The Automotive Leaders Podcast

Download the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book Ann Carter is the leader people love to follow. Don’t take my word for it just ask anyone who has worked with her.  Ann has experienced tremendous success in the C suite and across multiple industries, Automotive, Oil & Gas, Chemical, Aerospace, and Healthcare, she sees no barriers to success and leads the charge in the area of supplier and workplace diversity and inclusion, it's her mission.This Harvard grad has a story to tell and one that will inspire you on your authentic leadership journey. She is a compassionate leader who has the confidence to inspire, but also the humility to be respectful and encouraging. There is a part 2 to this podcast, tune in to part 1 to find out why.  I had to be vulnerable in part 2, more to follow.02:26 – Ann’s story12:49 – Automotive to Healthcare14:23 – Authentic Leadership19:00 – Aligning and breaking down silos23:09 – The games we play in the boardroom27:46 - Mentoring31:35 – Advice to your 25-year-old self36:27 – Leading through a crisis43:16 – Employee engagement49:25 – Fun in the workplace53:11 – The legacy

Download the 21 traits of authentic leadership e book Katelyn Davis believes passionately about the future of the Automotive Industry and her dedication has never wavered even during the difficult times of the downturn she persevered and encouraged others to share her passion. In this episode, you’ll learn about Katelyn’s story, her automotive roots, and her leadership beliefs. Katelyn dispels some of the myths of the Millennial generation and shares with us how she approaches social media and how she embodies the header on her LinkedIn profile as “Storyteller for the Automotive and Mobility Industry”Katelyn is currently a director at Lambert, a nationally ranked top-5 automotive and transportation public relations firm, supporting a number of key accounts in the automotive and mobility space. Prior to joining Lambert, Katelyn was the director of MICHauto, Michigan’s automotive and mobility industry association, and she held corporate affairs and communications positions with a Tier 1 automotive supplier and an OEM. During her career, Katelyn’s projects were recognized with four national awards which included internal communications campaigns and a user-generated social media campaign. Katelyn is a board member of the Automotive Public Relations Council, a co-lead for the Women in Mobility organization, and a graduate of Leadership Detroit Class XLI.You can reach Katelyn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynsdavis/01:50 – Katelyn’s story06:50 – Leadership style11:41 – Influencers13:48 – The leadership model for the future / Millennials – dispel the myth19:06 – The power of the One on One meeting22:16 – Being personable and maintaining respect24:11 – Your voice on social media30:50 – Gravitas31:37 – Energy34:55 – Mary Barra37:35 – Continuous learning39:08 – Advice to your 25-year-old self41:44 – The legacy

Move over Millennials, Gen Z is coming through! In this episode, you’ll get inside the mind of a Gen Z CEO, Yale student, football player, and purpose-driven leader.Michael Chime is the CEO and founder of Prepared, a company on a mission to pursue a safer world for everyone. Michael and the team created an App that connects schools and emergency services in real-time during crisis situations where every second counts.In this episode you’ll learn about vision, passion, courage, defying conventional wisdom, and leadership from a Gen Z point of view.https://preparedapp.com/02:13 – Michael’s story06:39 – Football, the passion, the selection process, the decision16:01 – The visualization process20:39 – Yale22:38 – School shootings, the impact, the purpose29:37 – Being authentic34:11 – Building the company culture42:15 – Personal brand47:30 – A typical day50:57 – Influencers55:41 – Advice to non-Gen Z listeners

“Every company should have a potential future fear because fear leads to growth” – Ryan Berman. NOW is the time to face that fear of the unknown and a very uncertain future, NOW is the time to unleash COURAGE in our organizations.  “What could the future of your company look like with an infusion of courage?” – Ryan Berman In 2019 Ryan sparked the courage movement that set out to reinvent businesses by galvanizing people, inspiring leaders, and celebrating courageous action in life and in business.  In this episode, you’ll meet Ryan Berman, once an intern at MTV, now a major thought leader in the world of leadership change and branding and, very much an authentic leader. Ryan is the founder of Courageous, a change consultancy that develops Courage Brands and trains companies on how to operationalize courage through Courage Bootcamp. Ryan has spent a career developing meaningful stories for household brands—like Caesars Entertainment, Major League Baseball, New Era, Subway, and UNICEF—and he believes that courage is the ultimate competitive advantage for any willing business, being or brand. Ryan used the courage methodology detailed in the book Return on Courage to launch his own Courage Brand called Sock Problems, a charitable sock company that socks different problems in the world. https://www.couragebrands.com/ https://www.returnoncourage.com/You can reach Ryan on Linkedin at https://www.linkedin.com/in/courageousideas/04:41 How we met06:56 Ryan’s Story, with a few twists and turns14:18 Millennials, change, and the New Normal18:58 Back to Ryan’s Story38:24 Interviewing leaders for the book, Steve Wilhite, Russell Weiner, Eric Ryan and more47:59 Time to put your business in timeout49:51 Back to work, where do we start?53:49 Fear of failure, trust, and vulnerability57:45  Take the mask off59:22  Get the rallying cry behind your why01:01:57  Advice from Ryan 

We are starting back to work soon and there’s some anxiety around our “New Normal” and exactly what that means, but first a question we must ask and answer for ourselves. A question that holds the answer to how we plan to live the rest of lives, it’s simply this -  How has this crisis changed us?  We explore this topic from a man who has lived his life in 2 distinct parts – BEFORE the plane went down on January 15th, 2009, and AFTER.In this episode, you’ll meet Dave Sanderson, the last passenger on US Airways flight 1549 that ditched into the Hudson River.  Dave made many interesting personal leadership choices during that experience but perhaps, more importantly, he made a personal choice on HOW to live his LIFE after the incident. Dave is an inspirational survivor, speaker, and author of the book “Moments Matter”. His thoughts on leadership have made him an internationally sought-out speaker. The last passenger off the back of the plane on that fateful day, he was largely responsible for the well-being and safety of others, risking his own life in frigid water to help other passengers off the plane. Despite the hazards to himself, Sanderson thought only of helping others and emerged from the wreckage with a mission: to encourage others to do the right thing. Today, he travels the globe sharing his inspirational and motivational leadership messages to help people make a difference in how they do business and live their lives.https://davesandersonspeaks.com/You can reach Dave on LinkedIn at  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiredavesanderson/03:00   Dave’s story11:45   Throw the baby! / when people freeze14:33   It’s not always the person with the title17:12   You asked General Norman Schwarzkopf - what?21:42   Life Before and after January 1536:19 No one dies today42:17   Challenging bureaucracy51:31   The morning routine1:00:03  I made a choice

During the pandemic, as routines are turned upside down and corporate playbooks tossed aside, John Anderson—entrepreneur and author of Replace Retirement—brings a fresh perspective on leadership, vision, and the concept of Retirement with his rallying call: “Don’t retire, refire.”John’s story starts at IBM, where he began his career before building a successful office furniture business.  Along the way, he found mentorship in Verne Harnish and worked with thought leaders like Jim Collins and Patrick Lencioni to develop transformative coaching practices for executives.A key part of his approach is the 10-year vision—a tool he uses to help leaders set clear goals, handle challenges, and align personal and professional priorities. Inspired by Ari Weinzweig’s visioning methods and Stephen Covey’s focus on “what matters,” John explains how leaders can use a long-term vision to guide their teams, even in uncertain times.Instead of chasing the traditional “work-life balance,” John suggests focusing on energy management. For him, a fulfilling life is about identifying what energizes you and intentionally designing your career and personal life to maximize those pursuits.Throughout the episode, you’ll hear advice, including tips on developing vision statements, communicating transparently during crises, and building routines that support personal and professional growth.By the end, John inspires listeners to rethink their legacy and embrace self-transformation, regardless of age. For leaders facing uncertainty or figuring out their next steps, his insights provide a roadmap to navigating change with confidence, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose.Featured guest: John AndersonWhat he does: John Anderson is a business advisor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of The CEO Advantage, a coaching and consulting firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve exceptional results. With extensive experience guiding companies across public and private sectors, John specializes in helping executives and entrepreneurs develop clear visions, build strong management teams, and drive meaningful outcomes. He is also the founder of Replace Retirement, where he inspires leaders of all ages to rethink their future, adopt an exponential mindset, and craft a purposeful, rewarding, and fulfilling life plan.Mentioned in this episode:REPLACE RETIREMENT: Living Your Legacy in the Exponential AgeCREATE YOUR LEGACY MAP™Episode Highlights:[00:04:16] John’s story[00:09:54] Developing a vision for your business[00:22:21] Crisis leadership style[00:26:16] A daily routine to set you up for success[00:41:45] Time to rethink retirement[01:03:55] The tapestry of your life[01:12:05] Your legacy map[01:14:38] This is the time

How we communicate will set the tone for how we lead through this crisis and set the stage for how we lead AFTER the crisis, in the world of the new normal. Relationships with ALL stakeholders are critical to our success and how we navigate the complex world of communication right now during the crisis will either cement those relationships to build a strong foundation for the future or destroy them. This is an opportunity to galvanize the team, the business and maybe even the industry.Communication is one of the key traits of authentic leadership and in this episode,  we look to an industry veteran in the field to help us understand and explore this topic.Meet Jim Bianchi,  President, Bianchi Public Relations, with more than 35 years of experience on both the corporate and agency sides, Jim is a senior, hands-on PR professional directing Bianchi Public Relations, a Detroit area firm recognized nationally for its expertise in working with automotive and technology suppliers. Jim’s firm has been named among the “Best of Michigan Business” and one of "101 Best & Brightest Companies” in Metro Detroit … and has been ranked by PR industry journals as the largest independent PR firm based in Detroit and one of the top technology PR firms in the U.S.Inducted into the PRSA Detroit Hall of Fame in 2012 for his contributions to the PR industry, Jim was also named the first recipient of Wayne State University Department of Communication’s Alumni Achievement Award in 2003. And around Detroit, Jim is often called “the dean of auto supplier PR.”Jim received a Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from Wayne State University in Detroit and is accredited in public relations by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), Jim is a member of the Automotive Press Association, the Automotive Public Relations Council, the Detroit Chapter of PRSA, the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce, the Troy Chamber of Commerce and the Marketing & Sales Executives of Detroit. He is also an affiliate member of the Society of Automotive Engineers and has served as a judge for the International Automotive Media Competition awards.https://www.bianchipr.com/    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbianchi/02:36 Jim’s story04:25 Emotional turmoil / bring calm08:57 Global impact12:51 Audio, video & written14:50 Authenticity15:42 The Trump / Cuomo comparison19:43 Employee engagement / after the crisis23:02 The supply chain impact /dealing with all stakeholders36:12 Management by talking around38:35 People will remember how you make them feel

Last week we explored leadership insights from that elite group of warriors known as the Navy SEALS, well trained for combat in extreme, uncertain and unstable times. This week we take a different perspective, still very much within the scope of leading through a crisis, dealing with an enemy, riding the emotional roller coaster of our entirely changed lives but this time through the lens of a wartime refugee.  What can we learn from her experience? How did she make the shift from victim to inspirational coach? Why this crisis can be a source for creativity to flourish and why authentic leadership is so important right now – TODAY!In this episode you’ll meet Mira Griffiths, Mira grew up in the time of the civil war in the country previously known as Yugoslavia, she and her family had to flee the city she was born in and leave everything to be destroyed during the war. Mira has since lived and worked in Serbia, UAE & Germany and her work has always been related to helping people overcome the consequences of physical and psychological trauma, loss and pain in their life in general, relationships, work, and the future. Helping them understand who they are and how their experience is created which consequently brings back authenticity, aliveness, courage, creativity, joy, love and compassion back in their lives.​Mira has a BSc in Physiotherapy, Advanced Diploma in Hypnotherapy, Counselling and Psychology, Diploma in CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) and Advanced Pain Management, and she has completed her NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming) Masters, is a Certified NLP and Certified Clarity Coach. She also studied emotions and human behavior through the Paul Eckman International Institute. Mira is a co-founder along with her husband, Peter Griffiths of The Mind Takeaway, a company committed to supporting leaders to grow and become the best that they can be.  Mira and Peter have created a groundbreaking online program people can join from any part of the world, visit   https://www.themindtakeaway.com/authentic-leadership-project for more information or contact Mira directly via email  info@themindtakeaway.com Mira and Peter firmly believe the world needs more compassionate and authentic leaders who are able to meet the complex needs of the everchanging environments we live and work in. 

It's Sunday, March 29th, 2020 and we are in the midst of a global crisis, the COVID 19 crisis.  Leaders are challenged with an unprecedented situation where there is no corporate playbook to follow and very little evidence of contingency planning.Where can we look for guidance? for leadership insight in this time of crisis, this time of uncertainty - who is ever really trained for this?The answer – the military – and we look to an elite group of warriors known as the NAVY SEALSIn this episode, you’ll meet Nick Norris. Nick was clearly born to serve, he not only served his country as a Navy SEAL but continues to serve the Navy SEAL community with his active involvement with the C4 foundation www.c4foundation.org  . The C4 Foundation honors the legacy of Charles Humphrey Keating IV, a heroic Navy SEAL who gave his life defending our country and the freedoms we enjoy.Nick also serves in his current role as CEO and co-founder of Protect Products, a wellness company committed to positively impacting customer health with both personal care products and nutritional supplements. www.protektproducts.comNick embodies the qualities of his brand and this is EXACTLY the type of leadership we need right now, leading through this crisis can be the most rewarding and, yes, exhilarating experience of our lifetime if we step up and embrace this leadership opportunity right NOW!06:42 Nick Norris – Nick’s story09:43 Contingency planning is everything12:08 Why are SEALS so effective?14:47 Micromanagement – The handicap17:51 Trust and Hell Week19:56 Love and compassion23:55 Calm breeds calm27:30 A time for creativity30:59 Balancing emotions and vulnerability36:22 The sand table46:47 Dealing with toxic employees51:35 Can you trust too much?54:09 Extreme sports, pushing the limits, inside your head1:03:05 Starting your day and Nick’s morning routine1:07:49 Changing habits

How was your week? Adjusting to life with the new norm?Do you have the new work routine set up and your teams all charging ahead? Working from home all figured out?My answer is - NO, not even close, I wasn't nearly as productive as I wanted to be, I struggled to get out of bed, keep my energy up and focus on anything for more than 5 minutes. I was angry, scared, emotional and at times a bit crazy.I craved interaction with other people, and I judged myself for not being productive and not having the willpower to pull through it.  What happened to me?In this episode, we explore the rollercoaster of emotions many of us went through last week through the eyes of an Emotional Intelligence expert and coach, Cathy MottWe explore the grief cycle, the 4 quadrants of emotional intelligence, active listening, vulnerability, fear, why we need to lead ourselves first before leading others and much more.There are valuable insights to share as we step up and lead through this crisis.00:53 What happened to me last week08:03 The grief cycle10:20 Take the space you need11:16 Judging yourself14:34 Active listening20:24 Vulnerability/strength and balance22:51 Time to be tough?23:58 Coaching questions26:10 The 4 stages of Emotional Intelligence29:20 Resilience31:16 Taking action and accountability37:27 Advice from Cathy as we face Monday