Building a Career Around People

Dragos Teodor has built his career in the automotive industry around a straightforward philosophy: people come first.

While sales performance and business results are important, Dragos believes lasting success is built through trust, honest communication, and meaningful relationships. Whether he is working with a customer making an important purchase or helping a member of his team develop professionally, he approaches leadership with the same goal—to understand the person in front of him and help create a positive path forward.

“For me, success is living a life that includes satisfying work and fulfilling personal relationships with my wife and two boys.”

From Romania to Georgia

Dragos was born in Romania and moved to the United States with his family when he was eleven years old. Growing up in Georgia required him to adapt to a new environment and taught him the importance of resilience, consistency, and hard work—qualities that would later become central to his professional life.

After graduating from Jackson County High School, Dragos attended Georgia Gwinnett College, where he studied business and finance. He earned his Bachelor of Business Administration with a concentration in Finance and graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2019.

His education gave him a strong foundation in business, but it also reinforced something equally important: meaningful progress comes from setting goals, creating a plan, and consistently following through.

A Career in the Automotive Industry

After college, Dragos began his automotive career as a Finance Manager at Mall of Georgia Ford. The position introduced him to the financial side of vehicle purchases, but it also gave him a firsthand understanding of how personal those purchases can be.

Every customer arrived for a different reason. Some were buying their first vehicle after starting a new job. Others needed more space for a growing family, were replacing a vehicle unexpectedly, or were finally purchasing something they had worked toward for years.

Those experiences taught Dragos that customers may forget the details of the paperwork, but they remember how they were treated. That perspective continues to influence his approach today, with an emphasis on making sure customers understand their options, feel respected, and are comfortable with their decisions.

Growing Into Leadership

In 2022, Dragos was promoted to Sales Manager at Mall of Georgia Ford. Three years later, he joined Akins Ford CDJR as Sales Manager, bringing together his experience in finance, customer service, and automotive sales leadership.

Moving into management also changed the way he viewed professional success.

Rather than focusing primarily on his own performance, Dragos became increasingly invested in helping the people around him improve. He believes strong leadership means recognizing that every employee has different strengths, experiences, and ways of learning. As a result, effective coaching cannot always follow the same formula.

His leadership style emphasizes patience, honest feedback, a strong work ethic, and consistent coaching. He works to create an environment where team members can ask questions, build confidence, and continue developing their skills.

Creating a Better Customer Experience

Dragos brings that same people-first mindset to the customer experience.

He believes understanding why someone needs a vehicle is often just as important as understanding which vehicle they want. A customer preparing for a growing family has different priorities than someone purchasing a work truck or replacing a vehicle after an accident. Listening to those circumstances allows the conversation to become more personal and ultimately more productive.

As Dragos puts it, “Buying a vehicle should feel like a partnership, not a transaction.”

That philosophy reflects the larger approach he brings to his career: listen first, communicate honestly, and build trust over time.

Life Beyond the Dealership

Outside of work, Dragos places a strong emphasis on family. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two sons, as well as golfing and go-kart racing with family and friends.

He also brings a structured, goal-oriented mindset to his personal life. Whether working toward a professional objective, planning for his family, or pursuing personal growth, Dragos believes in putting a plan on paper, establishing a timeframe, and staying committed to it.

As his career continues to evolve, that combination of discipline and people-focused leadership remains at the center of his approach. Technology, vehicles, and customer expectations may change, but Dragos believes the fundamentals remain the same: treat people honestly, invest in your team, continue learning, and earn trust one conversation at a time.