The Automotive Leaders Podcast

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 something personal: she's taking a break. Not a long one, just enough to recharge and remind us all that rest isn't weakness; it's strength. Leaders set the tone, and showing it's okay to step back is an important aspect of the role. But this is...

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, 1985, you’re holding this industry back.  We’ve spent decades obsessing over products and systems, yet barely stopped to ask ourselves: What kind of leaders are we? That’s the question Jan wants you to sit with. Because if we don’t chang...

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 operations. He's worked through them at every level. From the production lines of Nissan and Mercedes-Benz and now as a consultant for distressed plants, he has seen what causes operations to fall apart. And the biggest problems don't come from the...

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 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 w...

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 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...

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 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 ha...

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 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 lea...

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 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...

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 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...

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 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...

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 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...

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 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...

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 ejecutiv...

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 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 o...

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 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...

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 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—i...

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 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.&nbsp...

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 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...

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, 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 indust...

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 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...

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 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 Alle...

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, 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 an...

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 supply chain challenges and UAW strikes to the ongoing push for EV adoption, it’s been a wild ride. But as Jan Griffiths looks ahead to 2025, her message is clear: leaders must step up for what’s next. As John McElroy said in episode 100, the...

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 TikTok, joins Jan Griffiths in our latest episode to share his unique journey from selling cars in college to leading innovative strategies that bridge legacy auto practices with modern digital platforms. Starting at Audi, Ahmed quickly rose th...

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 episode, Jan Griffiths makes it personal. She shares a heartfelt thank you to listeners, guests, and supporters who've been part of the journey to transform the culture of the automotive industry. Jan also presents a simple yet meaningful leade...