In today’s episode of The Female Founder, we sit down with Amberly Allen, Managing Partner of Dealer Merchant Services and President of DI Marketing, to talk about her journey into entrepreneurship.
Allen has been recognized in the Inc. 5000 List, Top 40 Under 40 Stevie Awards, and Ernst & Young Honors for her significant contributions to the automotive industry.
Allen’s early life set the stage for her career path. The entrepreneurial spirit runs in her family, and from a young age, she knew she wanted to be in business for herself. Under her father’s guidance, she learned the value of hard work and financial independence.
Her early experience in marketing and sales eventually led her to take the bold step of founding her own automotive marketing company, DI Marketing. Despite the hurdles of being a female leader in a predominantly male space, she pressed forward, creating Dealer Merchant Services, a company specializing in automotive credit card processing.
Along the way, she encountered numerous hurdles, from industry biases to health challenges, all of which have helped shape her approach to business and life. Her remarkable journey is one of bravery and resilience, and she provides terrific insights into the keys to success.
One of the most insightful things she shares is that success often lies in how quickly someone can get back up. This tenacity is vital for anyone striving to grow a business and overcoming hurdles and rejection.
She also highlights the importance of striving to effectively compartmentalize time instead of work-life balance, noting that perfect balance is rare for business owners. For her, success comes from prioritizing what’s most important in each moment, a mindset that many entrepreneurs may find freeing.
Allen’s most straightforward yet often overlooked advice is to avoid perfectionism and take the first step instead. She stresses action over perfection, noting that waiting for flawless conditions can keep entrepreneurs from progressing.
Her advice for women building their path is clear: embrace the challenges, don’t be afraid to ask for help, and remember that resilience is the greatest asset. And her insights encourage aspiring female founders to approach each step of their journey with confidence, flexibility, and a refusal to give up.
"The biggest thing is you just have to take the step... you can't know everything, [and] it can't be perfect." – Amberly Allen
