Name: Lee Ann Mangels
Age: 36
Job Title: Senior Director, Program Management
Company: Clyde
Years in the Industry: 18
Education: N/A
Dealerscope’s 40 Under 40 Honoree 2021
Describe your current role.
My mission at Clyde is to provide our team and merchant partners with the necessary industry guidance to develop successful protection plan programs. I’m focused on determining the best solutions possible for each unique merchant’s product line, seeking new programs and partners to help expand Clyde’s scope and reach.
What do you like best about your job?
There are new challenges every day in a company growing as quickly as Clyde. I enjoy leveraging my experience to help grow the team’s knowledge of the industry and provide our merchant base with a program that will drive customer loyalty and satisfaction. Learning from one of the most well-versed teams which I have been a part of has provided me with both professional and personal growth.
What technology are you most excited about at the moment?
While there are many new and exciting technologies out there, I believe Artificial Intelligence (AI) shows some of the greatest potential for our industry. AI is currently being used to improve everything from customer acquisition/service and product recommendations to sales forecasts and risk management. It’s providing valuable insights, especially for eCommerce operations, using the vast amount of data generated every day. I’m excited about the potential of AI to push the boundaries of data analysis and increase operational efficiencies.
What career advice would you give to people just getting started in the CE or technology industry?
Know your products, know your customers and understand the value of both. This will allow you to recommend solutions with confidence and become a trusted partner throughout your career. Focus on continuously building your network and maintaining relationships through valuable interactions that are mutually beneficial.
What, in your opinion, is necessary for the CE/technology industry to thrive in the next five years?
I believe every company that wants to thrive in the future of this industry will need to embrace emerging technologies, especially those revolving around data analytics. There is a saying that data is the new oil, and companies that don’t utilize their data will have trouble competing. Data insights can be obtained from every level of an organization, both client and internal facing. Making data and tools accessible to non-technical business users will also be a key to success. Companies such as Tableau with their Business Science initiative and Microsoft with their OpenAI GPT-3 rollout are great examples of those enabling the move in this direction.
