Women Making A Difference: Sabrina Percher
- AWOS Technologies: Driving Innovation in Vehicle Safety
"Our technology is just the beginning. There's much more we can do to enhance vehicle safety in emergency situations.” - Sabrina Percher, COO @ AWOS Technologies.
Sabrina Percher is driven by her passion to make people safer in their vehicles. As the Chief Operating Officer of AWOS Technologies, Percher is at the forefront of a mission to change the way drivers, automakers, regulators and insurance providers perceive and address the risks posed by vehicle submersion, whether in a flash flood or the result of a crash into a body of water.
“Modern vehicles trap drivers and passengers caught in accidents involving water and there is nothing being done about this,” says Percher. “Most people are unaware that unless they exit in the first minute of submersion they will be trapped and drown. We believe people need assistance in such emergencies and we are here to equip your car with the technology to assist drivers with life-saving exit assistance in a submersion.”
Percher's journey into the world of automotive safety technology was deeply personal. Working in Saudi Arabia, she witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of flash floods on unprepared and unsuspecting drivers, including her husband who survived one such incident.
AWOS became a family affair after one incident involving Trey Kidwell, a 17-year-old who died in a vehicle submersion, left an indelible mark on her father, Michael. He came up with the technical solution and teamed up with his son Shawn Percher, her husband Aram Amassian and others to work with Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht, a Canadian submersion expert, to develop the system.
Meet more Women Making A Difference - Grace Quan and Rebecca Goldsack.
For Percher, assuming the role of COO was more than just a career move; it was a calling born out of a desire to leverage technology for societal well-being. At AWOS Technologies, her leadership has been instrumental in driving forward business development and sale initiatives of their innovative solution to vehicle submersion: a technology that detects submersion, automatically lowers windows within seconds, and calls emergency services for help. This groundbreaking system saves lives by providing a vital lifeline in critical situations, automating a response where every second is crucial.
However, navigating the complex landscape of automotive safety technology has presented its share of challenges, Percher notes. "People often underestimate the danger of vehicle submersion until they've experienced it themselves," she explains. One example is laminate side windows which are mandated in all new vehicles in the U.S. since 2020, but cannot be broken using manual tools like hammers or centre punches. Undeterred, Percher and her team have been relentless, collaborating with government bodies, safety organizations, public safety, and automotive industry stakeholders
"Our technology is just the beginning," she says. "There's much more we can do to enhance vehicle safety in emergency situations.”
Author - Mariam Ibrahim
Mariam Ibrahim is a writer, editor and communications professional currently based in Seoul. She currently serves as Managing Editor of Disruption.
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