The Kettering Model: Bridging Academia and Industry for Automotive’s Next Leaders

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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 about power—it's about unlocking the potential of those around you. He believes a true leader creates an environment where people thrive, where great ideas don't just exist but move forward.

Too often, companies think they've built a culture of leadership because they've put values on a poster in a conference room, but when you ask employees what those values are, they can't tell you. Dr. McMahan is determined to change that. 

At Kettering, leadership is modeled, not just taught. Leaders must make tough decisions, but transparency matters—helping people understand why decisions happen so they feel connected to the bigger picture.

Kettering isn't your typical university. It operates on a co-op model, where students spend half their time in class and the other half working in the industry. This hands-on approach means graduates don't just have theoretical knowledge—they have actual experience solving problems inside organizations.

This model benefits students and keeps the university ahead of industry trends. Students rotate between school and work, bringing back insights about what's happening. That constant feedback loop helps Kettering adapt its curriculum to match the industry's ever-changing needs, making it one of the most future-focused universities in the country. 

But who is McMahan outside of work? He is a Joni Mitchell fan, an aerobatic pilot (not a great one, he admits), and a lifelong astrophysics nerd—he even had a poster of an astrophysicist on his wall in college. 

More importantly, he's the kind of university president who walks the halls, buys students coffee, and keeps the conversation going. Because leadership isn't just about decisions—it's about connection. 

Themes discussed in this episode:

• The role of education in shaping future automotive leaders
• Why the auto industry must shift from command-and-control to authentic leadership
• The key to building an organization with values that drive real cultural change
• How Kettering’s co-op model gives students real-world experience before graduation
• How future automotive careers will evolve and why students must adapt now
• The disconnect between academic learning and corporate expectations—and how to fix it
• The power of real-time industry feedback in keeping STEM education future-ready

Featured guest: Robert McMahan

What he does: Dr. Robert K. McMahan is the seventh President of Kettering University, where he has led a decade of transformation, strengthening its reputation as a leader in STEM and business education. With a background spanning academia, government, and venture capital, he has been instrumental in shaping innovation policy, technology investment, and engineering education. His career includes roles as a physics professor, science advisor to North Carolina’s governor, and senior strategist at In-Q-Tel. A recognized thought leader, he has contributed to groundbreaking astrophysics research and holds multiple patents, making a lasting impact on...