In most professional environments, success is measured by numbers. Revenue growth, margins, utilization rates, ROI. Metrics provide structure, accountability, and a way to measure progress. But they don’t tell the full story, especially when it comes to influence, trust, and long‑term impact.
At the Northeastern Emergency Power Conference this May 5-7, Phillip Smalley, Vice President at Motorsports Management International, will challenge attendees to look beyond spreadsheets and dashboards in his session, “Impact & Influence: Why Relationships Matter More Than Metrics”.
Drawing from real‑world experience in motorsports management, Phillip explores how some of the most meaningful professional relationships are built far outside traditional sales and marketing lanes, and why those relationships often deliver value long after any formal transaction has ended.
Phillip Smalley, Vice President,
Motorsports Management International
What Motorsports Can Teach Us
In motorsports, partnerships don’t always start with a pitch deck or a clearly defined ROI model. Many begin through access, shared experiences, and trust developed over time, on pit road, behind the scenes, and in environments where authenticity matters.
These relationships are not transactional. They’re built on presence, follow‑through, and credibility. And while they may not fit neatly into quarterly reports, they often lead to advocacy, collaboration, and opportunities that no traditional outreach campaign could produce.
Phillip uses motorsports as a non‑traditional, but highly effective, example of how influence is earned rather than sold. Join us to hear how these lessons extend well beyond racing, offering insights that apply across industries, trades, and professional roles.
Not all value is immediately visible. Advocacy, credibility, introductions, shared problem‑solving, and long‑term loyalty rarely appear on a balance sheet—but they often determine who gets the call, the opportunity, or the seat at the table.
This session invites attendees to recognize and respect that form of value. Smalley’s experiences illustrate how relationships built through access and authenticity can create downstream impact that far outweighs their initial investment of time or effort.
About Phillip Smalley
Vice President, Motorsports Management International
Phillip is a motorsports management, marketing and consulting professional specializing in driver management, career consulting, and driver development. He also has assisted with several hospitality programs including 5-Hour Energy, Auto-Owners Insurance, Phillips66, Mongoose Power Solutions, NAPA, Brunt Workwear and many others.
Since 2015, Phillip has negotiated more than $100M in contracts including agreements with teams such as Hendrick Motorsports, Joe Gibbs Racing, Trackhouse Racing, Spire Motorsports, Niece Motorsports and drivers such as Ross Chastain, Carson Hocevar, Kaden Honeycutt, Matt DiBenedetto, Andres Perez, Mason Massey and many others.
In 2023, after a successful tenure with Spire Sports + Entertainment, Phillip and a like-minded group of business professionals, led by NASCAR Cup Series star Ross Chastain relaunched Cary Agajanian’s Motorsports Management International. MMI offers a wide range of services to drivers based on their personal and professional needs, primarily composed within three buckets: business services, content services and revenue services.
At just 33, he has become a leader in motorsports driver development with real, organic relationships within the industry, helping young drivers and their families make career defining decisions.