Redefining Leadership: Empathy and Empowerment

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In this episode of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, Jan Griffiths welcomes Marques McCammon, the president of Karma Automotive, to share his leadership philosophy and journey. 

A proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and holding engineering and management roles in Detroit, including Chrysler, before leading Karma Automotive, Marques’ story highlights breaking conventional molds. He emphasizes authentic leadership, being comfortable with oneself, and leading according to one's values. 

Having dared to dream big despite skepticism, he embodies the persistence in challenging the status quo and driving innovation. His leadership lesson focuses on serving the team, listening, making oneself available and vulnerable, and supporting the team to reach their full potential, a sharp contrast to the command-and-control leadership model commonly experienced in Detroit's automotive industry.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• Marques McCammon's approach to leading and transforming a company.
• How Karma Automotive is pushing boundaries in vehicle design and technology.
• Addressing the challenges faced by the company and how they are turning them into opportunities.
• Why evolving leadership styles are crucial for the future of the automotive industry.
• Strategies for developing leadership skills and approaches that will be effective in navigating the future of the automotive industry.
• The critical role of software in driving innovation across various aspects of the automotive industry.
• Marques McCammon’s vision for the future of Karma Automotive and the broader automotive industry.

Featured guest: Marques McCammon

What he does: Marques was named President of Karma Automotive, California’s first and only ultra-luxury automaker, in April 2023. His tasks at Karma Automotive are twofold, equally ambitious, and paramount: to reinvigorate the brand and to implement alternate paths to revenue. His career, which spanned nearly three decades before joining Karma Automotive, showcases his expansive expertise in general management, product development, manufacturing, brand leadership, marketing, and software-focused automotive innovations. His leadership and contributions to the automotive sector have been recognized by Detroit Business, which listed him among the top 40 Young Executives making an impact in Detroit.

On Leadership: "For me, I think that as a leader, my job is to serve my team. And by that, what I mean is there's always a greater number of employees than there are leaders, and we often, as leaders or people in leadership roles, get preoccupied with our notion of the authority that we carry or the title that we carry, and we're supposed to drive the day. But the reality is the work gets done by the team. And our job is to connect with that team, help them to find their potential, and their overlap with the other team members so that the organization can see its fullest potential."

Mentioned in this episode:

• Interview with Kate Vitasek: Transforming UAW Strike Negotiations for a Win-Win Outcome
• Meet Stefan Krause, A driving force in the world of EVs
• Meet Doug Conant, former CEO of Campbell Soup Company

Episode Highlights:

[00:03:39] Who is Marques McCammon as a Leader?: Rather than focusing on authority, Marques believes leadership is about serving the team, connecting with them, and unlocking their potential.

[00:04:51] The Birth of an Authentic Leader: Marques reflects on how mentors helped him see past traditional hierarchies. He learned to stop apologizing for his ideas and started seeing everyone as equals, no matter their title.

[00:13:08] Karma Automotive: Karma stands apart as an ultra-luxury brand, distinct from Henrik Fisker's legacy. While others aim for mass markets, Karma focuses on exclusivity, staying clear of the crowded automotive field.

[00:14:48] The Key to Success: Marques shares how a lifelong passion for the automotive industry fueled his journey from an East Coast dreamer to a leader shaping the next generation of vehicles. Despite doubters, he embraced the challenge, driven by a desire to help others find their place in the industry.

[00:17:36] Marques’ Top Leadership Traits: Marques reflects on the power of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership. In a world often dominated by facades, he believes that real trust only forms when leaders show their true selves. For him, being open, even when it means admitting mistakes, fosters growth and builds deeper connections with those around him.

[00:20:18] We’re All Humans: Leadership isn’t just about making tough decisions; it’s about understanding the humanity in every interaction. Marques shares how his bond with a colleague allowed them to navigate a difficult situation with mutual respect and empathy, proving that even in the harsh world of business, relationships matter.

[00:25:06] Leading with Conviction: Jan and Marques discuss shifting from a mindset of strict rules and compliance to one of trust and passion. Instead of expecting the worst, they advocate leading with conviction to inspire and harness people's best qualities, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.

[00:26:49] Focus on the Mission: Marques shares how he keeps his team focused and motivated by constantly reinforcing their mission. By consistently revisiting their vision and taking responsibility for any necessary changes, he ensures the team remains aligned and driven, even through challenges.

[00:29:01] The Biggest Challenge: The auto industry faces its biggest challenge yet: adapting to the software revolution. Marques highlights how the rapid pace and different standards of software development are reshaping everything, from company culture to leadership.

[00:34:18] Going Personal: Marques McCammon shares his passion for the HBO series Warrior and Steve Jobs' focus on product and purpose. He reveals how these inspirations drive his vision for Karma, blending innovation with a meaningful impact.

Top Quotes:

[00:08:27] Marques: “As a business community, we've created that notion that somehow, because I'm the president, chief executive, my workload is more important than the next person. It has different implications but is just as important as yours.”

[00:15:29] Marques: “I want to be a contributor to the next generation. I don't need to prove that I'm smarter, try to be better, or beat someone else out. I definitely don't need to stand up on a stage and pound on my chest. What I want to do is I want to figure out how to help the industry transition into the next generation in a way that more people, frankly, like myself who admire the industry but don't know their role in it, can see themselves and can be positive contributors to it.”

[00:22:50] Marques: “You could be a great operator. You can be someone who's driving for results and still have the understanding and the perspective that the other person sitting across the room from you is a human, that they're important, that they can be a part of your solution, even as you're changing, it doesn't have to be one or the other.”

[00:28:39] Marques: “We hope the business is always going up into the right, but there's going to be some times where we have to change, or we have to pivot, or we have to pull back. We should own it. As a leader, we should be the first one in line to own it. And then also help the team to understand what am I doing differently today and tomorrow to ensure that the next change will be stronger and better than the one from the last.”

[00:29:21] Marques: “The role that software plays and will play in the defining of the value of vehicles going into the future is something different than we've seen in the past 130 years of the industry we've had.”