If you’ve ever felt like you’re “shouting into a void” on LinkedIn…
or networking feels weird…
or Fixed Ops is suddenly everyone’s favorite topic (even though it’s been the profit engine the whole time)…

This episode is for you.

In our latest PartsEdge Podcast conversation, Kaylee Felio sits down with Gretchen Seidel for a real, fast-moving, laugh-out-loud discussion about influence vs. impact, building meaningful industry relationships, and what’s happening at NADA 2026—especially the Women Driving Vehicle Retail event (yes, there’s bacon).

And somewhere in the middle, we also talk about… K-pop Demon Hunters. Because of course we do.

The old you asked for this… and that changes everything

Early in the episode, Gretchen shares a line her boss showed her that stopped her in her tracks:

Your biggest problems are often a direct result of what the “old you” asked for.

That idea kicked off a deeper conversation about career growth—not just climbing a ladder, but becoming the version of yourself who can actually create change. Gretchen talks about what it means to be in a role where you finally have both influence and impact… and what you do with that when you get it.

Because for her, the point isn’t the title.

It’s what you can reach back and unlock for other people behind you.

Impact vs. Influence: the difference nobody teaches you

Gretchen breaks down something a lot of professionals feel but don’t have language for:

• Early in your career, you can make an impact, but you often need someone else’s influence to help it happen.

• Later, you might gain influence—but still not feel like you’re creating the impact you want.

• The real shift happens when you have both, and you start using them intentionally.

She shares how she entered the industry as a title clerk more than 30 years ago and worked her way through dealership roles, then spent nearly a decade at an OEM in Fixed Ops. That combination gave her something powerful: credibility that comes from understanding what it’s like to actually be “boots on the ground.”

Standing on a service drive.
Seeing the pile-up at 6:30 a.m.
Feeling the pressure and chaos that comes with real dealership life.

That’s where influence becomes earned—not claimed.

Networking it can feel weird

One of the best parts of this episode is how honest the conversation gets about “the ask.”

Gretchen and Kaylee talk about how networking can feel uncomfortable because you don’t want it to look like:

“I’m only talking to you because I need something.”

But Gretchen flips the perspective: introductions aren’t manipulation. If you believe in someone, their work, and their integrity, connecting them to the right people is how industries move forward.

Sometimes the best version of networking is simply:

• “Who should I know?”

• “What are you working on right now?”

• “Who can I introduce you to that would actually help?”

And Kaylee nails something most people don’t admit out loud: sometimes you don’t even know what someone can do for you—until they offer a specific way to help.

Gretchen’s “nerdy thing” is Legos… and it’s actually brilliant

Gretchen shares her favorite “nerdy” detail: she builds Legos—specifically cars (Technic builds and brick builds). But it’s not just a hobby. She uses it as a way to spark interest in automotive careers earlier—especially in middle school.

Her point is simple and powerful:

If we wait until high school graduation to talk about the trades, we’re too late.

Using Legos to show how engines, drivetrains, and systems work creates a “hands-on hook” that makes automotive feel accessible—especially for young people who don’t realize how many paths exist in this industry.

NADA 2026: Women Driving Vehicle Retail (and yes, men can attend)

This episode is also a full hype-up for the Women Driving Vehicle Retail event at NADA 2026, and Gretchen makes it clear: this isn’t a “here’s my card” networking session.

It’s designed to create real connection, real conversation, and real community.

Event highlights mentioned in the episode:

• Date/Time: Tuesday, February 3 (8:30–11:30 a.m.)

• Panel theme: Impact + Influence (Kaylee is on the panel)

• Networking activity: structured and intentional (not awkward small talk)

• Keynote speaker: Lindsay Shookus (SNL producer, and co-founder of “Women Work F***ing Hard”)

• And yes… there’s bacon.

Gretchen also calls out something that shouldn’t be revolutionary but still is: men are welcome—and encouraged—to attend. The goal is progress, not exclusion.

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