Leading From Eye Level with Kielan Whitner

In this ASOTU CON 2025 session, Paul J Daly sits down with Kielan Whitner of Townsend Nissan to explore what it really means to lead from "eye level." A former Syracuse football player and public accountant, Kielan breaks down how he transitioned into the auto industry and climbed the ranks to General Manager in just seven years. His approach? Lead with empathy, be accessible, and create a dealership culture where personal connection drives professional performance.

Kielan shares his philosophy on how culture isn't just set at the top—it must be enforced and nurtured in the middle. He unpacks the principles behind his now-viral stance on negativity (hint: you go home), why starting in service gave him a unique leadership edge, and how transparent career paths like the one he experienced at Greenway Automotive can help attract and retain next-gen talent. If you're looking for leadership lessons grounded in experience, humility, and action, this one’s for you.

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⏱️ Timestamped Takeaways

0:00 Intro

0:36 Kielan shares his Syracuse roots and sports background

1:53 Social media helps sharpen his leadership ideas

2:22 “Leading from eye level” means starting with human connection

3:27 Greenway’s MIT program helped shape his leadership journey

5:09 He compared finance vs auto retail—and chose speed, income, fun

6:28 Writing service first gave him deep appreciation for fixed ops

7:43 Negativity sends you home—no exceptions

8:16 Culture enforcement is consistent and contagious

9:04 Kielan reflects on leadership lessons from sports and life