🎙️ Veronica Dunford and Shasta Haddock Are Changing the Game for Women in Automotive
What’s holding women back in the auto industry—and who’s doing something about it? In this powerful conversation, Shawn Payne sits down with Veronica Dunford, owner of Women in Automotive, and Shasta Haddock, board member and podcast host, to discuss how this organization is breaking barriers, building leadership, and rewriting the narrative for women in dealerships across the country.
Veronica shares how she went from supporter to owner of the Women in Automotive brand and how inclusivity—yes, including men—is part of their strategy for lasting change. Shasta reveals how a literal elevator pitch launched her into leadership and what she’s doing now to run structured, wildly successful regional events. Together, they tackle tough questions about gender, culture, leadership, and the future of the industry.
⏱️ CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:30 History of Women in Automotive
01:30 Veronica’s journey to ownership
02:50 Shasta’s elevator pitch moment
04:45 Why Shasta stopped attending—and what brought her back
06:15 Fixing disorganized events and creating structure
09:25 Veronica’s early sales experience and industry challenges
12:00 Lessons from investment banking and entrepreneurship
14:30 Gender bias in early dealership experiences
15:40 Why hiring women improves compliance and customer experience
17:00 The mental barriers women face in applying for leadership roles
19:00 The perfectionism trap and internal dialogue
21:00 Leadership styles, turnover, and culture
22:45 Gender gaps in ownership and the real numbers
25:30 What's holding women back? The wrong conversations
27:00 Challenging assumptions about work-life balance
29:00 Future-focused solutions and real change
30:30 Three things every dealership can do today
32:00 Mentorship and why inclusion matters
34:00 The backlash against including men—and how Veronica responded
36:00 Expanding reach through partnerships and social media
39:00 Building scholarships and making impact at scale
🔗 More About Our Guest
**Veronica Dunford** is the owner of Women in Automotive and a longtime advocate for empowering women in the industry.
**Shasta Haddock** is a board member of Women in Automotive and co-host of the *Chicks in Charge* podcast, leading initiatives for regional events and leadership development.
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