For three decades, Shanti Gooljar has taught New Yorkers how to drive with a style that's equal parts tough love, humor, and total confidence. Empire State Driving School owner Shanti Gooljar gives Yahoo Finance's Brooke DiPalma a taste of what it's like to be one of her students. Shanti discusses building one of New York City's most sought-after driving schools, charging roughly $100 to $150 an hour for lessons, running a business almost entirely through word of mouth, and why she says 99% of her students pass their driving tests. Shanti also explains why she refuses to negotiate on price, how getting fired from other driving schools ultimately pushed her to start her own business, and why she believes nobody else can teach quite like she does. Shanti is featured in the short film "Shanti Rides Shotgun," selected as a finalist after Yahoo Media Group and The Nonfiction Hotlist partnered to recognize 20 standout short films. Watch "Shanti Rides Shotgun" on Yahoo's Nonfiction Hotlist. 👉 https://youtu.be/whkG9UEqQlY?si=8x5ojO9PQJcihM8q Timestamps 00:00 Brooke gets a driving lesson from Shanti 00:30 How Shanti built her reputation 01:04 Why Shanti refuses to negotiate 01:40 What a driving lesson costs 02:08 How much Shanti can make in a day 02:49 Shanti's early-morning schedule 03:09 Her 99% driving-test pass rate 03:29 Why Shanti doesn't advertise 04:00 "There is no next Shanti" 04:10 Why Shanti started her own driving school #ShantiRidesShotgun #DrivingSchool #NYC #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #DrivingLessons #NonfictionHotlist #YahooFinance