Given the rise of women car purchasers worldwide, the female voice is more important than ever. Women, in fact, are the fastest-growing consumer segment in the world and, arguably, the most influential.

It's the time of the year for reflection and learning, and that applies to business dealings.

It's mid-December, so that means it's time to start gearing up for the 2017 Detroit auto show, officially known as the North American International Auto Show or, if that's too much of a mouthful, simply NAIAS.

In the 1980s and 90s, before the SUV became king, there was no shortage of cars with hatchbacks. They were incredibly practical and made it easy to pack all of your stuff into an area much bigger than the traditional car trunk. If you had a bike that needed hauling, they were a necessity.

Technology in general has always fascinated me - I'm always a first adapter. Having to wait a few weeks to get the new iPhone model just about kills me. And I'm definitely a geek when it comes to auto technology.