Matador Spotlight: Shaun Yates
At Matador, our people are what power the platform. From innovation and client success to technology and leadership, every person plays a vital role in shaping the future of how dealerships connect and communicate.
Today, we’re spotlighting Shaun Yates, Senior GTM Solutions Engineer, Strategic Accounts, whose ability to bridge dealership operations with the right technology helps stores create more conversations, more appointments, and better customer experiences at scale.
Q: Tell us about your role at Matador.
At Matador, I work closely with dealership teams to understand how they operate, where opportunities are being missed, and how our platform can help create more conversations, more appointments, and a better customer experience. A big part of my role is helping dealer groups connect the dots between their process and the right Matador solution, whether that is Sales AI, Chat AI, Call AI, automations, or reporting. I also spend a lot of time on discovery, demos, strategy, and helping stores build a rollout plan that actually works in the real world.
Q: What excites you most about working in automotive AI technology?
What excites me most is that Matador can make a real difference fast, not just for dealerships, but for their customers too. In automotive, speed matters, consistency matters, and customer experience matters. People want answers quickly. They want a smooth process. They do not want to wait hours for a response or feel forgotten once they submit a lead or ask a question. Our platform helps dealerships respond faster, follow up more consistently, and stay engaged even when the team gets busy. That creates a better experience for the customer and better results for the store. I like that we are not just adding another tool. We are helping create better coverage, more control, and a cleaner experience for everyone involved.
Q: Can you share a memorable moment or proud achievement since joining Matador?
One of the proudest parts of being at Matador has been seeing dealerships realize that this is not about replacing people, it is about helping them do their job better. I have always believed sales is about helping people, building real connections, and creating trust. That is what I love most about what we do. Some of the best moments are when a dealer sees how many conversations were saved, how many missed opportunities were recovered, and how much smoother the experience can be for both the team and the customer. Helping a store move from frustration and inconsistency to something cleaner, faster, and more effective has been really rewarding.
Q: How does Matador’s culture influence your daily work experience?
Matador has a culture that pushes people to think, move fast, and care about outcomes. There is a real focus on solving problems, not just talking about them. I like that the team is always building, improving, and looking for ways to make the platform better for dealerships. It creates an environment where you stay sharp, stay honest, and stay focused on what actually helps the customer.
Q: What’s your favorite feature of the Matador platform, and why?
One of my favorite parts of the platform is Superhuman AI because it is built to feel like a real extension of the dealership. It is designed to sound like them, help like them, and support their customers in a way that feels natural and on-brand. It gives stores better coverage, faster response times, and more consistency, without taking away the human side of the business. I like that it helps dealerships stay true to who they are while creating a better, smoother experience for the customer.
Q: Outside of work, what passions or hobbies energize you?
Outside of work, my family is a big part of what keeps me grounded and energized. I love spending time with them, making memories, getting away when we can, and just being present. I also love sports, especially football, and I care a lot about personal growth, faith, and helping people. A big part of what energizes me is connection, serving others, and continuing to grow into a better man in every area of life.
Q: Fun fact about you?
A fun fact about me is that I started my first business when I was 10 years old with a snow-shoveling company. I was going door to door, offering to help, talking to people, and trying to earn work any way I could. When I look back now, it makes perfect sense, because hard work, helping people, and building real connections has always just been part of me. I have always loved the idea of creating something through effort, trust, and showing up for people.
Shaun’s ability to connect strategy with execution, combined with his passion for helping dealerships improve performance and customer experience, makes him a key part of the Matador team. His work reflects what Matador stands for: smarter automation, stronger conversations, and results that show up where it matters.
Stay tuned for more Matador Spotlights!
