The Automotive Leaders Podcast Leadership After the Storm: What 2025 Taught Us and How to Lead in 2026
2025 didn’t just challenge the automotive industry.
It exposed it.
Tariffs that shifted overnight. Another chip crisis. A sudden rethink on EVs. Then Ford dropped the bomb: nearly $20 billion in charges as it pivoted away from EVs, stranding capital across the supply chain. And on top of it all, AI is moving faster than most leaders can keep up with.
In this solo episode, Jan Griffiths presses pause on the noise and calls it what it really was: feedback.
Not chaos.
A signal.
2025 showed us exactly where legacy leadership breaks under pressure. Command-and-control slowed decision-making. Rigid processes collapsed under uncertainty. And waiting for perfect data became a competitive disadvantage.
As we step into 2026, Jan lays out what leadership must become if this industry wants to survive, not just react. She challenges leaders to stop pretending they have all the answers and start learning out loud. To trade certainty for curiosity. Ego for humility. Silos for systems thinking.
AI is not the threat. Speed is the reality. And culture is still the differentiator.
This episode is a direct, honest conversation with leaders who feel the weight of what’s coming and know the old playbook won’t get them there. Jan breaks down the five leadership categories that will define success in 2026 and beyond, and why standing still is no longer an option.
If 2025 cracked the foundation, 2026 is the year leaders decide whether to rebuild or repeat the same mistakes.
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Themes Discussed
- Why 2025 wasn’t chaos, but critical feedback for automotive leaders
- The leadership behaviors that failed under pressure
- Learning out loud instead of waiting for perfect answers
- Intellectual humility as a competitive advantage
- Why speed now matters more than certainty
- How AI is forcing a shift away from rigid org charts
- The leadership mindset required to win in 2026
About Your Host – Jan Griffiths
Jan Griffiths is the Champion for Culture Change in the automotive industry. As the President & Founder of Gravitas Detroit, Jan brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for transforming company cultures. Additionally, she is the host of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, where she shares insightful conversations with industry visionaries. Jan is also the author of AutoCulture 2.0, a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional leadership model prevalent in the automotive world. With her extensive experience and commitment to fostering positive change, Jan is at the forefront of revolutionizing the automotive landscape. Reach out to her at Jan@gravitasdetroit.com
Mentioned in this Episode
Episode Highlights
[01:26] Reflecting on 2025: Challenges and Lessons
[04:32] Leadership Traits for 2026
[04:45] Mindset and Intellectual Humility
[06:03] Systems Thinking and Bias Awareness
[07:20] AI and Business Processes
[08:27] Leadership Styles in the Age of AI
[09:47] Decision Making and Accountability
[11:26] Trust, Culture, and Empowerment
[14:51] Humanity and Empathy in Leadership
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