoLady project was launched during the pandemic using personal savings and borrowed funds. From the outset, the school was designed exclusively for women, responding to both a cultural need and the lack of a comfortable and safe environment for women learning to drive.
Today, AutoLady continues to grow. Its team has expanded, the school has received the Brand of the Year award, and it was presented by the traffic police as a model driving school for the city.
