The Automotive Leaders Podcast

In 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 story05:49 Honing in on Accounting as a career choice08:30 Incentive to graduate college at lightning speed12:44 Living and breathing volition15:35 Jumping into sales21:00 Desiring to create wealth, as well as have an impact, identifying qualities of a leader25:00 Look up Sumantra Ghoshal, work on volition30:30 Automotive industry is at a turning point38:00 Importance of conflict management45:20 It’s ok to fail49:20 Jason’s definition of Gravitas56:23 Finding your own definition of work-life balance1:03:15 Storytelling and imagination as an essential toolPlease share your thoughts on this episode, email me at Jan@gravitasdetroit.com,  I'd love to hear from you. 

In 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 musings01:24 My grandmother, Mary05:23 My mother’s encouragement07:40 Psychological safety. Important in parenting, and in leadership09:30 Coming out of the pandemic11:40 Challenges will require a leader with Gravitas13:20 The new Gravitas Workshop

Download 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 change within Volkswagen, including removing silos and “thinking small” to achieve big things. She discusses marketing the automotive industry to a new generation, and how important it is to understand their needs.02:47 – Kimberley’s story03:38 – Falling in love with marketing, and the environment04:57 – Job opportunity at Toyota, marketing for Prius06:56 – Using experiences in and outside of automotive to be an agent for change08:05 – Why Volkswagen?11:51 – Understanding other’s perspectives to effect change14:36 – Breaking down silos and “thinking small”17:24 – Marketing a career in automotive to a new generation21:18 – Starting at VW22:16 – Getting to know the team, and coming up with a plan25:58 – What authentic leadership means to Kimberley33:53 – Advice to a leader wanting to embrace authenticity36:36 – Embracing failure40:24 – What Gravitas means to Kimberley41:27 – How Kimberley starts her day50:22 – Advice to her 25-year-old self

The 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.

In 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 leaders he’s interviewed. We discuss the challenges of changing the well-entrenched culture in the automotive industry and why it’s imperative to evolve. 00:50 The interviewer is now the interviewed 02:42 Jason’s story 05:07 Starting a car column in Fort Wayne Journal Gazette Morning newspaper 08:10 From Reporter to Publisher 10:43 Ex-pat assignment’s effect on leadership style 17:06 Leaders Jason has interviewed that inspired him 21:25 The need for traditional auto companies to evolve 23:25 The obstacles to changing the way the automotive industry operates 27:12 Building a foundation of trust to spark innovation 32:38 Jason’s interpretation of Gravitas 34:27 Failures and lessons learned 39:43 How Jason starts his day and how he avoids distraction 43:26 Advice to 20-something self  

More 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 up05:56 Join the pity party?06:53 In the weeds10:07 Growth mindset11:16 Being collaborative13:22 Being kind16:46 Why do we need Gravitas now?17:29 The brand19:05 Start early19:41 The Gravitas Workshop

Download 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 fulfillment. She also tells the heartwarming story of how she encouraged the automotive sector to come together to benefit the community.01:55 First impressions04:18 Diana’s story07:16 Moving up the ranks in automotive retail08:20 Difference between “Consulting” and “Coaching”15:11 Transparency in leadership, encouraging self-advocacy21:42 Attracting and retaining the next generation of talent29:20 Lessons from the pandemic43:06 Challenging the billable hours model49:07 The Do-Good Auto Coalition (love wins, always)59:39 Advice to your 25yr old self01:03:35 The legacy

In 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  #33John Anderson - Replace Retirement

This 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 work environment, emphasizing his commitment to addressing human factor issues, promoting organizational health, and embracing vulnerability-based trust. Warren reflects on his experiences and shares valuable advice he would give to his 25-year-old self. He emphasizes the importance of being present, enjoying the journey, and embracing opportunities for personal growth.Moreover, he shares the lessons they learned from the challenges posed by the pandemic, highlighting the importance of organization alignment and understanding the company's purpose. Warren also explains how constant communication facilitated by technology proved effective in helping them deal with the challenges they faced.Finally, Warren shares his aspirations for his legacy and the impact he hopes to leave behind, emphasizing the importance of building purpose-driven organizations that champion inclusivity and collaboration.Themes discussed in this episode:Shifting from a command and control type of leadershipThe Importance of Authentic LeadershipThe role of vulnerability-based trust in fostering a safe and transparent work environmentDefining the concept of GravitasExploration of the cultural dynamics and Indian business culturePersonal accountability, including the rituals and mindset shifts necessary for setting oneself up for successHow the pandemic has accelerated changes in leadership styles and organizational dynamicsPurpose-driven leadership, global inclusivity, and meaningful impact across culturesFeatured: Warren HarrisWhat he does: Warren Harris is the CEO of Tata Technologies, a global engineering services company that offers product development and digital solutions. Warren has been associated with the company and its predecessor firms for over 25 years. His career has progressed from engineering to several technical management positions worldwide. Warren has led the company through significant expansions and mergers and established it as a major player in engineering services on a global scale.On leadership: “Leadership is a responsibility. It's a service. And it's an obligation that one has to the company and to the individuals that are a part of it. And I think when you look at leadership in that particular way, it's very humbling and interjects a balance to decision-making, which I think is healthy.”Mentioned in this episode:IMechE – Institution of Mechanical EngineersCATIA - Computer-Aided Three-Dimensional Interactive ApplicationThe Tata Group, Tata Motors & Tata Consultancy ServicesEpisode with Andy PalmerHarvard’s Advanced Management ProgramThe Advantage: Why Organizational Health Trumps Everything Else In Business by Patrick Lencioni Episode Highlights:[00:02:08] Warren's story: Warren recounts his journey from humble beginnings in the UK to becoming Chief Executive of Tata Technologies.[00:07:24] Indian business culture: The dialogue rethinks views on Indian-owned businesses, showing Tata Group's community focus and the growing global influence of Indian companies.[00:17:30] Creating a safe environment: The importance of fostering a safe work environment is emphasized, with a focus on cohesive leadership, clarity of organizational purpose, and a culture of vulnerability-based trust[00:27:07] Leadership style: Warren's leadership style is discussed, with a focus on his view of leadership as a responsibility and service to the company and its individuals rather than a personal prize.[00:34:05] Gravitas: Jan and Warren explore their concept of Gravitas in leadership.[00:37:37] How do you start your day?: The importance of personal accountability and starting the day right is discussed, with Warren sharing how his morning routine helps him focus and maintain clarity.[00:41:22] Advice to your 25-year-old self: Warren reflects on his journey and advises his younger self to be present and enjoy the journey.[00:45:25] Learning from the pandemic: Lessons learned from the pandemic are discussed, including the importance of organizational alignment, virtual collaboration, and authenticity.[00:52:06] The legacy: Warren discusses his aspirations for his legacy, emphasizing the importance of organizations that prioritize purpose, inclusivity, and collaboration.Top Quotes:[00:11:45] Warren: “The way in which India is changing, the way in which the Indian business community is changing, gives me tremendous confidence that not only will India continue to be relevant today, it will have an increasingly influential role on business and the economic world in the years to come.”[00:15:22] Warren: “The best definition I've come across for innovation is fresh ideas that have true economic value. And I think innovation comes from diversity. It comes through and from an environment that encourages different perspectives to be applied to a challenge or a problem statement.”[00:22:57] Warren: “One of the things that I challenge my team to do is either agree and commit or disagree and commit on decisions that we make as an organization. Typically, I find if there's been debate, if there's been an opportunity to have that passion exposed in terms of the key issues, then regardless of the decision, people will weigh in. If you get people to weigh in, then you get people to own the decision. You get ownership that drives accountability. Accountability drives results.”[00:34:34] Warren: “I look at Gravitas as being in the context of the business as being substance, something that's real, something that's meaningful; I advocate inside of the organization for the strategy being the driving force of our organization and the fact that compelling purpose is the basis on which we build a culture, and we build the plan for the organization. To my mind, that's a commitment to Gravitas; that's a commitment to the substance. That's a commitment to meaning that hopefully will resonate with all of our stakeholders.”

Meet 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 story6:10    Going deep into innovation & creativity22:20 Music & managing creatives28:00 Labels35:00 What is a creativity workshop?37:00 Creating a culture of innovation49:00 Is now the time?57:10 How do you start your day?1:02:50  Advice to your 25yr old self