Built by People: The Cultural Transformation Behind Cooper Standard’s Global Success

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How does a 65-year-old automotive supplier reinvent itself for the future? That’s the question Jeff Edwards, Chairman and CEO of Cooper Standard, answers in this episode. 

With 22,000 employees across 20 countries, Cooper Standard is navigating one of the fastest periods of change in its history; not by clinging to the past, but by transforming how it leads, operates, and builds culture.

Jeff explains that the company’s strength begins with its people. Of the  ~22,000 employees, 18,000 work in plants every day. They are the heartbeat of the business, and their mindset defines how the company performs. 

Culture once lived within HR, but today, that’s no longer the case. And at Cooper Standard, every leader owns it. The values and purpose that guide the business aren’t just words in a handbook; they shape decisions, behavior, and priorities across the organization. 

Jeff reinforces them in quarterly meetings with employees worldwide, making sure new hires understand how the company operates and what it stands for.

Jeff explains how Cooper Standard continues to invest in better tools and infrastructure to support faster, more informed decisions — and sees AI as a future opportunity to help teams work smarter.

However, Jeff points out that no system works without the right mindset. Change only happens when people are willing to adopt new ways of working together.

Jeff also describes how Cooper Standard restructured its organization two years ago into three business units: Fluids, Sealing, and Industrial Specialty. Each has its own president who is responsible for performance. The new setup flattened decision-making and pushed authority closer to the work.

Instead of questioning the change, employees embraced it. They wanted to understand how it would improve them, not why it was happening. That response, Jeff says, is the product of a healthy culture built on trust and shared purpose.

The conversation closes where every great company story should — with its people. At Cooper Standard, leadership isn’t a title or a process; it’s the daily act of listening, learning, and helping others grow. Decisions are made through conversation, not command. Ideas come from every corner of the company, shaped by the experience of those who build, design, and lead on the floor each day. 

That shared approach to leadership is what keeps Cooper Standard moving;  steady, united, and ready for whatever the next chapter demands.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• The transformation of Cooper Standard from a legacy automotive supplier into a future-focused global manufacturer
• The link between company culture and faster decision-making in today’s competitive automotive industry
• How Cooper Standard is strengthening its digital infrastructure to improve decision-making speed
• The structural transformation that created three focused business units and improved Cooper Standard’s responsiveness to customers
• Why collaboration and teamwork between leaders and teams matter more than hierarchy in a modern organization
• The importance of maintaining zero-incident safety standards as a reflection of company culture and care for employees
• The connection between trust, open communication, and long-term success in a global automotive supply chain

Featured guest: Jeff Edwards

What he does: Jeff Edwards, Chairman and CEO of Cooper Standard, brings nearly four decades of experience in the automotive industry. Since joining the company as CEO and Board member in 2012, and later assuming the role of Chairman in 2013, he has focused on driving long-term value through culture, innovation, and results. Before Cooper Standard, he spent 28 years at Johnson Controls, where he rose through a series of leadership roles to become Corporate Vice President and Group Vice President and General Manager of the Automotive Experience Asia Group. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Standex International Corp., contributing to its Compensation and Nominating & Corporate Governance Committees.

On Leadership: “When you're responsible for as many folks as our plant managers are, you find that courage to act or courage to not act is the way you ultimately define success. So, it isn't always about the decision you made. You may decide to not do something and that might be the best one you've ever made. I think, to be willing to open up and think differently and listen for answers around the world, at least within the automotive industry, is important.”

Episode Highlights:

[02:23] Built by People, Not Walls: Culture isn’t defined by logos or buildings—it’s shaped every day by the 18,000 people on the plant floor who own problems, fix them, and keep getting better.

[03:39] From Command to Connection: Leadership at Cooper Standard starts on the shop floor, where accountability, collaboration, and shared purpose have replaced the old command-and-control mindset.

[05:36] Culture Isn’t an HR Project: Cooper Standard’s culture works because every leader and employee takes responsibility for it, keeping the company focused on people, performance, and progress.

[07:48] Culture Drives Speed: A strong culture keeps people aligned, decisions quick, and innovation moving as the industry shifts faster than ever.

[11:19] The Heart of Leadership: Great leadership, Jeff says, comes from resilience in tough times, empathy that sees through others’ eyes, and the integrity to do what’s right when it’s hardest.

[15:52] The Cooper Standard DNA: The people who thrive at Cooper Standard work hard, stay genuine, care about others, and never stop learning—because being a great teammate matters as much as being a great leader.

[17:26] Redefining the Structure: Cooper Standard rebuilt its organization around three business units, giving each leader full ownership and creating a flatter, faster model focused on performance and people.

[24:45] The Excitement of Change: Jeff sees the rise of hybrid and electric vehicles as a turning point for the industry, where the right culture and strong relationships will decide who wins.

[26:37] Partnership Through Innovation: By mastering the basics and focusing on innovation, Cooper Standard turns supplier relationships into true partnerships that drive smarter, more efficient solutions for the hybrid and electric future.

[32:52] The Power of Conversation: Jeff values learning through real conversations, asking questions, and listening to different perspectives to uncover better answers and stronger decisions.

Top Quotes:

[02:35] Jeff: “We've got 65 years and counting in the automotive industry, and you kinda have to earn your way every day. And you have to be very convinced that you love a fast-paced environment. You also have to be convinced that every day has gotta be better than what you just did and be okay with that. So, to me, it always starts with the folks that come to work for us in our plants. You mentioned we're in 20 countries, we have 22,000 employees, and about 18,000 of those show up in our factories every single day. And so, if you don't have something that kind of ties that all together, what do you have?”

[04:08] Jeff: “We really spend an awful lot of time talking about leadership. We talk about what's important and what isn't. We also talk about what's acceptable and what isn't from a leadership point of view. And I've found it's not only about educating those that are in leadership positions; if you educate everyone that comes to work, then they know what it looks like, but they know what it doesn't look like. And so, it holds us all accountable. And I think it's a lot better than one person shouting orders rooftop, especially when your rooftop has to span 20 countries and a lot more languages than just that.”

[11:59] Jeff: “I think that companies that can figure out how to stay focused, to do things the right way for the right reasons, and have a resolve to get it done are the ones that are gonna be successful. And those also usually are led by people in all leadership roles that are approachable, that have empathy, that have the ability to see things through the eyes of others.”

[15:59] Jeff: “You have to have the right work ethic. You have to be real. You have to care. You have to be a teammate, in addition to a leader. There isn't a leader in the company, me included, that doesn't have to be a good teammate, and so, you got to be both.”

[25:56] Jeff: “We talked about speed. We talked about accuracy. We talked about having people that really care and want to build relationships with their customers and the supply base. These are all things that are gonna be required to win, to be competitive, and to make sure the customer feels that you're worthy of the next purchase order. And I think they always prefer to give it to somebody they like versus somebody they don't like.”