Hosted by Upstart’s Keishawn Batts and Danielle Mills Walden, this episode of Leadership in the Dealership takes a deep dive into the newly implemented 25% tariff on imported cars and auto parts, effective April 3rd, 2025. Wi...

Hosted by Upstart’s Keishawn Batts and Danielle Mills Walden alongside Don Richards-Boeff, this episode of Leadership in the Dealership dives into the challenge (and opportunity) of attracting and selling to Gen Z car buyers....

Is AI a true game-changer for dealerships, or just another buzzword? As artificial intelligence reshapes industries, automotive retail is no exception. But what does AI really mean for sales, service, and customer engagement ...

Imagine a world where customers are willing to pay almost anything for a product they believe in. What if the key to unlocking that potential was simpler than you thought? The automotive industry may constantly change, but Ni...

NADA 2025 was packed with insights, big ideas, and industry-shaping trends. In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership , Keishawn and Danielle share their biggest takeaways (and most fun stories) from the event. They’ll ...

Are interest rate cuts a game-changer for car buyers? The Fed’s recent decisions have caught everyone’s attention, but are they really making vehicles more affordable? In this episode of Leadership in the Dealership , we dive...

2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for the automotive industry, and we’re diving into the trends that will impact dealerships the most. From tariffs and EV incentives to the rise of AI, we’re unpacking the key challenges...

Last year was a wild ride for the auto industry, and in our first episode together in person, we’re breaking it all down. From outages to new trends in financing, and even Jaguar’s eyebrow-raising rebrand, we’re tackling the ...

How does a legacy dealership stay relevant in a rapidly evolving automotive world? https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenellross/, President of https://www.bobrossauto.com/, shares her powerful story of resilience, innovation, and leadership in the face of...

The auto financing landscape is evolving faster than ever—how can dealerships, lenders, and consumers adapt? In this episode we sit down with Sharla Godbehere , VP of Sales for Auto Lending at Equifax , to unpack the latest t...

Is your dealership prepared for the market’s next big shift? Join Danielle Mills Walden as she welcomes Paul Machin , U.S. and International Director of Strategic Accounts at Black Book , for a deep dive into the data-driven ...

Two of the auto industry’s largest conferences came and went this October – so what’s top of mind for dealers and lenders heading into 2025? In this episode, Keishawn discusses the major takeaways and synergies between dealer...

What does it take to turn a high school job cleaning cars into leading one of the largest auto groups in the U.S.? Sam D’arc , COO of Zeigler Auto Group , shares his personal journey and the company’s recipe for growth and su...

One of the biggest mistakes a dealership can make is viewing consumer preferences as disruptions—especially when it comes to digital retail. This week, host Keishawn Batts speaks with Mike Anderson , President and CEO of The ...

Some say that business is all about winners and losers, but others are imagining a world where everyone wins—from customers to employees to the company. In fact, the most forward-thinking auto dealers are not just imagining t...

The best dealerships don’t aim to sell cars or provide services, but to create relationships with their customers built on trust and transparency. Once that relationship is built and cultivated, the customer will know exactly...

Success isn’t something that’s given—it’s something that’s achieved. But it’s usually achieved only after a series of failures and setbacks that, over time and with resilience, become just one chapter in a person’s success st...

Every automotive tech breakthrough and market innovation brings a consequence that key players—from sales professionals to investors—must be aware of and consider in their decision-making. Steve Greenfield , General Partner a...

When considering new processes, every auto sales leader should ask one question: Does this enable team members to do their best work and provide them with opportunities to effectively meet their customers' needs? This week, h...

The phrase “latest and greatest” is only accurate for so long when it comes to problem-solving in dealerships using new tech and strategies. This week, host Keishawn Batts speaks with Alex Balk, General Manager of North Orlan...

As auto technology evolves, so do the expectations of the auto consumer—and for auto dealers looking to stay current, stagnancy is not an option. This week, host Keishawn Batts speaks with Amira Aly , Founder of VoltAlytics ....

True growth and progress are anything but easy: it almost always involves asking tough questions and being able to access even tougher answers and truths about the way one is currently doing things. Today’s guest, Jen Suzuki ...

This week, host Danielle Mills Walden speaks with https://www.linkedin.com/in/elwirawilczynska/, Director of Sales Training at https://www.dgdg.com/, about the intersection of technology implementation and sales team success. From onboarding new hires...

Growth is about more than profits and expansion — it’s also about how much your leaders at your dealership are investing in employee training, especially how to align training with customer needs and pain points. On today’s e...