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.
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In this solo episode, Jan Griffiths opens up about something we all need but often ignore—a break. Reflecting on a conversation with Hadi Awada, President of Axalta Mobility Coatings, Jan explores the guilt and pressure many leaders feel to stay "always on" and why it's vital to step back and recharge.
Jan also shares exciting professional developments, including two new projects: an innovative solution for creating multilingual internal podcasts using a combination of AI and human expertise and the upcoming "AutoCulture 2.0: Leading with Gravitas" online course centered around the 21 Traits of Authentic Leadership.
On a personal note, Jan shares her experience of moving her daughter into a high-rise in Detroit, reflecting on how much the city has evolved over the past 30 years. She openly admits her need for a break and encourages listeners to embrace rest without guilt, leaving them with a teaser for an inspiring upcoming episode.
Stay true to yourself, take that much-needed break, and prepare for more authentic leadership insights on the next episode.
About: Jan is the architect of cultural change in the automotive industry. As the President and founder of Gravitas Detroit, Jan brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for transforming company cultures. Additionally, she hosts the Automotive Leaders Podcast, where she shares insightful conversations with industry visionaries. Jan is also the author of AutoCulture 2.0, a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional leadership model prevalent in the automotive world.
In this episode of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, Jan Griffiths welcomes Marques McCammon, the president of Karma Automotive, to share his leadership philosophy and journey.
A proud graduate of North Carolina A&T State University and holding engineering and management roles in Detroit, including Chrysler, before leading Karma Automotive, Marques’ story highlights breaking conventional molds. He emphasizes authentic leadership, being comfortable with oneself, and leading according to one's values.
Having dared to dream big despite skepticism, he embodies the persistence in challenging the status quo and driving innovation. His leadership lesson focuses on serving the team, listening, making oneself available and vulnerable, and supporting the team to reach their full potential, a sharp contrast to the command-and-control leadership model commonly experienced in Detroit's automotive industry.
Themes discussed in this episode:
Marques McCammon's approach to leading and transforming a company.
How Karma Automotive is pushing boundaries in vehicle design and technology.
Addressing the challenges faced by the company and how they are turning them into opportunities.
Why evolving leadership styles are crucial for the future of the automotive industry.
Strategies for developing leadership skills and approaches that will be effective in navigating the future of the automotive industry.
The critical role of software in driving innovation across various aspects of the automotive industry.
Marques McCammon’s vision for the future of Karma Automotive and the broader automotive industry.
Featured guest: Marques McCammon
What he does: was named President of , California’s first and only ultra-luxury automaker, in April 2023. His tasks at Karma Automotive are twofold, equally ambitious, and paramount: to reinvigorate the brand and to implement alternate paths to revenue. His career, which spanned nearly three decades before joining Karma Automotive, showcases his expansive expertise in general management, product development, manufacturing, brand leadership, marketing, and software-focused automotive innovations. His leadership and contributions to the automotive sector have been recognized by Detroit Business, which listed him among the top 40 Young Executives making an impact in Detroit.
Watch the full book launch speech on YouTube - click here
In this special episode, we'll take you through the electrifying launch event of the book AutoCulture 2.0: Leading with Gravitas, where Jan Griffiths, the visionary force behind Gravitas Detroit, takes center stage.
Jan shares a heartfelt reflection on the significance of the book launch. Surrounded by industry veterans, friends, and supporters, she describes it as the best night of her life, where everything in her career and life converged.
Jan starts her speech by diving straight into the core issue: the automotive industry's transformation. She highlights the flurry of discussions around technological advancements but questions the neglect of culture in these conversations. Jan challenges the traditional leadership model and advocates for authentic leadership rooted in trust and inspiration, drawing from Stephen M. R. Covey's wisdom.
Jan weaves in stories from influential figures like Sandy Stojkovski, Dr. Andy Palmer, Stefan Krause, and Jessica Robinson, illustrating the essence of authentic leadership. Through their experiences, Jan underscores the urgent need for a cultural revolution in the automotive industry.
Jan reflects on Tesla and BYD's remarkable journeys from skepticism to success. She warns against the Blockbuster fate, urging a culture that nurtures innovation instead of stifling it with outdated practices.
With unwavering determination, she calls on the audience to take action and become agents of change in an industry on the verge of a revolution.
Themes discussed in this episode:
Revolutionizing leadership and workplace culture in the automotive industry
The essence of authentic leadership and its significance in driving positive change
Learning from visionary leaders in the automotive sector
This is a solo episode produced to share my personal authentic leadership journey with you. You'll hear about the origins of Dream it, Brand it, Own it, the power of storytelling, why I wished I started speaking up in meetings - sooner, embracing the gray and the milestone photoshoot with Brad Ziegler.
Meet Dr Steve Taubman – The Mindset Expert
Season 2 · Episode 31
Wednesday, December 23, 2020 • Duration 57:07
Dr. Steve Taubman, aka The Anxiety Doc is a bestselling author, keynote speaker, and coach. In this episode, you’ll hear how an ex-neurotic, ex-Long Island chiropractor underwent a personal life transformation that led to his helping others discover the keys to their success and, how all of this relates to your authentic leadership journey.
12:16 Experiences as the MTV spring break hypnotist
16:43 Nerves that fire together, wire together
20:27 Making micro corrections
24:29 Fear interrupts the flow
32:08 Clean up your act
40:48 Wash one dish
45:00 Energy
50:25 Advice to your 25 yr. old self
52:32 The legacy
Meet Tim Fiore – Chief Procurement Officer For Ryder System,Inc. and Chair for the Institute for Supply Management’s (ISM®) Manufacturing Business Survey Committee (PMI®).
Season 2 · Episode 30
Wednesday, December 9, 2020 • Duration 01:05:35
From spacesuits to trucks across multiple timezones, Tim Fiore speaks not only about his craft in the world of the supply chain, but he is also the spokesman for a key economic indicator known as the Manufacturing Business Survey (PMI®)
Tim makes the case for authentic leadership and is grounded by his humanity, caring, and respect for his people, the business, and all of its stakeholders.
02:03 Janet Yellen can dance!
03:32 Tim’s story
12:41 The evolution of the supply chain
15:20 Lessons from the Pandemic
22:00 Embracing WFH
29:41 The high-performance team
40:29 Innovation
46:28 Transparency
51:36 Respect
55:25 Advice to your 25-year-old self
1:00:59 What is Gravitas?
1:02:07 The Legacy
Meet Clint Bruce - Former Navy Special Warfare Officer, NFL Player and Entrepreneur
Season 2 · Episode 29
Wednesday, November 25, 2020 • Duration 01:06:57
Clint Bruce is a former Navy Special Warfare Officer, a graduate of the US Naval Academy, decorated athlete, former NFL player, and seasoned entrepreneur. He is dedicated to helping leaders protect, perform, endure, and compete while helping veterans and their families transition successfully from service.In this episode Clint shares lessons from the ballfield, the battlefield, and the boardroom (and the farm)Clint is humble, authentic, inspirational, and REAL – Enjoy!
20:00 – The Todd Ballard connection and “building high ground for hard days”
29:00 – Vulnerability in the Special Ops team
32:00 – Learning and performing at the same time
34:10 – Are you climbing the right ridgeline?
38:00 – Authentic leadership
45:00 - Trust
47:05 – Advice to your 25-year-old self
49:04 – Asking the difficult questions
52:00 – Open door policy – do you really have it?
56:30 – High-performing team, tactical and moral
58:49 - Gravitas
1:00:03 – Starting the day
1:04:00 – The legacy
Re-energizing your team
Season 2 · Episode 28
Monday, November 23, 2020 • Duration 16:35
In this short bonus episode, I'll share with you ideas you can implement immediately to help re-energize your team and prepare for 2021
Meet Fred Lowery
Season 2 · Episode 27
Wednesday, November 11, 2020 • Duration 01:08:29
The leadership journey of the Tennessee boy who thought he’d made it when he became a design & release engineer for General Motors, he was wrong, that was just the beginning. Meet the man who progressed from GM to Maytag to become the Senior Vice President and President for Thermo Fisher Scientific’s Life Sciences Solutions and Laboratory Products business, and in April 2019 appointed as a member of the DuPont Board of Directors and was recently named one of the most influential people in the fight against COVID 19
03:31 – Fred’s story
09:41 – Keeping the edge
14:23 – Do you stay or leave the plant when COVID19 hits?
17:16 – Creating the high-performance team
20:46 – Tearing down the walls
23:47 – Getting to trust
27:34 – Diversity & inclusion
29:59 - Reverse mentoring
31:25 – The Pandemic – what we’ve learned
34:51 – Speed at scale
39:45 – Gravitas
50:55 – Starting the day
55:09 – Advice to your 25yr old self
59:57 – The board member perspective
1:03:55 – The legacy
The 21 Traits of Authentic Leadership
Season 2 · Episode 26
Wednesday, October 28, 2020 • Duration 53:03
Season 2 launches with studio upgrades and a new look.
In this episode, Jan talks about the 21 traits of authentic leadership compiled from Season 1 along with a sneak peek at the guest line up for Season 2
On Leadership: "For me, I think that as a leader, my job is to serve my team. And by that, what I mean is there's always a greater number of employees than there are leaders, and we often, as leaders or people in leadership roles, get preoccupied with our notion of the authority that we carry or the title that we carry, and we're supposed to drive the day. But the reality is the work gets done by the team. And our job is to connect with that team, help them to find their potential, and their overlap with the other team members so that the organization can see its fullest potential."
[00:03:39] Who is Marques McCammon as a Leader?: Rather than focusing on authority, Marques believes leadership is about serving the team, connecting with them, and unlocking their potential.
[00:04:51] The Birth of an Authentic Leader: Marques reflects on how mentors helped him see past traditional hierarchies. He learned to stop apologizing for his ideas and started seeing everyone as equals, no matter their title.
[00:13:08] Karma Automotive: Karma stands apart as an ultra-luxury brand, distinct from Henrik Fisker's legacy. While others aim for mass markets, Karma focuses on exclusivity, staying clear of the crowded automotive field.
[00:14:48] The Key to Success: Marques shares how a lifelong passion for the automotive industry fueled his journey from an East Coast dreamer to a leader shaping the next generation of vehicles. Despite doubters, he embraced the challenge, driven by a desire to help others find their place in the industry.
[00:17:36] Marques’ Top Leadership Traits: Marques reflects on the power of authenticity and vulnerability in leadership. In a world often dominated by facades, he believes that real trust only forms when leaders show their true selves. For him, being open, even when it means admitting mistakes, fosters growth and builds deeper connections with those around him.
[00:20:18] We’re All Humans: Leadership isn’t just about making tough decisions; it’s about understanding the humanity in every interaction. Marques shares how his bond with a colleague allowed them to navigate a difficult situation with mutual respect and empathy, proving that even in the harsh world of business, relationships matter.
[00:25:06] Leading with Conviction: Jan and Marques discuss shifting from a mindset of strict rules and compliance to one of trust and passion. Instead of expecting the worst, they advocate leading with conviction to inspire and harness people's best qualities, turning challenges into opportunities for growth.
[00:26:49] Focus on the Mission: Marques shares how he keeps his team focused and motivated by constantly reinforcing their mission. By consistently revisiting their vision and taking responsibility for any necessary changes, he ensures the team remains aligned and driven, even through challenges.
[00:29:01] The Biggest Challenge: The auto industry faces its biggest challenge yet: adapting to the software revolution. Marques highlights how the rapid pace and different standards of software development are reshaping everything, from company culture to leadership.
[00:34:18] Going Personal: Marques McCammon shares his passion for the HBO series Warrior and Steve Jobs' focus on product and purpose. He reveals how these inspirations drive his vision for Karma, blending innovation with a meaningful impact.
Top Quotes:
[00:08:27] Marques: “As a business community, we've created that notion that somehow, because I'm the president, chief executive, my workload is more important than the next person. It has different implications but is just as important as yours.”
[00:15:29] Marques: “I want to be a contributor to the next generation. I don't need to prove that I'm smarter, try to be better, or beat someone else out. I definitely don't need to stand up on a stage and pound on my chest. What I want to do is I want to figure out how to help the industry transition into the next generation in a way that more people, frankly, like myself who admire the industry but don't know their role in it, can see themselves and can be positive contributors to it.”
[00:22:50] Marques: “You could be a great operator. You can be someone who's driving for results and still have the understanding and the perspective that the other person sitting across the room from you is a human, that they're important, that they can be a part of your solution, even as you're changing, it doesn't have to be one or the other.”
[00:28:39] Marques: “We hope the business is always going up into the right, but there's going to be some times where we have to change, or we have to pivot, or we have to pull back. We should own it. As a leader, we should be the first one in line to own it. And then also help the team to understand what am I doing differently today and tomorrow to ensure that the next change will be stronger and better than the one from the last.”
[00:29:21] Marques: “The role that software plays and will play in the defining of the value of vehicles going into the future is something different than we've seen in the past 130 years of the industry we've had.”
The importance of creating safe spaces where employees can freely express their ideas without fear of judgment or backlash
Confronting the common challenges entrenched in traditional corporate cultures
Transitioning from top-down management to a more people-centered approach
Cultivating an environment that nurtures innovation
Elevating the voices and contributions of every employee through inclusive communication and community-building efforts
Your Host
Jan Griffiths is the architect of cultural change in the automotive industry. As the President & Founder of Gravitas Detroit, Jan brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for transforming company cultures. Additionally, she is the host of Automotive Leaders Podcast, where she shares insightful conversations with industry visionaries. Jan is also the author of AutoCulture 2.0, a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional leadership model prevalent in the automotive world. With her extensive experience and commitment to fostering positive change, Jan is at the forefront of revolutionizing the automotive landscape. Reach out to her at Jan@gravitasdetroit.com
[03:16]A Warm Introduction: Ashok kicks off the event with a lively introduction, setting the stage for Jan's speech.
[06:22]Culture Matters: Jan starts her speech and talks about why culture is so important in the evolving automotive industry.
[09:51]Following Her Heart: Jan recounts her journey—from feeling stuck in her dream job to daring to redefine automotive culture.
[15:06]Building Gravitas: Jan takes the leap into entrepreneurship with Gravitas Detroit, realizing the need to amplify authentic leadership in the automotive industry.
[24:01]Embracing Change: Tesla and BYD's journeys from skepticism to success and why we should create an environment for innovation to thrive.
[28:25] Shout-out to Sponsors: A quick nod to the sponsors who helped make the event happen.
[30:32] Call to Action: Jan concludes her speech with a powerful call to action, urging listeners to join the movement toward a cultural revolution in the automotive industry.
Top Quotes:
[07:12] Jan: “Every day, we're busy in this industry. We talk about EVs, right? We talk about the adoption rate. We talk about autonomous driving. We talk about software-defined vehicles. We talk about batteries. We talk about charging infrastructure and on and on and on. And technology and technology, right? What about culture? Does anybody in this room seriously think that the leadership model that we followed in this industry that got us to where we are today is going to take us into the future?”
[08:31] Jan: “We have to move away from position and power and look to people and potential. We have to move away from this mindset of compliance because in our industry, oh my God, do we love compliance? We love rules and we want to make you follow those rules. And what happens when you don't follow those rules? Bad things happen, right?
[13:10] Jan: “We have people in our organizations today who are full of great ideas. We have a responsibility as leaders to create an environment for them to grow, an environment for them to flourish, and to banish the fear that we're so known for in this organization. I can't tell you how many times, as direct as I am, that I was afraid to put my voice forward because I was afraid of judgment. I was afraid of being fired. And so, I didn't. I kept those ideas in. Now, how are we going to grow this industry and transform this industry at the rate that's needed if we don't create that environment? We all have a responsibility to do that.”
[25:43] Jan: “We have to create an environment for innovation to thrive. We cannot talk about innovation as it relates to product and technology at one side of our mouth, and then have a culture that kills it on the other. That has to change.”
[26:40] Jan: “We cannot continue with these small little bits of incremental improvement with our culture. We think we're doing some good things, but we're not doing enough and we're not doing it fast enough. We need to do more and we need to do it not only to make sure that we don't become the next Blockbuster, but for our legacy, for our children and for the people coming into this industry. We have to leave it in better shape than the day we walk in the door to walk into this industry.”
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