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Digital Dealer Spotlight Interview
A Career Built from the Ground Up
Lauren Donalson, recently promoted to CEO of PureCars, has spent over a decade growing with the company—and now is one of the youngest female CEOs in the automotive marketing space. Reflecting on her early experiences in her family’s dealership, she says, “I absolutely appreciate that my father and the team at the stores treated me the same way any entry-level employee would be treated. It inspired me to learn new skills with tenacity, prioritize quality work, and take pride in the value of my contributions to our stores’ successes.”
Leadership Style and Culture
Donalson emphasizes empathy, authenticity, and high expectations in her leadership. “I would never ask my team to do something I would not do myself…you better believe I will push the team to challenge the norm, set a stretch goal, and then build + execute a plan to beat it.” She fosters a culture centered on impact, trust, and growth: “Change is inevitable – evolution is healthy – growth is fun! Fail fast, pivot, and pursue the win on behalf of the customer.”
Innovation and Data-Driven Marketing
Looking ahead, Donalson sees PureCars helping dealerships navigate complex media and privacy landscapes through data-driven marketing. “We have invested heavily in data hygiene and audience management, which is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘need to have’ in every dealer and manufacturer’s customer acquisition + retention strategy.” Innovations like PureCars’ Conversational AI Agent improve efficiency and responsiveness: “Have a lead source that’s high quality / low quality? Let the agent handle it. Want to ensure leads are responded to 24/7? Let the agent handle it!”
Advice for Dealerships
Donalson stresses the importance of treating customers well: “Shoppers want to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars with you: make it easy! Embrace transparency, employ time-saving practices, and deploy marketing campaigns that are 1:1 tailored to the consumer.”
Looking Ahead
With a people-first approach, a focus on innovation, and a deep understanding of dealership operations, Donalson is guiding PureCars into 2026 and beyond, shaping the future of automotive marketing.
Read the full interview on DigitalDealer.com here.
Book a meeting with us
Digital Dealer Spotlight Interview
A Career Built from the Ground Up
Lauren Donalson, recently promoted to CEO of PureCars, has spent over a decade growing with the company—and now is one of the youngest female CEOs in the automotive marketing space. Reflecting on her early experiences in her family’s dealership, she says, “I absolutely appreciate that my father and the team at the stores treated me the same way any entry-level employee would be treated. It inspired me to learn new skills with tenacity, prioritize quality work, and take pride in the value of my contributions to our stores’ successes.”
Leadership Style and Culture
Donalson emphasizes empathy, authenticity, and high expectations in her leadership. “I would never ask my team to do something I would not do myself…you better believe I will push the team to challenge the norm, set a stretch goal, and then build + execute a plan to beat it.” She fosters a culture centered on impact, trust, and growth: “Change is inevitable – evolution is healthy – growth is fun! Fail fast, pivot, and pursue the win on behalf of the customer.”
Innovation and Data-Driven Marketing
Looking ahead, Donalson sees PureCars helping dealerships navigate complex media and privacy landscapes through data-driven marketing. “We have invested heavily in data hygiene and audience management, which is no longer a ‘nice to have’ but a ‘need to have’ in every dealer and manufacturer’s customer acquisition + retention strategy.” Innovations like PureCars’ Conversational AI Agent improve efficiency and responsiveness: “Have a lead source that’s high quality / low quality? Let the agent handle it. Want to ensure leads are responded to 24/7? Let the agent handle it!”
Advice for Dealerships
Donalson stresses the importance of treating customers well: “Shoppers want to spend thousands upon thousands of dollars with you: make it easy! Embrace transparency, employ time-saving practices, and deploy marketing campaigns that are 1:1 tailored to the consumer.”
Looking Ahead
With a people-first approach, a focus on innovation, and a deep understanding of dealership operations, Donalson is guiding PureCars into 2026 and beyond, shaping the future of automotive marketing.
Read the full interview on DigitalDealer.com here.
Book a meeting with us
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