August 19, 2025
From the Sales Floor to the GM’s Chair: Her $1M Kia Journey (And What It Took) | Lauren WIlson Reeves, General Manager of Wilson Kia
Car Dealership Guy PodcastAbout this episode
Today I’m joined by Lauren Wilson Reeves, GM at Wilson Kia. We discuss her path from plastic surgery technician to high-powered GM, the untapped potential of having more women on the sales floor, how her open-door leadership bridges the gap between employees and executives, and more. This episode is brought to you by: 1. Cox Automotive - Omnichannel isn’t a buzzword anymore—it’s the playbook winning dealers are running. In a world where the buyer journey is more fragmented than ever, the most successful dealers are connecting the dots—online, in-store, and everywhere in between. The result? Smoother deals, faster turnarounds, and serious lift at the bottom line. Nearly 80% of omnichannel dealers are seeing higher close rates, and you can too. Want in? The Omnichannel Dealership—a new guide from Cox Automotive—breaks it all down. Click the link in the show notes below to download it now free @ https://www.coxautoinc.com/retail/omnichannel-dealership 2. DLRdmv – Dealers, are you still stuck using outdated interstate titling methods? DLR50 from DLRdmv modernizes out‑of‑state titling by providing 24/7 sales tax, title, and registration fees, pre‑populated state-specific forms, through an online platform that directly integrates with your DMS. CDG listeners get 30 days of free full-service access to DLR50 on unlimited out-of-state deals. Head over to http://www.DLRdmv.com/CDG , use code POD30 to claim your free month today. 3. Nomad Content Studio - Most dealers still fumble social—posting dry inventory pics or handing it off without a plan. Meanwhile, the store down the street is racking up millions of views and selling / buying cars using video. That’s where Nomad Content Studio comes in. We train your own videographer, direct what to shoot, and handle strategy, to posting, to feedback. Want in with the team behind George Saliba, EV Auto, and top auto groups? Book a call at http://www.trynomad.co Check out Car Dealership Guy’s stuff: For dealers: Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Dealership recruiting ➤ http://www.cdgrecruiting.com Fix your dealership’s social media ➤ http://www.trynomad.co Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com For industry vendors: Advertise with Car Dealership Guy ➤ http://www.cdgpartner.com Industry job board ➤ http://jobs.dealershipguy.com Request to be a podcast guest ➤ http://www.cdgguest.com Topics: 00:23 How balance family and business? 01:06 Current business challenges? 01:58 Why enter car business? 05:33 Best turnaround success story? 06:48 Women in auto industry? 12:38 Motherhood and career balance? 15:12 Earning family business respect? 22:17 Advice for women in auto? 26:52 Building positive work culture? Car Dealership Guy Socials: X ➤ x.com/GuyDealership Instagram ➤ instagram.com/cardealershipguy/ TikTok ➤ tiktok.com/@guydealership LinkedIn ➤ linkedin.com/company/cardealershipguy Threads ➤ threads.net/@cardealershipguy Facebook ➤ facebook.com/profile.php?id=100077402857683 Everything else ➤ dealershipguy.com