CAREER-VIEW MIRROR - biographies of colleagues in the automotive and mobility industries‪.‬ Andy Follows

In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Nina Hubig.

Nina is an Assistant Professor in the School of Computing at Clemson University, specializing in data science and AI, particularly within the context of biomedical and social network analysis.

She earned her Ph.D. from the Technical University of Munich, where her research focused on developing new data science algorithms.

Nina is actively involved in projects that apply AI and data science, such as the development of a Flood Evacuation Tool designed to assist with flood forecasting and evacuation in South Carolina.

In our conversation we talk about her desire to work in medicine. She knew that she would find it too stressful on the front line and wanted to find a role that played to her strengths. Nina shares her experiences and learnings from spending two years in the corporate world before she realised her dream of a move into academia. She explains the role that fear has played in her life and how she has repeatedly overcome it through willpower.

I enjoyed my conversation with Nina and I'm pleased to have this opportunity to introduce her to you.

If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I'm a trusted advisor to senior leaders in the automotive industry. I work alongside them and their teams to enable Fulfilling Performance. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack.

Connect with Nina
LinkedIn: Nina Hubig
About Nina's work:  (Clemson University, South Carolina) (Clemson News) (Clemson University Calendar).

Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror  

If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app. 

Episode recorded on 30 April, 2024.

In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Chris Barrett.

Chris is the founder and Managing Director of vAutoStock.  The company provides a suite of technology solutions designed to help dealers manage vehicle preparation, vehicle stock location and stock management.  These include vAutoPrep, vAutoTrack and vAutoService and they are just about to launch vAutoBots. 

Chris founded the company in 2015 having worked for 17 years in dealerships, including roles such as Sales Director, and also a short stint with a Manufacturer, Vauxhall. 

In our conversation we talk about his entry into automotive retail, starting with a weekend job and culminating in him being a Sales Director with responsibility for seven sites. Chris shares how the problems he experienced in that role trying to keep track of used vehicle stock being prepared provided the idea for his business.

He explains how he kept money coming in whilst developing his product and the highs and lows of signing up their first 10 customers.

Chris is open about the very real challenges that he and his family are facing that began during Covid and how having his own business has provided valuable autonomy.

I enjoyed hearing how Chris has managed his career from providing showroom support as a schoolboy to now getting great pleasure from knowing that the solutions his business develops are automating and streamlining processes for many colleagues in the retail automotive industry. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.

If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I'm a trusted advisor to senior leaders in the automotive industry. I work alongside them and their teams to enable Fulfilling Performance. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack.

Connect with Chris
LinkedIn: Chris Barrett

Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror  

If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app. 

Episode recorded on 26 April, 2024.

In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Jane Cusdin-Harris.

Jane is the founder of Cusdin Consulting, a company with the purpose of empowering businesses and organisations to attract, nurture, and retain female talent throughout their professional journeys.

During a 24-year career in the automotive industry, Jane has worked in commercial transformation programmes, gaining invaluable insights while navigating the complexities of a predominantly male-dominated sector.

Her journey began at automotive tech supplier NAVTEQ where she developed her expertise, later advancing within Jaguar Land Rover.

Deeply motivated by her core values of curiosity, justice, and creativity, Jane discovered her true calling: advocating for women's advancement in the workplace.

Jane's expertise lies in cultivating inclusive communities, normalising challenging conversations, and inspiring action for meaningful change that benefits everyone.

Her unwavering energy, empathy, and commitment to fostering equality have seen her recognised as an Inspirational Automotive Woman by the Automotive 30% Club and listed in the INvolve Heroes top 100 Future Leaders list on two occasions.

Beyond her professional life, Jane wears the hat of chief ‘magic maker’ for her family at home in Warwickshire and is a keen runner. Drawing inspiration from the diverse generations around her, she finds solace and perspective when capturing miles on the open road.

As Jane embarks on this new chapter, she remains focused and motivated in her mission to help create a more inclusive, equitable and successful future for all.

In our conversation we talk about her childhood and the confidence and independence she developed to become a solo traveller. Jane shares her early dreams to become a photo journalist and how instead she found herself entering the world of navigation technology.

We get to hear how her values influenced her professional behaviour, her attempts to fit in to a male dominated environment and her eventual decision to focus her attention on gender equality.

This really was a wonderful conversation and I'm proud to share Jane's story and passion with you. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.

If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I'm a trusted advisor to senior leaders in the automotive industry. I work alongside them and their teams to enable Fulfilling Performance. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack.

Connect with Jane
LinkedIn: Jane Cusdin-Harris

Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror  

If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app. 

Episode recorded on 12 April, 2024.

In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Stéphane Crasnier.

Stéphane is Group Chief Officer Fleet & Operations at Europcar Mobility Group a role he's held since September 1st 2023. Prior to joining Europcar Stéphane enjoyed an 18 year career with BMW Group during which he held roles in corporate sales, sales volume planning, fleet management and leasing in France, China and Australia, culminating with him being the President and Managing Director of Alphabet France.

He describes himself as still a car fan who embraces the chance to lead change & people. He's a happy man in a challenging environment!

In our conversation we talk about the leadership opportunities he had at school, how his father's role gave him early exposure to thinking internationally, his experience of military service and his progression through a series of corporate roles, first with Heineken and then in the automotive industry. Stéphane shares how he negotiated his first international assignment and what he learned from working overseas.

I first met Stéphane in China when we worked together on a post merger integration project after I'd left BMW. I was delighted to get this opportunity to sit down with him and learn more about his life and career journey. I'm happy to share his story now and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.

If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I'm a trusted advisor to senior leaders in the automotive industry. I work alongside them and their teams to enable Fulfilling Performance. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter. In it you will find easily digestible ideas on how to increase levels of performance and fulfilment for yourself and those you lead and care about.

Connect with Stéphane:
LinkedIn: Stéphane Crasnier

Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror 

If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.

If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub

Episode recorded on  8 April, 2024.

In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Larry Sutton.

Larry is the founder and CEO of RNR Tire Express. Larry established RNR Tire Express in 2000 in Tampa, FL as a company that gives consumers access to quality, name-brand tires regardless of budget or financial circumstance. It’s since grown to over 190 locations in nearly 30 states with many more stores planned.

Larry’s been interested in sales since high school, when he sold inventory from his uncle’s TV and appliance business to his teachers.

After a short stint in college, and a short-lived path down business ownership, he was introduced to the rent-to-own industry.

In our conversation we talk about how he didn't really have an appetite for school but had a work ethic and discovered that sales was a route to make money for a car and to help his mother. Larry admits that the first time he had his own business to run he didn't have the business acumen to make it succeed, and he explains how he then got a job and learned how to help the dealers he was selling to run their businesses. We discuss how he applied that learning when he got his next opportunity in business ownership. That allowed him and his partner to build up a chain of 30 stores which they eventually sold out to a larger group and Larry shares his experiences back as a corporate employee. Let's just say, I don't think I've heard anyone laugh so much about being fired before.

And of course we talk about building RNR Tire Express, how Larry came across the opportunity somewhat by chance and how he was able to bring his experience of Rent to Own in consumer appliances to the tire and custom wheel business. He explains why he didn't set out to become a franchisor and how he and his team have set about creating a common culture across almost 200 locations as a purpose driven organisation.

I loved this conversation with Larry and I am delighted to have this opportunity to share his life and career story. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.

If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I'm a trusted advisor to senior leaders in the automotive industry. I work alongside them and their teams to enable Fulfilling Performance. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter. In it you will find easily digestible ideas on how to increase levels of performance and fulfilment for yourself and those you lead and care about.

Website: RNR Tire Express

Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror 


If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app. 

Episode recorded on  4 April, 2024.

In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Jodie Monaghan.

Jodie is Customer Experience Director at Tusker. Tusker is an award winning car leasing company, the largest salary sacrifice scheme provider in the UK and now part of Lloyds Banking Group.

Jodie joined Tusker in 2015 as Head of Academy, where she was responsible for training and developing their people.

Prior to joining Tusker, Jodie spent over ten years at Alphabet in a variety of roles.

In our conversation Jodie reveals how two teachers took her to one side and helped her to get back on track, how her interest in becoming a forensic scientist was derailed by an accident and how she fortunately found an alternative outlet for her strengths and curiosity in an office environment.

Jodie shares how she learned about leadership during her career journey and how increasing levels of responsibility fuelled her ambition causing her to volunteer for projects that represented an investment in her development and increased the breadth of her experience across the business.

I first worked with Jodie 20 years ago. She is a wonderful colleague to have on your team and I am delighted to have this opportunity to share her life and career story. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.

If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I'm a trusted advisor to senior leaders in the automotive industry. I work alongside them and their teams to enable Fulfilling Performance. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack.

Connect with Jodie
LinkedIn: Jodie Monaghan

Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk

Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk

Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror 

If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app. 

Episode recorded on 18 March, 2024.