← Dealer Talk With Jen Suzuki7 sep · 42 min

She Mortgaged Her House to Buy a Dealership. Here's What Ivette Built.

She Mortgaged Her House to Buy a Dealership. Here's What Ivette Built.7 sep42 min

Luister in SpotifyWerkt ook in je browser

5 andere apps

What does it take to keep growing when automotive retail is becoming more complex not less?

Ivette Dominguez Drawe began her career selling BMWs. When the opportunity came to become a dealer, she and her husband mortgaged their home, opened credit cards as a backup plan and stepped into ownership during one of the industry's most uncertain periods. Today, their organization employs approximately 700 people, continues to acquire dealerships and remains deeply invested in its employees and communities.

In this episode of Dealer Talk with Jen Suzuki, Ivette shares what she looks for when evaluating an acquisition, why good people matter more than a quick operational overhaul and what leaders underestimate when introducing major technology changes. She also gets candid about changing a DMS and payroll platform within weeks of each other and what the experience revealed about communication, accountability and team buy-in.

We also explore the growing affordability problem, preparing the next generation to enter a family business, the danger of treating technology like a magic bullet and why innovation sometimes requires trusting your instincts before all the proof exists.

But the heart of this conversation is bigger than dealerships. Ivette believes leadership means developing people, recognizing their contributions, celebrating wins and giving back without expecting something in return. Technology can create efficiency, but empathy, accountability, difficult conversations, recognition and community relationships still belong to human beings.

This is a conversation about taking courageous risks, staying open to change and building a business that means something beyond the numbers.

🔥Check out our sponsors!🔥

LotLinx.com is a VIN Management Platform that enables precision automotive retailing via /AI/ technologies that improves dealership profitability.

Matador.ai, AI That Fully Automates Sales & Service Conversations For Dealerships. Want 30-Days FREE? Text me directly so I can make it happen for you today - 954-873-8029! LIMITED TIME!

ZukiTalk.com helps service advisors by making clear, consistent MPI calls that educate customers and increase approvals.