The Automotive Leaders Podcast

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Webasto is a legacy company with roots going back to 1901, but staying competitive in today’s automotive industry requires more than history. It also means challenging long-standing norms without discarding the company’s strengths. To understand how a company like that evolves, we sat down with Brad Ring, President and CEO of ...

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No one would try to stream a 4K video on a '95 Windows computer—but in the auto industry, we're still trying to lead today's transformation with leadership models built decades ago.

That's the hard truth Jan puts on the table in this conversation with Terry Woychowski, President of Caresoft and former GM executive. Together, th...

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Elon Musk did what most thought was impossible. He built a mission-driven brand that captured global attention, made electric vehicles desirable, and forced legacy automakers to rethink everything. But lately, his leadership has taken a turn—and it’s raising serious questions. The mission hasn’t changed, but the behavior aroun...

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As the auto industry faces a new wave of uncertainty—tariffs shifting daily, global instability, and mounting supply chain questions—leaders are under pressure to act fast. For many, that means retreating into old habits, tightening control, and centralizing decisions. But Jan challenges leaders to do the opposite.

She knows it...

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Season 6 opens with a deep dive into the 2025 Working Relations Index (WRI)—and the numbers are telling. Toyota, Honda, and GM continue to rise, while Ford and Stellantis slide further down. The gap between the top and bottom OEMs? The largest since 2008.

Jan brings together Dave Andrea and Dr. Angela Johnson from Plante Moran,...

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Season Five of the Automotive Leaders Podcast comes to a close, and with it, a year of powerful conversations that challenged the way we think about leadership in the automotive industry.

This season wasn’t just about bringing guests to the mic—it was about tackling real-world issues. From supplier risk and global tariffs to leadership challenges inside some of the indus...

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How do you transform a brand that's been part of American history for 125 years, without losing the DNA that made it legendary?

In this episode, Goodyear CEO and President Mark Stewart joins Jan Griffiths to share how he is breathing new life into one of the world's most iconic brands — and why the real transformation is not ju...

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When Pat D'Eramo entered the auto industry four decades ago, leadership looked very different. Power meant control. Leaders gave orders, and people followed—or else. But even back then, Pat knew there had to be a better way.

That mindset was reinforced early in his career, thanks to a unique experience at Saturn. Unlike the tra...

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It was 6 PM on April 2nd in Detroit, and the news just dropped—a sweeping new tariff announcement from Trump had thrown the automotive industry into chaos. In this episode, Jan Griffiths sits down with Sig Huber, Chief Commercial Officer at Elm Analytics, to understand what this moment means.

Sig, no stranger to disruption — fr...

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 sorprendente anuncio de la nueva administración: un arrasador arancel del 25% sobre los vehículos importados y las autopartes clave. 

Para encontrarle más sentido a todo, Jan Griffiths le da la bienvenida a Glenn Stevens Jr., director ejecutivo de MichAuto. Juntos, desglosan las i...

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What just happened?

That's the question hanging over the automotive industry after the new administration's surprise announcement: a sweeping 25% tariff on imported vehicles and key auto parts. 

To help make sense of it all, Jan Griffiths welcomes Glenn Stevens Jr., Executive Director of MichAuto. Together, they break down ...

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Trade compliance might not be the most thrilling topic—until it starts costing your company millions. That’s exactly what’s happening as tariffs shift overnight, companies scramble for answers, and supply chain leaders face an avalanche of confusion. 

Most executives don’t want to deal with customs and compliance, and they...

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The auto industry is holding its breath. A 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada is about to take effect, and the ripple effects will be massive. Suppliers are drawing a hard line—either OEMs accept the costs, or shipments stop. The chaos is real. It’s a high-stakes moment, but Jan Griffiths knows this isn’t just about economics—it’s about leadership.

In this solo e...

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Dr. Robert McMahan, President of Kettering University, started out as a kid with binoculars, staring up at the stars, fascinated by the unknown. Now, he's shaping the next generation of leaders who will drive innovation in the auto industry before they even step foot into the workforce. 

For Dr. McMahan, leadership isn't a...

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The auto industry is at a crossroads. Legacy automakers have poured billions into electric vehicles but are still trying to catch up. Why? Because breaking free from the systems built for gas-powered cars isn't easy.

In this episode, Mike Colias, the Wall Street Journal's deputy bureau chief for autos, joins Jan Griffiths to ta...

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In this episode of The Automotive Leaders Podcast, Jan Griffiths interviews Qiong Sun, Vice President and General Manager of TE Connectivity's Global Automotive E-Mobility business, to learn what it takes to lead a technology company during this transformative period in the automotive industry.

From the very start, you can see ...

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It's day two of the Detroit Auto Show, and Jan is back at Kettering University's AutoMobili-D exhibit, diving into conversations with the people shaping the future of mobility.

Dr. Jacqueline El-Sayed, CEO of SAE International, set the stage with her thoughts on why hands-on learning is the best way to prepare engineering students for the challenges of the real world.&nb...

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The Detroit Auto Show is coming to an end, but the conversations from day one at the Kettering University booth continue to inspire. Join host Jan Griffiths as she sits down with industry leaders and innovators shaping the future of automotive through fresh ideas, education, and collaboration.

First up, Dan Stewart from Automation Alley explains how bridging academia, go...

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In this episode of The Automotive Leaders Podcast, Jan Griffiths teams up with co-host Alisyn Malek and guest André Weimerskirch to explore the dynamic world of startups and legacy auto. Together, they break down startup myths, explore the challenges of transitioning between the corporate and startup worlds, and highlight the ...