The Automotive Leaders Podcast
166 episodes - English - Latest episode: 5 days ago -Prepare yourself, your team, and your business for the future of automotive.
We are all evolving the products we make, have you thought about the leadership model to get us there?
In-depth interviews with leaders, authors, and thought leaders, provide the insights you need.
This podcast is brought to you by Gravitas Detroit.
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Episodes
How To Hold Others Accountable With Brian Moran, Founder and CEO of The Execution Company and co-author of ‘Uncommon Accountability’
July 28, 2022 10:00 - 37 minutes - 51 MBEpisode Summary Accountability isn’t exactly a fun word. It has quite a negative connotation — probably because we’ve been acculturated to think that if we don’t hold ourselves accountable, we’ll suffer negative consequences (or, to use an even more fear-inducing word, punishment). But accountability expert Brian Moran offers a different perspective. As a professional with 30 years of expertise as a CEO, corporate executive, entrepreneur, consultant, and coach, he argues that reframing a...
5 Tips for better strategic planning meetings
July 14, 2022 10:00 - 23 minutes - 31.7 MBEpisode Description Strategic planning is traditionally a dreaded affair. Days of meaningless corporate speak and internal competition usually fail to result in something inspiring or exciting that a team can get behind. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this episode of Finding Gravitas, Jan shares her top five tips on how to break the bygone corporate mold so you’re prepared to authentically lead your next strategic planning meeting. Episode Summary When we think of strategic plan...
Automotive Supplier Relationships with Steve Kiefer and Dave Andrea
June 30, 2022 10:00 - 49 minutes - 67.7 MBIt's time to launch your supplier podcast - click here for more details The 2022 Plante Moran WRI® (Working Relations Index®) Study of North American auto supplier-Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) relationships is a bedrock survey in the industry. But does it really impact the bottom line? And what can OEMs do with the information? Dave Andrea, principal at Plante Moran and guardian of the WRI, relies on insight gathered across the industry to help answer these questions. And as some...
Meet Cathy Mott & Dr Toni Flowers
June 16, 2022 09:45 - 48 minutes - 65.9 MBIt’s rare to be able to benefit from authentic leadership insight from both a manager and one of her team members. But approaching the leadership model of the future in action from both sides of the discussion is the key to real change and growth — and this applies just as much to automotive as management in any other industry. In a truly unique take on gravitas and the power of management, leadership coach Cathy Mott returns for a discussion with her ex-“ssob” (boss spelled backwards) and ...
The reality of a Covid world
June 02, 2022 09:30 - 20 minutes - 19.1 MBIn this episode, I'll share the reality of living in a Covid world along with a walk back to episode 0 Download the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book
Did you hear the news?
May 19, 2022 09:30 - 12 minutes - 23.2 MBStellantis reverses controversial changes in contract terms for suppliers Here's the Automotive News article Good move but what's next? how will Stellantis rebuild supplier trust? We're taking a break, recording from Wales, and changing habits and routines. Time to challenge your thinking and listen to an episode outside of your industry silo. Try one of these: Episode #35, David Chislett, Chief Activator & Weapon of Mass Creation Episode #33, Aled Miles, President & CEO of Sauce Lab...
Meet Daniel Pink, NY Times best selling author
May 05, 2022 09:30 - 26 minutes - 48.8 MBRegret is a “peculiar emotion,” says Daniel Pink. “People regret inaction more than they regret taking action.” What’s more, regret is universal — and healthy. But it’s in need of a rebrand. In his new book, “The Power of Regret: How Looking Backward Moves Us Forward,” Dan turns the conventional wisdom about regret into a positive force for change — and offers crucial lessons for leaders who strive for authenticity and gravitas. For those of us in the automotive industry, his analysis i...
I love the office !!!??
April 21, 2022 09:30 - 37 minutes - 68.1 MBA look back into the evolution of the way we work today, where we're headed, the most recent Gallup survey, my personal story, a surprising announcement from an OEM, and the questions we need to be asking ourselves BEFORE we write that back to the office policy. Learn more about creating your own internal company podcast Learn more about your host, Jan Griffiths in this short video Episodes referenced in this episode Stephen M.R. Covey - Trust & Inspire Jason Stocker - Volition Artic...
Meet Sandy Stojkovski, CEO Vitesco Technologies, North America
April 07, 2022 09:30 - 52 minutes - 95.8 MBThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Sandy Stojkovski’s career took off when, during her first year at Cooper-Standard Automotive — her first job out of college — the Vice President of Engineering hand-selected her to run a manufacturing operation. She’s been paying it forward ever since by taking chances on employees with potential. “I told him that I didn't think I was qualified,” Sandy recalls. “And he did something I will never forget. He told me he was cho...
Meet Stephen M. R. Covey, Global authority on trust, leadership, and culture. New York Times best selling author
March 24, 2022 09:30 - 50 minutes - 93.2 MBThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Get Stephen's latest book Trust & Inspire, click here Stephen M.R. Covey wants you to trust your employees. And he wants you to do so by putting in the time to truly connect with them — while resisting the urge to micromanage. “You’re truly empowering people around an agreement with clear expectations and with accountability,” he says of his “trust and inspire” leadership model. “And with that, you can do so much more. People...
Meet Stephen M. R. Covey
March 24, 2022 09:30 - 50 minutes - 92.6 MBMeet Stephen M.R. Covey, Global authority on trust, leadership, and culture. New York Times best selling authorStephen M.R. Covey lives and breathes leadership. As the son of leadership author Dr. Stephen R. Covey, his career choice is no surprise, but his work differs in that it’s focused on creating high-trust work culture. In this episode, Stephen explains his “trust and inspire” leadership model in depth, citing specific studies that explain why it’s the approach modern workplaces need i...
Ford and the EV split, Stellantis and a few more stumbles
March 10, 2022 09:30 - 20 minutes - 37.5 MBIn this episode, Jan covers a few of the noteworthy topics in the automotive industry and how they relate to leadership. 👉 Ford announcement on the EV split, how will this work? 👉 Stellantis and a few more stumbles 🤦🏻♀️ 👉 "A golf club to a tennis match" Stephen M.R. Covey on command & control leadership 👉 Surprise guest coming....... 👉 A new podcast is on the way - check it out here, it officially launches on March 21 Episodes referenced in this episode:- Stefan Krause Doug Conant ...
Meet Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup Company
February 24, 2022 09:30 - 49 minutes - 90.8 MBThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Buy the book The Blueprint - 6 Practical Steps to Lift Your Leadership to New Heights Keeping employees happy and engaged while advancing a company is a delicate balancing act. Go too easy and the work doesn’t get done; go too hard on them and they check out. Right? Not according to Doug Conant, the former Campbell Soup Company CEO who unlocked the secrets of having both an engaged workforce and a thriving organization. When...
Stellantis WTF? 10 steps backward
February 10, 2022 09:30 - 16 minutes - 30 MBIn this episode, Jan talks about the new supplier Terms and Conditions recently issued by automaker, Stellantis and what this means to the automotive industry. Topics covered include:- Command & control leadership, compliance vs conviction, remembering SCORE, the bottom-line impact of collaborative relationships and where do we go from here? Here are the links to the articles and episodes quoted in the podcast. Automotive News article dated 2/2/22 Speed of Trust - Stephen Covey see sect...
Meet Mark Bole, Senior Executive at General Motors, Head of V2X & Battery Solutions
January 27, 2022 09:30 - 50 minutes - 92.8 MBHow do you not just survive but thrive as an authentic leader at General Motors (or, indeed, anywhere)? It's not very often you come across a large number of people who rave about their boss. But self-described servant leader Mark Bole, Senior Executive at General Motors, Head of V2X & Battery Solutions, has a following. He firmly lives — and leads — in line with his values. “It's not the number of people that I lead — it's the number of people that I impact,” Mark says. Mark’s glittering...
Meet Lynn Kier, VP Corporate Communications at Diebold Nixdorf
January 13, 2022 09:30 - 57 minutes - 105 MBLearn more about creating your own internal company podcast There’s never been a greater need for honesty and transparency — for people to tell it like it is. Enter Lynn Kier, VP Communications at Diebold Nixdorf, who talks about the importance of embracing your authentic self to further your personal mission. Lynn began her career in 1997 as a financial analyst. After five years, she realised that simply putting her head down and working hard wasn’t the answer. She moved into the automo...
Ready for the big quit 😱
December 30, 2021 09:30 - 12 minutes - 22.6 MBThe Pandemic has given us cause to pause and rethink how we live our lives. In this episode, Jan explores her personal story and how she decided to quit her corporate job along with some things you should consider before you quit.
Meet Rich Sheridan, CEO and Co-founder of Menlo Innovations, Author of ‘Joy Inc.’ and ‘Chief Joy Officer’
December 16, 2021 09:30 - 1 hour - 125 MBThe first time Rich Sheridan touched a computer was in 1971. The CEO and Co-founder of Menlo Innovations, who went on to write “Joy Inc.” and “Chief Joy Officer,” was then a freshman in high school who instantly fell in love with the idea of writing software. For Rich, who refers to himself as a “pure Michigan kid,” software was an artistic medium. He started by typing the names and stats of Major League Baseball players into a computer so he and his friends could “play” baseball in the win...
Trust, Transparency and Supply Chain
December 02, 2021 09:30 - 15 minutes - 35.4 MBLet's talk about trust and transparency, not only in terms of leadership, internally and with our teams, but externally, with our stakeholders more specifically, with our suppliers. And yes, that's going to lead us into a supply chain discussion and the chip shortage. These two traits of authentic leadership have been coming up time and time again in the last couple of months. And that's why I wanted to go deeper. I believe that we have to challenge the way that we lead. We have to break th...
Meet Stefan Krause, A driving force in the world of EVs and broad-scale mobility
November 18, 2021 09:30 - 56 minutes - 103 MBLeaders need to have conviction in themselves and their employees. Without it, a compliance mindset can creep in. Seeking compliance is a sign of a “weak manager,” says https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-krause-1729bb115/ (Stefan Krause), Chairman & CEO at https://www.moov.city/index.html (MOOV) Throughout his career with BMW and in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, Stefan has built innovative management systems that promote a culture of trust and empowerment among his teams. Stefan was bor...
Meet Stefan Krause, A driving force in the world of EVs
November 18, 2021 09:30 - 56 minutes - 78.3 MBThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Leaders need to have conviction in themselves and their employees. Without it, a compliance mindset can creep in. Seeking compliance is a sign of a “weak manager,” says Stefan Krause, former Chairman & CEO at MOOV Throughout his career with BMW and in the electric vehicle (EV) industry, Stefan has built innovative management systems that promote a culture of trust and empowerment among his teams. Stefan was born and raised i...
Meet Delaina and Luke, members of Gen Z in the workplace.
November 04, 2021 09:30 - 47 minutes - 64.8 MBMeet Delaina and Luke, members of Gen Z in the workplace. There’s a lot to be gained from a fresh perspective — even then it’s a viewpoint that doesn’t quite align with your own. Instead of interviewing a seasoned leader, Jan is flipping the script in this episode. She hosts a conversation with two members of Gen Z, Delaina Yatoma and Luke Tappen, recent graduates of Wayne State University, to uncover their perspectives on good leadership in the workplace. In this episode of Finding Gravi...
Gen Z on Authentic Leadership
November 04, 2021 09:30 - 47 minutes - 86.3 MBMeet Delaina and Luke, members of Gen Z in the workplace. There’s a lot to be gained from a fresh perspective — even then it’s a viewpoint that doesn’t quite align with your own. Instead of interviewing a seasoned leader, Jan is flipping the script in this episode. She hosts a conversation with two members of Gen Z, https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetdelaina/ (Delaina Yatoma) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/luketappen/Luke Tappen (Luke Tappen), recent graduates of Wayne State University, to unco...
Gen Z on Authentic Leadership in the Workplace
November 04, 2021 09:30 - 47 minutes - 86.3 MBMeet Delaina and Luke, members of Gen Z in the workplace. There’s a lot to be gained from a fresh perspective — even then it’s a viewpoint that doesn’t quite align with your own. Instead of interviewing a seasoned leader, Jan is flipping the script in this episode. She hosts a conversation with two members of Gen Z, https://www.linkedin.com/in/meetdelaina/ (Delaina Yatoma) and https://www.linkedin.com/in/luketappen/Luke Tappen (Luke Tappen), recent graduates of Wayne State University, to unco...
Meet Paul Glantz, co-founder and chairman - Emagine Entertainment
October 21, 2021 09:30 - 54 minutes - 74.6 MBThe pandemic hasn’t been easy for business leaders. And that’s especially true for people leading businesses that physically bring people together. But rather than lamenting the challenges of the last 18+ months, Paul Glantz, co-founder and chairman of luxury movie theater company Emagine Entertainment, believes he’s the “luckiest guy on earth.” A CPA by training, Paul spent 27 years of his career at Proctor Financial — the last 10 as its president. The entrepreneurial bug bit and Paul s...
Break the Mold - Authentic Leadership LIVE!
October 07, 2021 10:30 - 44 minutes - 61.3 MBIn the season 3 opening episode, Jan shares the audio from the highly energetic and engaging speech at the Centre for Automotive Research conference, Management Briefing Sessions In Traverse City, Michigan. We dive into authentic leadership and the behaviors that support and detract away from it and why authentic leadership is critical to our future and the way we lead. The audio refers to slides in the presentation, click here to access the slide deck. Click here for the full video of th...
Time to go deeper
September 22, 2021 14:00 - 16 minutes - 31.7 MBIn this episode, Jan explores the deeper questions around authentic leadership and the plans for season 3 including an increased focus on Gen Z
Time to go deeper
September 22, 2021 13:00 - 16 minutes - 23 MBIn this episode, Jan explores the deeper questions around authentic leadership and the plans for season 3 including an increased focus on Gen Z
Boost Employee Engagement with an Internal Podcast
September 01, 2021 13:30 - 34 minutes - 47 MBAudio from a recent webinar exploring the benefits of an internal podcast for your business or your team along with exactly what you need to know before you start. Presentation slides Webinar video How to be a great podcast guest - mini course
Meet Carrie Uhl, Chief Procurement Officer for GE Healthcare
August 04, 2021 13:30 - 44 minutes - 61.2 MBIn this podcast, you’ll meet Carrie Uhl, Chief Procurement Officer for GE Healthcare. Carrie is one of the most impactful supply chain leaders in not one, but two different industries. She shares with us her belief in bringing her best self to work, being tough on issues and not people, and being relentlessly positive. 02:24 – Carrie’s formative years in Pittsburgh 04:15 – First job in Supply Chain, with Guardian Industries 05:31 – After many years in Automotive, moving on to healthcare ...
Meet Carla Bailo, President and CEO at the Center for Automotive Research
July 21, 2021 13:30 - 1 hour - 121 MBThe Finding Gravitas podcast is supported through https://www.patreon.com/findinggravitas (Patreon) Click https://www.patreon.com/findinggravitas (here) to pledge your support. In this podcast, you’ll meet Carla Bailo, President and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research. Carla shares with us her love of cars and deep roots in the automotive industry. Her long career has been full of opportunities to start from a blank slate, she loves doing things no one has done before. She also enjoys b...
Meet Carla Bailo, former President and CEO at the Center for Automotive Research
July 21, 2021 13:30 - 1 hour - 91.4 MBDownload the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book In this podcast, you’ll meet Carla Bailo, President and CEO of the Center for Automotive Research. Carla shares with us her love of cars and deep roots in the automotive industry. Her long career has been full of opportunities to start from a blank slate, she loves doing things no one has done before. She also enjoys breaking molds and challenging people to think differently. 02:27 – Carla’s deep roots in automotive 05:30 – GMC ride a...
Meet Jesse Jacoby, Change Leadership Guru
July 07, 2021 13:30 - 44 minutes - 60.4 MBToday, you're going to meet the change leadership guru. Jesse Jacoby is the founder of the business consulting service Emergent, which focuses on organizational change management and business transformations. Jessie is exactly the subject matter expert we need right now, to help us all transition into this new way of doing business. We will benefit from his experience, and expertise to navigate this new normal, and avoid pitfalls along the way. 02:28 – How Jan and Jesse met 04:39 – Jesse’s...
Meet Mark Lecher, President & CEO of HFI
June 23, 2021 13:30 - 51 minutes - 70.1 MBIn this episode, you’ll meet Mark Lecher, President and CEO of HFI. Follow his journey from an impoverished beginning where he had to start working at age 12, to being the President and CEO of a tier-two Automotive Interiors company. Mark speaks of being true to your purpose, being your authentic self, and bringing out the best in your team by demonstrating trust. 02:29 – Mark’s blue-collar beginnings 04:20 - Learning self-reliance from his mother 06:17 – High School, College, and account...
The Power of the RESTART
June 09, 2021 14:31 - 31 minutes - 43 MBAs pandemic restrictions come to an end, we find ourselves facing another transition. Many of us are heading back to the office, but not necessarily in the same way we did it before. There is understandably some concern over what this “new normal” is going to look like. In this episode, we are going to delve into research and strategies that harness the power of the restart to help us successfully lead through this transition. 00:50 Going back to the office 02:38 Some science behind th...
Meet Jason Stocker, President, C&U Americas
May 26, 2021 13:00 - 1 hour - 183 MBIn this episode, you'll meet Jason Stocker, President of C&U Americas. We’ll learn about his blue-collar roots, how he took inspiration from a 1980’s sitcom to send him on his career path, and how he lives his life with volition. 02:13 Jason’s story 05:49 Honing in on Accounting as a career choice 08:30 Incentive to graduate college at lightning speed 12:44 Living and breathing volition 15:35 Jumping into sales 21:00 Desiring to create wealth, as well as have an impact, identifying qua...
Meet Mary, Powerful role model, born 1892
May 12, 2021 13:00 - 15 minutes - 21.9 MBIn this episode, Jan shares her thoughts on Mother’s Day, what she learned from her grandmother and mother, and how their influence translates into powerful lessons about psychological safety and leading with Gravitas through challenging times. 00:50 Mother’s Day musings 01:24 My grandmother, Mary 05:23 My mother’s encouragement 07:40 Psychological safety. Important in parenting, and in leadership 09:30 Coming out of the pandemic 11:40 Challenges will require a leader with Gravitas 13...
Meet Mary, powerful role model, born 1892
May 12, 2021 09:00 - 15 minutes - 36.6 MBMy personal relationship with my mother and grandmother. How our words and actions provide psychological safety in leadership and in life. How will you lead through the back-to-work transition?
Meet Kimberley Gardiner, former Senior VP of Marketing, Volkswagen
April 28, 2021 14:39 - 54 minutes - 74.2 MBDownload the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book In this episode, you’ll meet Kimberley Gardiner, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Volkswagen. She truly is a model in leading authentically with confidence, caring, and understanding. You’ll learn how her twin passions for marketing and the environment propelled her into a career in automotive, and how her many experiences and her love for variety helped her become a true change agent. She talks about her game plan for effecting ...
Meet Kimberley Gardiner, Senior VP of Marketing, Volkswagen
April 28, 2021 14:39 - 53 minutes - 123 MBIn this episode, you’ll meet Kimberley Gardiner, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Volkswagen. She truly is a model in leading authentically with confidence, caring, and understanding. You’ll learn how her twin passions for marketing and the environment propelled her into a career in automotive, and how her many experiences and her love for variety helped her become a true change agent. She talks about her game plan for effecting change within Volkswagen, including removing silos and “th...
Back to the office and 10,000 downloads 🤔
April 14, 2021 15:03 - 18 minutes - 25.8 MBThe way we work is forever changed, in this episode I share my thoughts and experiences on the subject and why this is an opportunity for leaders.
Meet Jason Stein, Publisher of Automotive News
March 31, 2021 05:25 - 45 minutes - 62.8 MBIn this episode, you'll meet one of the most well-known figures in the automotive industry. Jason Stein, Publisher of Automotive News, has spent decades interviewing automotive industry leaders, now he’s on the other side of the mic. We learn about his journey from a small-town sports reporter, to becoming the publisher of the most well-respected source of automotive news today. We’ll hear what he’s learned about leadership from his own experience, as well as from the many automotive lead...
Let's talk about Gravitas
March 17, 2021 15:03 - 21 minutes - 29.1 MBMore importantly, now than ever before, effective leaders need to demonstrate the quality of Gravitas. Why is that? And what is Gravitas, anyway? In this episode, Jan answers those questions and more, exploring the meaning of Gravitas, how it can be developed, and why the changing landscape of business demands an upgraded approach to leadership, now. 00:51 What is Gravitas? 04:04 Judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up 05:56 Join the pity party? 06:53 In the weeds 10:07 ...
Meet Diana Lee, Co-Founder & CEO of the Constellation Agency
March 03, 2021 14:00 - 1 hour - 60.4 MBDownload the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book Meet Diana Lee, CEO of the Constellation Agency, a company that experienced 4000% growth in the past three years. Through this exponential growth, she strives for a high level of honesty, transparency, and vulnerability. In this episode, she shares her formula for hiring and retaining top new talent in a highly desirable fast-paced environment, and you’ll hear how she encourages her team to self-advocate for continued growth and fulfill...
Are you clear?
February 17, 2021 18:40 - 22 minutes - 31.5 MBIn this solo episode, I'll explore a personal perspective on clarity. How it applies to leadership in life, work, and each and every day. Reference: Warren Harris episode #33 John Anderson - Replace Retirement
Meet Warren Harris, CEO of Tata Technologies
February 03, 2021 02:50 - 54 minutes - 75.3 MBThis episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Meet Warren Harris, CEO of Tata Technologies, as he sits down with host Jan Griffiths to discuss the experiences, challenges, and critical milestones that shaped his career path to becoming a CEO. Warren talks about what Tata Technologies does and the intricacies of Indian business culture, explaining how their company defines and nurtures innovation by embracing a global mindset. Warren discusses how they maintain a safe ...
Meet David Chislett – Chief Activator & Weapon of Mass Creation
January 20, 2021 14:30 - 1 hour - 92 MBMeet David Chislett - Author, poet, musician, artist, entrepreneur, and a man on a mission to activate creativity in as many people as he can. This podcast will challenge your perception of creativity, what it is, how it works and how to unleash creativity in your team. 1:55 David’s story 6:10 Going deep into innovation & creativity 22:20 Music & managing creatives 28:00 Labels 35:00 What is a creativity workshop? 37:00 Creating a culture of innovation 49:00 Is now the time? 57...
Meet Aled Miles, President & CEO of Sauce Labs
January 06, 2021 15:00 - 1 hour - 88.3 MBIn this episode, we explore the technology culture Aled has successfully led his entire career, specifically, how to create a high-performance team in an environment that demands fast-paced change and constant innovation in order to survive. Listen for the Welsh Star Wars connection! Click here for more on Sauce Labs 03:00 Aled’s story 10:07 Authentic leadership 15:14 Creating the high-performance team 22:12 Starting the day 31:51 The Auto industry through the eyes of a tech guy 37:1...