About Damon Lester
Damon Lester is an author, speaker, and nationally recognized executive leader with more than two decades of experience in automotive retail, business leadership, and industry advocacy.
He served as President of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) for over 15 years, representing dealers nationwide and working di
Damon Lester is an author, speaker, and nationally recognized executive leader with more than two decades of experience in automotive retail, business leadership, and industry advocacy.
He served as President of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD) for over 15 years, representing dealers nationwide and working directly with major manufacturers, policymakers, and industry leaders while simultaneously serving as Dealer Principal of a Nissan dealership in Maryland, earning the Nissan Award of Excellence in just his second year of eligibility.
He later served as Chairman of the association, continuing to influence the industry at the highest levels.
His insights have been featured on CNN, The Wall Street Journal, Automotive News, Black Enterprise Magazine, Latino Magazine, and other national platforms.
National Recognition
Damon Lester is widely regarded as a leading voice on consumer finance, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity. He has testified at high-profile government hearings and is frequently sought by national media for his insights on the automotive industry and leadership.
His work has earned national recognition, including:
- Nissan Award o
Damon Lester is widely regarded as a leading voice on consumer finance, entrepreneurship, and economic opportunity. He has testified at high-profile government hearings and is frequently sought by national media for his insights on the automotive industry and leadership.
His work has earned national recognition, including:
- Nissan Award of Excellence
- 2024 TIME Dealer of the Year Nominee
- 2024 Automotive News All-Star
- Automotive News Notable Champion of Diversity (2022)
- Inducted into The HistoryMakers (archived in the Library of Congress)
- Savoy Magazine Leadership Award (2014)
- Real Times Media Vanguard Award (2017)
- Minority Enterprise Advocate Auto Executive of the Year (2018)
- Extraordinary Impact Award, Otis & Rosie Brown Foundation (2019)
- Top 10 Automotive Leaders, Industry Era Magazine (2021)
- Millionaire Car Salesman Lifetime Achievement Award (2021)
- Rainbow PUSH Coalition Emerging Leader Award (2011)
- FMCRC John Gamboa Community Leadership Award (2010)
- The Network Journal 40 Under Forty Achievement Award (2009)
Speaking Topics & Focus Areas
Speaking Topics & Focus Areas
Key topics include:
- Leadership pressure and decision making
- The impact of AI and rising expectations in the workplace
- Sustainable performance without burnout
- Aligning teams, accountability, and communication
- Leading through change and uncertainty
- Using AI to improve efficiency without increasing pressure
About Taking the Cape Off
Why I Wrote Taking the Cape Off
I’ve always been the one people rely on in business, in leadership, and in my community. I built a career leading organizations, running a $45M automotive dealership, and serving as former President of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD), where I encountered significant leadership pressure. From the outside, it looked like success at the highest level. But behind it, I was carrying more than I should—responsibility that wasn’t mine, pressure that never turned off, and expectations that kept growing. At some point, I realized something had to change. Taking the Cape Off isn’t about doing less; it’s about understanding what actually belongs to you. That shift changed how I lead, how I work in organizational development, and how I live. Now I help people rethink what they carry and how they carry it. That’s the conversation I bring into organizations today.