In this episode, Tim sits down with Danny Zaslavsky to explore personal resilience, leadership, and innovation in the automotive world. From growing up as a Ukrainian immigrant to building a tech-driven dealership and co-founding VINCUE, Danny shares how purpose and culture have guided his journey.
Connect with Danny on LinkedIn.
[00:00–01:03] Welcome Danny
Tim introduces Danny Zaslavsky, founder of VINCUE, setting the stage for a conversation on leadership, innovation, and growth in automotive.
[01:04–02:27] VINCUE’s Rise
Danny’s presence at industry events like NADA is highlighted, leading to a deeper dive into his personal story and the birth of VINCUE.
[02:27–04:13] Early Lessons
Danny recounts growing up in Kansas City, learning English, and being raised in a close family.
[04:13–06:07] Entering the Business
His dad moved from shoe repair to car sales, and by 14, Danny was selling cars, discovering a love for business and technology.
[06:07–07:49] Early Innovation
Danny recalls how a young tech whiz built them software that evolved into VinSolutions—an early moment that shaped his future.
[07:49–12:03] Scaling Challenges
After his father’s stroke, Danny had to take over. This challenge became the spark that led to VINCUE’s formation.
[12:03–14:08] Turning Loss into Leadership
Personal loss deepened Danny’s drive to build something meaningful, turning pain into purpose.
[14:08–15:28] Vision and Innovation
He reflects on how adversity fuels innovation and the importance of surrounding yourself with people who share your vision.
[15:28–18:25] Traits of Success
Tim and Danny discuss how top dealer groups lead with humility, consistency, and servant leadership.
[18:25–20:33] CarNow x VINCUE
They explain why VINCUE and CarNow partnered: to simplify workflows and better align with today’s connected consumer journey.
[20:33–22:08] Reducing Overload
The two reflect on how the integration aims to streamline the experience for both staff and shoppers.
[22:08–24:15] Removing Ego
Danny shares how VINCUE delivers consistent, data-backed appraisals, eliminating guesswork and ego.
[24:15–26:24] Leveraging AI
VINCUE’s platform adapts to each dealership’s market strengths, using machine learning to optimize pricing and inventory flow.
[26:24–30:11] Aligning for Growth
Danny emphasizes the power of aligning service and sales, helping customers while improving internal dealership collaboration.
[30:11–31:56] Staying Innovative
Danny shares how staying hands-on keeps him innovative, crediting Tim’s leadership as inspiration.
[31:56–33:19] Closing Thoughts
The episode ends with a message of gratitude and resilience, reminding us that we get better together, one day at a time.
