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.