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
From $198 to $1,000… Why Does Everything Feel So Expensive Right Now?
In 2016, you could lease a vehicle for under $200 a month. Today, that same payment is pushing $1,000. And it’s not just one thing driving it. Inventory is stacking. Tariffs are quietly working their way into costs. Gas prices have jumped fast. And...
Stop Using AI Like This (Start Winning More Deals)
Most dealerships are already using AI in their CRM. But they’re using it to do more of the same thing, faster. More follow-ups. More templates. More “just checking in” emails. And customers can tell. In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership,...
Why Trade-Ins Are Killing Your Deals (And What Dealers Are Missing)
The trade-in process is slowing deals down and costing dealerships opportunities they should be closing. This episode breaks down the math, the friction and what dealers can do to improve the process. Phillip Greer and Daniel...
Old School vs Modern Dealership: What’s Actually Working
Ten years ago, buying a car meant paper, fax machines and waiting around the dealership. Today, customers are doing most of the process before they even walk in. So why are some dealers still operating the same way? In this e...
Are EVs Ready for the Real World Yet?
Are EVs ready for the real world? That depends on who you ask. In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer get into what EV adoption actually looks like from a dealership perspective. Not the headlines,...
The Payment Hierarchy Is Changing. Here’s What Dealers Need to Know.
When money gets tight, consumers are making different choices than many dealers expect. In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership, Danielle Mills Walden and Phillip Greer sit down with Charles Rowe from FICO to unpack how payment behavior is...
About the Hosts
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.
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.
