Actionable Advice for Mobility Industry Leaders
Late in 2022, Jessica Robinson, co-founder of Assembly Ventures, was interviewed by Jan Griffiths on The Automotive Leaders Podcast. Jan invited me on the podcast to deconstruct that interview—and that we did.
New mobility—especially for EVs and autonomous vehicles—is a fast-moving, rapidly changing industry driven by startups. Katelyn says the internal company dynamics are different from what she's experienced in traditional automotive, and leaders are the ones who can empower others and create a positive company culture.
“It's now about who has the ability to…inspire people,” Katelyn says. “Who can make the culture be better? Who's cracking jokes here or there? It's really fun to see how you can have different leaders come out of your organization.”
Jan and Katelyn discuss the importance of giving professional development opportunities to everyone on a team. Effective mobility leadership requires the right mindset to maintain a stable team culture in a constantly evolving work environment.
Reflecting on Jessica Robinson’s advice that leaders should sit with their fears rather than quickly push through them, Jan and Katelyn draw practical takeaways. Leaders should welcome honest discussions and constructive feedback, and they should be quick to say no rather than be “too nice.” It’s also important for leaders to embrace all professional backgrounds and recognize the validity of non-linear journeys into a particular workspace.
Join Jan and Katelyn to find out what dancing, bingo, and tier-one suppliers have in common. Reinventing company culture can happen at the team level, even if no other group in the corporation operates the same way.
Themes discussed on this episode:
How new mobility startups differ from traditional automotive
The importance of setting a positive tone in a company culture
Having the right mindset for an ever-changing work environment
What it means for leaders to sit with their fears
Why honest feedback and disagreement are vital to a team’s success
Advice for mobility industry leaders
You can catch my first appearance on The Automotive Leaders Podcast here.