Car Guy Coffee Podcast Presents #5Liner feat. Stephanie Wedgeworth
About this episode
Stephanie Wedgeworth, Director of Sales Content at RockEd, joins hosts Lou Ramirez and Fred to share her two-decade journey in the automotive industry. From her early days doing experiential marketing for Ford to training dealership staff nationwide for Hyundai, Stephanie has dedicated her career to professional development. She discusses her transition to the micro-learning startup RockEd, where she designs innovative training strategies like AI coaching. Stephanie shares her personal passion for helping others discover their unique strengths, develop their skills, and excel in their careers.
Welcome to The #5Liner, the show dedicated to the individual journeys that power the automotive industry. It's not about the company; it's about the individual, their career, mindset, and personal story. In each episode, we sit down with a high-quality selection of Car Guys and Car Gals to get beyond the title and into the hard earned wisdom they've gained. Join us as we uncover the wins, challenges, and #5Liner takeaways that have shaped today’s top talent.
In this episode of The Car Guy Coffee Podcast, hosts Lou Ramirez and Fred Lennartz welcome Stephanie Wedgeworth for a “5-Liner” conversation about her two-decade automotive career and her impact through training and leadership. Stephanie shares how she entered the industry through Ford experiential marketing and auto shows, then pivoted to nationwide in-dealership training with Hyundai before joining the RockED startup, where she became Director of Sales Content and helps build micro-learning strategies, AI coach tools, role plays, and certification programs. She explains her “why” as helping people grow, highlights the importance of mentors and sponsors, and recounts how an early mentor rebuilt her confidence.
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Stephanie Wedgeworth
"So help us to make welcome the one. The only step in the way. Oh my gosh, I'm so excited to be here."
A successful automotive industry leader who trains car salespeople and helps women of color succeed in the car business.
An automotive industry professional, Director of Sales Content at RockEd, and Event Chair for the Women of Color Automotive Network (WOCAN). She has over two decades of experience in experiential marketing, dealership training, and content creation.
Ford Motor Company
"And I started with Ford Motor Company, doing experiential marketing for them."
One of the most famous American car companies, started by Henry Ford, which made cars affordable to the general public by inventing the assembly line.
One of the world's oldest and largest automakers, founded by Henry Ford in 1903. They pioneered the moving assembly line and mass vehicle production, shaping the modern global automotive industry.
experiential marketing
"And I started with Ford Motor Company, doing experiential marketing for them. I sold cars from the Auto Show floor."
A way of advertising where companies let you touch, feel, and try out their products in person, like letting you test drive a new car at a festival.
A marketing strategy that directly engages consumers and invites them to experience a brand or product in a physical, interactive environment, such as auto shows or test-drive events.
ride and drive
"Ford was a pioneer in making sure that the people that were on the Auto Show floor, people who did their ride and drives and their launches were certified product specialists..."
A special event where people get to test drive new cars to see how they feel and work.
An automotive marketing event where potential buyers, dealers, or media are invited to test drive vehicles in a controlled environment to experience their performance and features firsthand.
product specialist
"...people who did their ride and drives and their launches were certified product specialists, which meant you had to go through a very rigorous program of training and testing..."
A car expert at an auto show whose job is to explain how a car works and answer your questions, rather than try to sell it to you right there.
A trained representative at auto shows or dealership events who is an expert on a vehicle's features, technology, and specifications, focusing on educating consumers rather than directly closing a sale.
Hyundai Motor Company
"I wanted to do in dealership training. So I pivoted and started working for Hyundai."
A major car company from South Korea known for making reliable, tech-filled cars with great warranties.
A South Korean multinational automotive manufacturer founded in 1967. Known for rapid quality improvements and aggressive warranty programs, it has grown into one of the largest vehicle producers globally.
RockEd
"So from there, my former boss found me on LinkedIn and she wanted me to be talent for this startup called Rocket."
A phone app that helps car dealership employees learn how to do their jobs better through short, easy-to-watch videos.
A mobile-first micro-learning platform tailored for the automotive industry, providing bite-sized training videos and AI-driven roleplay tools for dealership staff.
Ford F-150 Harley-Davidson Edition
"I'll never forget it was a black F-150 Harley Davidson and I was terrified to talk about this vehicle because there was so much to talk about."
A fancy version of the Ford F-150 pickup truck made to look like a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, with special paint, wheels, and leather seats.
A special edition of Ford's best-selling full-size pickup truck, created in collaboration with Harley-Davidson. It featured distinct styling cues, custom leather interior, and often supercharged engines, bridging the gap between truck utility and motorcycle culture.
Women of Color Automotive Network
"Oh, my greatest reward is being the event chair of Wokan, women of color automotive network."
An organization that helps women of color succeed, find jobs, and get promoted in the car industry.
A professional organization (often abbreviated as WOCAN) dedicated to attracting, retaining, and advancing women of color in the automotive industry through connection, mentorship, and advocacy.
National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers
"I'm proud that I'm part of that organization and I'm proud to see us moving into our fifth year and preparing for annual events that's coming up at NAMAD."
A group that helps minorities own and run car dealerships and get better jobs in the auto industry.
An organization (abbreviated as NAMAD) dedicated to increasing the presence of minority-owned dealerships in the automotive retail sector and advocating for workplace diversity.
Fontainebleau Miami Beach
"It is our fifth year and we have a new space in the fountain blue. They've expanded and renovations."
A famous, upscale hotel in Miami where many big car business meetings and events are held.
A historic luxury hotel in Miami Beach, Florida, frequently used as a venue for major automotive conferences, dealer meetings, and industry events.
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