Leadership in the Dealership
Welcome to Leadership in the Dealership, an Upstart podcast where automotive innovation meets real-world insight. Each episode helps dealers elevate both the customer and employee experience by learning from the industry’s top leaders. Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer explore the strategies, stories and trends shaping the future of automotive retail, from technology and training to transparency and trust.
Recent Episodes
Why Car Loans Are Stretching Further Than Ever
Car loans are getting longer, but what is really driving the trend? In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, hosts Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer talk with Evan Driscoll, used car manager at Audi Jacksonville, about how rising...
Why This EV Owner Is DONE With Electric Cars
In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer unpack what happens when automotive dreams turn into customer service nightmares. From the absurd reality of one tool in the entire coun...
5 Things Most People Don’t Know About Car Dealerships
In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, hosts Danielle Mills Walden and Philip Greer pull back the curtain on one of the industry’s biggest misconceptions: where dealerships actually make their money. From the unsung...
Why Car Buyers Are About to Pay a Lot More
In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, hosts Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer dive into the hot topic of rising dealer fees, sparked by California’s proposed increase from $85 to $500. They explore how this c...
Inside the Biggest Dealer Event of the Year: NAMAD
From jaw-dropping showroom floor moments to the most talked-about panels, Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer deliver the ultimate recap of NAMAD 2025. This year’s convention broke records in Las Vegas with more than 1,20...
What No One Tells You About Selling Used EVs
In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, host Phillip Greer sits down with John Foley to explore how John launched Recharged, an electric vehicle dealership redefining what it means to serve today’s EV buyer. With ove...
About the Hosts
Danielle Mills Walden
Head of Ops for Auto
Danielle is a former pro tennis player turned brand expert, author, and keynote speaker. She’s spent a decade leading high-impact CS and Ops teams across 1,000+ dealerships, building the playbooks and systems that power growth and retention. Known for her clarity, energy, and people-first leadership, she helps teams and brands unlock their next level. She brings a unique blend of competitive grit and strategic focus to every room she walks into.
Phillip Greer
Manager, Dealer Success and Launch Operations
Phillip is a people-first post-sales leader with a decade of experience in Customer Success, training enablement, and operational growth. He’s supported 700+ rooftops, led 1,200+ trainings, and launched 65+ product deployments, all while strengthening workflows and empowering teams. Known for his calm clarity and operational rigor, he builds scalable programs, drives adoption and retention, and helps organizations perform at their best.