Auto Remarketing is recognizing the 2023 Women in Remarketing honorees in the April edition of the magazine and will be posting Q&As with each of these outstanding leaders on the website.

Next up is Emma Weisberg, who is chief marketing officer at EBlock.

What is the top trend you’re watching in remarketing/wholesale automotive this year?

The blending of physical and digital auto auctions. Digital auctions — both simulcast, and digital-only auctions — have been steadily growing and have accelerated significantly in recent years. Physical and digital have their own unique strengths and weaknesses and we are starting to see a rapid acceleration in the blending of the two formats.

A key place where we see the blending of physical and digital is with digital tools. Physical auctions provide digital run lists and buyers use digital tools (search, filter, save, etc.) to pare down the list of vehicles that are interesting to them, even if they are going to walk the lanes at the physical auction. Beyond the digital tools, the beauty of the blend is the centralization and consistency — centralized transport, checkout, and consistent condition reports, PSIs and arbitration for both physical and digital experiences in a single platform.

This creates a buyer experience that is more efficient and valuable, for both digital and physical buying and selling. In order for our customers to meet their customers (the consumer) where and how they transact they are becoming increasingly dependent on offering a competitive digital marketplace throughout the entire vehicle lifecycle, which physical auctions alone can’t solve for.

What do you enjoy the most about the remarketing business, and what would you change?

I enjoy the deep passion and commitment of the community. Colleagues, partners, customers, alike have spent their entire careers in a space that they love and that provides ongoing opportunities to grow and learn because it is such a dynamic space.

I would increase the diversity of the community, which is happening through events and awards like this one, encouraging more people from different backgrounds to get involved.

What piece of career advice would you have for someone new to the industry?

Be open about what you know and what you don’t know. It’s OK to ask questions and expose your lack of knowledge. Curiosity is the most important characteristic that will accelerate your learning. It’s also important to remember that you bring value with your own specialized knowledge and can bring a new perspective.

Describe a time you were either a mentor or a mentee and the value you found in the experience.

The best career advice came from a former manager who was a mentor to me. At a time when I was unhappy in my role he told me very directly, “If you’re unhappy, you can leave.”

At first blush it felt harsh but with time I realized this was the best possible lesson he could have given me because (1) it was true — I didn’t have to sit around being unhappy, I had the power to change that at any time, which is empowering and (2) it taught me that my career is mine to manage. It’s no one else’s responsibility. From there forward I have made more deliberate decisions and always remember that I have choices and agency over my career.