“Never stop learning,” Tracy Cassady from Penske Automotive Group

Meet Tracy Cassady, Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer at Penske Automotive Group, where she uses her 27+ years of experience in marketing and communication to lead the development and execution of marketing strategies from automotive to aerospace. Tracy was recognized by Automotive News in 2020 as one of the Top 100 Leading Women in the North American Automotive Industry. She is passionate about empowering others, both inside and outside of work.

For the past 10 years, she has led the company's charitable partnership with the Paralyzed Veterans of America. Additionally, she dedicates her time to personal mentoring and volunteering with the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED). When she's not busy helping others, Tracy enjoys spending quality time with her husband and son.

Tracy sat down with Jocelyn Hudak, Senior Director, Content and Digital Marketing, at the Automotive News Leading Women conference in Detroit, where she spoke about staying open to opportunities, taking care of yourself, and the urge to never stop learning. Check out her full interview below and some of our favorite highlights from the conversation.

Continue to educate yourself.

Highlight: “Always educate yourself, because one day if you have a seat at the table, you need to have a voice. That can be a difficult thing. Find a mentor, and an advocate. Find a support system to help guide and shepherd you through your experiences. I believe that young professionals will have an easier time than I did 30 years ago, and even now.” - Tracy Cassady

Be open minded.

Highlight: “Be open to opportunities and willing to continue educating yourself. Always be open to learning because things constantly change. Be open minded and get out of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid of change.” - Tracy Cassady

Take care of yourself.

Highlight: “I realized I couldn't be everything to everyone at all times. A wellness coach taught me if you're not taking care of yourself, how can you take care of others? I'm not perfecting this daily, and I still work around the clock, but I often take a step back for me, and it's saved me. It's made me a better person. It's made me a better friend, a better mom, a better wife, and definitely a better leader.” - Tracy Cassady

Empower others.

Highlight: “Empowering others is my superpower. I am definitely not a micromanager. So, I empower my team. I might be steering the ship, but it's not my individual contribution that leads to our success. I leverage my strengths to bring out the best in my team and drive success. ” - Tracy Cassady

Like Tracy, we are always learning and staying open minded, especially when it benefits others. For more inspirational content like this, check out our Pass The Mic page.