Shows / The Automotive Leaders Podcast
The Automotive Leaders Podcast
Prepare yourself, your team, and your business for the future of automotive. We are all evolving the products we make, have you thought about the leadership model to get us there? In-depth interviews with leaders, authors, and thought leaders, provide the insights you need. This podcast is brought to you by Gravitas Detroit.
Episodes
The Automotive Leaders PodcastNIO U.S. CEO Ganesh Iyer on China Speed and Automotive Leadership
Everyone in Detroit is talking about China speed. Very few leaders want to look at what’s slowing them down, and it isn’t the engineers. It’s the gates, the…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastCompetitors at the Same Table: Leading Collaboration in the Automotive Industry
Put Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, BMW, Volkswagen, and seven more automakers in one room. They fight each other over every sale, and somebody has to get them to…
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Speed Gets Built in the Room: Why Collaboration Is Automotive's Competitive Edge
Collaboration is in every corporate deck and on every conference room wall in this industry. Look it up, and you'll find two or more people or organizations…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhy Automotive Leaders Must Break Rules
Nobody outsources the engine. It's the heartbeat of the vehicle, and outside of a few niche players, no large OEM has ever seriously considered handing it to…
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Quality Over Quantity: A Quick Check-In from Jan
This week, Jan made a call most podcasters won't make. She sat down in the studio with a leader she's wanted on the show for a long time, and the conversation…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastChina Speed Isn't New: What a 1993 Binder Says About Automotive Culture
We keep talking about China speed as if it were a new discovery. Early supplier involvement is presented as a fresh idea. Consultants are back in the building…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastAutomotive Procurement's Power Problem: What Other Industries Do Better
Automotive built the procurement playbook. Structure, process, category management, sourcing discipline. Compressed margins forced it, and every penny had to…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhy Chinese OEMs Move Faster: Ramiro Gutierrez on Value, Software, and Automotive Leadership
Tariffs bought this industry a window. Ramiro Gutierrez, President of North America, ZF Group, is not convinced we are using it. He has spent 30 years in the…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastHow Ford Is Breaking Command and Control on the Factory Floor
In the automotive industry, we often focus on the vehicle itself, the technology within it, the smart factories, and artificial intelligence. Ford is leading…
The Automotive Leaders Podcast250th Anniversary Episode, a Personal Perspective
In 1976, an 11-year-old girl from a small farm in Wales stood before a glass case in Greenwich, England, staring at strange uniforms and a document called the…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastJim Voss on Building a Culture That Wins (The Tenneco Way, Part 2)
In Part 1, Jim Voss, CEO of Tenneco, took on a company in need of a turnaround. In Part 2, he hands you the playbook behind it. This is the Tenneco Way. Not a…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastThe Man, The Mess, and The Moment: How Jim Voss Began Tenneco's Transformation
How do you take a 100-plus-year-old automotive company with 158 manufacturing sites, operations in 28 countries, more than 60,000 employees, and over 30 brands…
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Closing Season 7 and Preparing for What’s Next
Season 7 of the Automotive Leaders Podcast is officially coming to a close, and Jan Griffiths is taking a moment to reflect on the journey, the lessons, and…
The Automotive Leaders Podcast2026 Working Relations Index — The First Time in 26 Years All Six OEMs Moved Up
For the first time in 26 years of the Working Relations Index, every single North American OEM moved up the chart. Ford, Toyota, Stellantis, Honda, GM, and…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastThe CEO Whisperer: What Automotive Leaders Need Most Right Now
What does it really mean to lead at the highest level in the automotive industry today? In this episode, Jan Griffiths sits down with Phil Biggs, the man…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastLincoln’s Reinvention: Joaquin Nuño-Whelan on Leadership, Luxury, and Legacy Transformation
What happens when a 100-year-old luxury brand decides to think like a startup? In this episode, Jan Griffiths sits down with Joaquin Nuño-Whelan, President of…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastIs USMCA at Risk? Colin Bird Breaks Down What Happens Next
The USMCA review is fast approaching, uncertainty is building across the automotive industry, and leaders are asking a critical question: Is the agreement that…
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It's Q2: Are You Ready to Blow Up Your Playbook?
Q1 was a wild ride. Tariffs. Geopolitical shocks. Supply chain chaos. And now Q2 is here, and the question no one's asking out loud is: are you walking into…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhy Reinvention Is Critical for Automotive Suppliers Right Now
Reinvention in the automotive industry is no longer optional. It is survival. In this episode, Jan Griffiths sits down with Lori Lancaster, Vice Chair of…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastPolicy, Power, and the Future of Automotive Manufacturing with Congresswoman Haley Stevens
If you had told Jan a year ago she would bring a member of Congress onto this show, she would have said you were crazy. But this isn’t about politics. It’s…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastIEEPA Struck Down — Why the Tariff Pressure Remains
Download the full webinar slides here Special Audio from the February 20th Seraph Webinar Tariffs were struck down. So why does the pressure still feel the…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastBuilding a $67B Auto Business Within Constraints: The Leadership Behind 230% Growth
This conversation goes straight at the tension every legacy leader feels but rarely names. How do you build something new inside a company designed for…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastReality Check 2026: Speed, China, AI, and the Hard Truths Automotive Leaders Can’t Ignore
This conversation doesn’t sugarcoat anything. The auto industry is under real pressure, and leaders can’t afford denial or delay. In this episode of the…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhy Automation Fails in Manufacturing and the Leadership Shift Required to Fix It
Re-industrializing America sounds bold. Necessary. Inevitable. But on factory floors across the country, automation keeps stalling before it ever delivers real…
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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…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastAI, Trust, and the Human Shift: What Automotive Leaders Must Do Next
Sometimes a conversation hits so deeply that it demands a part two , and that’s exactly what happened after our episode with MIT’s Dr. Bryan Reimer. The…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastAI Is About to Change Everything… But Not the Way You Think
AI dominates every conversation in the automotive industry, but very few companies know how to make it truly useful. That focus on real value is what led MIT…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastInside Panasonic’s Gigafactory: No Blame, Big Results
Inside Panasonic’s gigafactories in Nevada and Kansas, machines never stop running. Every second, 70 batteries roll off the line, powered by thousands of…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastHow Kim Less Leads and Elevates Nissan Aftersales Across the Americas
When people in the automotive world talk about leaders who bring out the best in others, Kim Less's name always surfaces. As Vice President of aftersales for…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastBuilt by People: The Cultural Transformation Behind Cooper Standard’s Global Success
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…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastBeyond PR: Why Employees Are the Most Important Audience You Have
Why do so many companies spend millions shaping their external image while missing the most important audience: their own people? That’s the question Jan…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastFrom Power to Partnership: Why Automakers Have to Reinvent How They Do Business
Ford just made waves with news of a $30,000 EV pickup built on a universal platform. It promises fewer parts, lower costs, and faster assembly. But Jan…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastLiderazgo, Cultura y la Incertidumbre que Enfrentan los CEO de la Industria Automotriz
This episode is also available in English - click here La carrera de Tony Trecapelli en la industria automotriz comenzó en Saturn, donde pudo ver, de primera…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastLeadership, Culture, and Navigating Uncertainty as a CEO in the Auto Industry
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more This episode is available in Spanish - click here Watch the full video on YouTube - click here…
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Why Leaders Must Press Pause
Sometimes the best leadership lesson comes from pressing pause. That's why Jan Griffiths has decided to step away from the usual guest interviews to share…
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Still Leading Like It's 1995? Your Outdated Leadership Is Slowing Down the Auto Industry
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - Click here If you’re still leading like it’s 1995, or worse…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastThe Weight of Leadership: The True Cost of Poor Leadership in the Automotive Industry
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Jay Butler doesn't just understand troubled…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastTransforming Webasto: Why Legacy Automotive Companies Must Rethink Leadership & Culture to Stay Competitive
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Webasto is a legacy company with roots going back…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastLeading Through Change: The Culture Shift Automotive Leaders Need to Compete Today
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here No one would try to stream a 4K video on a '95…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhy Elon Musk’s Leadership Approach Needs a Serious Rethink
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Elon Musk did what most thought was impossible. He…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhy Authentic Leadership Matters Most in Times of Crisis
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here As the auto industry faces a new wave of…
The Automotive Leaders Podcast2025 WRI Results: Toyota Soars, Honda and GM Improve, Others Decline
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Season 6 opens with a deep dive into the 2025…
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Season 5 Recap: Key Conversations Driving the Automotive Industry Forward
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Season Five of the Automotive Leaders Podcast comes to a close, and with it, a year of powerful…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastReviving an Icon: Leadership, Innovation, and the New Goodyear Mindset
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here How do you transform a brand that's been part of…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastBehind Martinrea’s Strength: Pat D’Eramo’s No-Fear, People-first Leadership
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here When Pat D'Eramo entered the auto industry four…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastLiberation Day: The Day the US Tariff Bomb Hit the Auto Industry
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here It was 6 PM on April 2nd in Detroit, and the news…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastLa Industria Automotriz bajo Presión: Desglosando los nuevos aranceles
This episode is the Spanish version of episode #150 ¿Qué acaba de suceder? Esa es la pregunta que todos se hacen en la industria automotriz después del…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastAuto Industry Under Pressure: Breaking Down the New Tariffs
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here What just happened? That's the question hanging…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastCustoms vs. C-Suite: The Disconnect That’s Hurting Trade Compliance Strategy
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Trade compliance might not be the most thrilling…
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Leadership through Tariff Chaos and Embracing Autoculture 2.0
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more The auto industry is holding its breath. A 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada is about…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastThe Kettering Model: Bridging Academia and Industry for Automotive’s Next Leaders
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Dr. Robert McMahan, President of Kettering…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastInevitable EV Disruption: Mike Colias on Auto Industry’s Future
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here The auto industry is at a crossroads. Legacy…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastThe Leadership Formula for TE Connectivity's E-Mobility Success with Qiong Sun
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here In this episode of The Automotive Leaders Podcast…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastDetroit Auto Show 2025 - Day 2 - Kettering University
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more It's day two of the Detroit Auto Show, and Jan is back at Kettering University's AutoMobili-D…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastDetroit Auto Show 2025 - Day 1 - Kettering University
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more The Detroit Auto Show is coming to an end, but the conversations from day one at the Kettering…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastWhere Agility Meets Stability: Bridging Startups and Corporate Cultures
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here In this episode of The Automotive Leaders Podcast…
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A New Year, A New Approach to Leadership
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more 2024 is about to end, but the challenges in the automotive industry aren’t slowing down. From…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastTikTok Meets Auto: Ahmed Iqbal's Inspiring Leadership Journey
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Watch the full video on YouTube - click here Ahmed Iqbal, Head of Industry for Automotive at…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastThanksgiving Thoughts: A Message for the Automotive Industry
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate our blessings and express gratitude, and in this special…
The Automotive Leaders PodcastRethinking Automotive: Key Takeaways from the 2024 MEMA Annual Conference
This episode is sponsored by Lockton, click here to learn more MEMA, the Vehicle Suppliers Association, just concluded its 2024 Annual Conference, a premier…