“Leaving the industry better than I found it”-Dave Foy
Each week, Dave sits with a panel of guests to discuss the topic of the week. From Coaching for Success to Sales vs. Service, Dave talks to the industry and professional leaders that can bring their insight and knowledge to the viewers.
Our W.E. A.R.E Feature airs on the third Thursday of the month and spotlights Women in Fixed Ops and how they are changing the industry and leading the charge to a better customer experience.
In this conversation, Dave Foy and Coach Joe Clementi explore the real-world mechanics of leadership inside dealerships—what it takes to move beyond titles, buzzwords, and “rah-rah” management toward real influence and growth. Joe, a former dealer leader turned coach, breaks down the evolution of leadership in Fixed Ops: how vulnerability, accountability, and consistency separate managers from leaders. The discussion covers the ripple effects of communication breakdowns, the danger of ego-led management, and the daily grind of setting a tone through example—not emails. Joe emphasizes that culture isn’t declared; it’s observed in how leaders show up when things go wrong. The episode mixes practical wisdom with candid stories from the service drive and leadership trenches, ending with a challenge to every listener: stop managing people and start developing them.
5 Key Takeaways
Leadership is consistency, not charisma. Being steady in words and actions builds trust faster than any motivational speech.
Coaching beats correcting. When leaders only step in after mistakes, they’re managing fear, not performance.
Accountability must flow both ways. A leader who demands it but doesn’t live it erodes credibility.
Your culture lives in the smallest behaviors. Advisors and techs mirror how their leaders react to pressure.
Ego kills team growth. When leaders need to be right more than effective, development stalls.
5 Leadership Insights
Feedback is fuel. Joe reminds that “silence is confusion’s best friend”—clear feedback keeps progress visible.
Emotional control sets the tone. Leaders who lose composure teach chaos; calm is contagious.
Time with your people is the real KPI. Metrics matter, but showing up on the drive says more than reports ever will.
Ownership starts at the top. Leaders who take responsibility for results—good or bad—teach others to do the same.
Legacy leadership is intentional. The best leaders build systems that thrive long after they’re gone.
5 Discussion Prompts
Where does “leadership by example” break down most in our own stores?
What’s one area where we manage performance instead of coaching growth?
How can we teach accountability without using fear or shame?
What would change if our managers’ success was measured by team development, not just profit?
How do we identify and eliminate ego-driven decisions from leadership behavior?
29 Oct 2025
How to Really Reach Dealers Part 1
The episode brings together Dave Foy, Shaun Raines, and Charity Dunning for a candid and often humorous conversation about leadership, innovation, and culture in automotive retail.
They explore what authentic leadership looks like in a post-pandemic industry, how women continue to redefine automotive retail, and why emotionally intelligent workplaces outperform those driven purely by numbers.
Charity steers the dialogue toward empowerment and inclusion, while Dave and Shaun draw from decades of dealership experience to challenge stale operating models and celebrate the human side of Fixed Ops.
5 Key Takeaways
Authenticity outperforms authority — Leaders who admit what they don’t know earn deeper trust.
Empowerment requires structure — Representation matters, but so do mentorship programs and equitable advancement paths.
Psychological safety fuels innovation — Teams speak up when they know their ideas won’t be punished.
AI must serve people, not replace them — Technology amplifies empathy when implemented with intent.
Listening is leadership’s most underused tool — Transformation begins with consistent, open dialogue.
5 Action Items
Hold monthly listening sessions where advisors and techs share uncensored feedback directly with leadership.
Launch cross-department mentorships, pairing women in leadership with new hires to accelerate inclusion.
Evaluate communication tone across management for transparency and consistency.
Schedule quarterly “culture checks” — private, judgment-free discussions modeled after this WE ARE conversation.
Document and publicize small wins that resulted from empathetic leadership decisions.
5 Quotes
“Better than we deserve—that’s how I’d describe it today.” – Shaun Raines
“I like what Russell says: I’m living the great American dream.” – Charity Dunning
“Leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about creating a space where people want to find them with you.” – Dave Foy
“You can’t scale culture through software; you scale it through people who believe in the mission.” – Shaun Raines
“Women aren’t changing automotive—they’re reminding it what humanity looks like.” – Charity Dunning
15 Oct 2025
The Job Search Journey
This episode of WE ARE: Women Empowering Automotive Retail Excellence brought together a group of women leaders from across the industry—including Jessica Smith, Stephanie Wedgeworth, Melissa Marlatt, and Dave Foy—to explore authentic leadership, vulnerability, and growth in a male-dominated space.
Over the course of an hour, the group shared stories of professional setbacks, resilience, and the ongoing challenge of balancing performance with authenticity. From learning to speak up in rooms that once felt intimidating to supporting one another through burnout and self-doubt, the conversation captured what it means to lead with empathy and confidence. The theme that echoed throughout: women in automotive don’t need permission—they need each other.
Five Quotes from the Episode
“I’m in an organization, I’m performing, I’m building a brand, I’m doing all the things of every corporate America book that I’ve read and every mentor that I had. Surely this won’t happen to me again, and I was wrong. And it happened again.” – Jessica Smith
“You don’t have to worry about where yours is gonna come from. And that’s been a big thing, too—I’ve been working with a lot of people that are in the same situation I’m in, and I’m so busy trying to help them.” – Russell
“It doesn’t have to be negative. My question is, was there any feedback? Because feedback isn’t failure—it’s fuel.” – Jessica Smith
“Thank you. I receive that. I appreciate those words.” – Stephanie Wedgeworth
“Special guest Jessica Smith—she’s gonna kick us off, and she’s the perfect person to start this conversation.” – Dave Foy
Five Key Takeaways
Authenticity beats perfection. The most powerful leaders are those who are honest about what they’ve learned the hard way.
Feedback is a gift, not an attack. Growth happens when we stay curious instead of defensive.
Mentorship is everywhere. Real guidance doesn’t require a title—it comes from genuine connection.
Women need visibility and voice. Advocacy matters most when it happens in rooms we’re not in.
Resilience grows through repetition. Confidence is built by continually stepping into discomfort.
Five Actionable Steps for Tomorrow
Reach out to another woman in your network and share genuine encouragement or recognition.
Post or share one failure and what it taught you—to model vulnerability and leadership.
Ask for feedback from a peer or leader this week, then thank them—don’t defend.
Mentor in micro-moments. Offer five minutes of advice, connection, or encouragement to someone starting out.
Track your wins. End each week by writing down three things you accomplished, no matter how small.
Who has been a guest on Fixed Ops Mastermind
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jennifer Cline
David Reinicke
Ted Clouser
Host of Fixed Ops Mastermind?
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