Managing Partner, Fiat of Austin – Austin, TX
One of the most respected faces in automotive sales, Lisa Copeland is a dedicated pioneer in the field of automotive marketing and management with over 20 years of proven success. As a member of the National Chrysler Dealer Council, she now represents the North American pulse of the Italian brand Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino which was founded in 1899 and is popularly known as FIAT.
Named one of the Five Most Powerful Women in Austin by the Austin Business Journal in 2012, and recognized for her innovative marketing techniques, Copeland continually raises the bar on North American FIAT sales by developing processes and systems designed to strategically increase sales growth and revenue.
As the Managing Partner of FIAT of Austin, the number FIAT retailer in NAFTA since the brand’s return to North America, Copeland was also recently honored by Chrysler Group Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne for record-breaking FIAT 500 sales. This was truly a defining moment in her automotive career. Under her management, FIAT of Austin became the first FIAT studio in North America to sell 100 FIAT 500’s in a single month.
The achievement, which began with a wager she made with then FIAT CEO Tim Kuniskis in April of 2012, promised Copeland she’d be introduced to the celebrity of her choice if she could sell 100 FIAT 500’s in one month. Beating the goal by ten, Copeland earned record sales and cashed in on the deal by asking to be introduced to Marchionne. And the rest, as they say, is history. When congratulating Copeland in person, Marchionne said of her renowned sales and leadership, “Lisa is also an incredible salesperson herself, an excellent manager and a dynamic leader, and what she and her team have achieved here at the FIAT of Austin store is unprecedented.”
Co-author of New York Times best seller “Succeeding Against All Odds,” a book described as the ‘Chicken Soup for the Soul’ for entrepreneurs, Copeland share the story of “The Bet.” “The real premise of the story was not about record breaking sales,” said Copeland. “It was more about the fact that women in life and in business are often afraid and intimidated to ask for what they truly want or deserve. Therefore, by sharing my story, I believe women will be encouraged to ‘lean in’ and go for what they truly deserve.”
With extensive knowledge of acquiring, training and retaining diverse candidates Copeland earned FIAT of Austin recognition as #6 Best workplace in North America by Automotive News in 2013. Positioned as an expert in sales and management, her success story has been featured in prominent publications including the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, Marie Claire and Automotive News.
Copeland is also the co-founder of Women Impacting the Nation and The Project 19 Foundation, non-profit organizations that are dedicated to advancing leadership roles for women. In 2012, she was named “Women of Distinction” by the Girl Scouts of Central Texas, and as the creator of BuyingCarsHerWay.com, she empowers women as consumers by offering inside information to female consumers.
*All biographical information is only current up to the date of the award.
