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

Andy Follows
  • 5.0 (6)
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CAREER-VIEW MIRROR offers career lessons from the experiences of senior leaders and rising stars in the exciting global automotive industry. Aquilae's Managing Director, Andy Follows, hosts candid conversations, reflecting on their career journeys to help you with yours.

  1. 6D AGO

    Davina Saranna: Carrying a Legacy and Forging Her Own Path With Top Women in EV

    In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Daveena Saranna. Daveena is the EV Campaigns Manager at Green.TV Media, where she heads up Top Women in EV—making waves in both sustainability and media. With a career that includes Everything Electric, EZOO, Blenheim Palace, and the England Men’s & Mixed Netball Association, she’s mastered the art of blending content, sustainability, and being a 25-year-old woman with a big passion for what she does. In our conversation, we talk about Daveena’s entrepreneurial family story, beginning with her grandfather moving to the UK from India and her father going on to establish Europe’s largest independent Porsche dealership. We explore her early exposure to the family business, and how her parents’ complementary skills shaped her understanding of leadership and teamwork. We also cover her personal journey through education, including the challenges of dyslexia and a later autism diagnosis, and how she turned setbacks into determination—securing her place at Warwick University and becoming the first woman in her wider family to graduate with a first. Daveena shares her perspective on the importance of role models, particularly women in STEM, and how she’s creating community and visibility through Top Women in EV. We also hear about the mentoring and coaching that have helped her embrace her achievements, as well as her academic path to Oxford and her ongoing projects across sustainability and media. Connect with Daveena LinkedIn Website About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 20 August, 2025.

    1h 32m

  2. AUG 31

    Side Mirror: Leadership Lessons from a Brain Surgeon

    In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts to help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.  Today I want to talk about humility, mistakes, and leadership — inspired by a remarkable brain surgeon and what we as leaders can learn from his journey. Listeners in the UK can watch Confessions of a Brain Surgeon on BBC iPlayer:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m002hfbw About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 28 August, 2025.

    13 min

  3. AUG 24

    Frank T. Ziede: From Hip Hop to High Impact – Why People Matter Most

    In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Frank T. Ziede. Frank Ziede is a professional facilitator, corporate trainer, and keynote speaker whose work bridges the gap between leadership and genuine emotional engagement. His mission is simple: people matter most. From performing as a professional hip hop dancer with artists like Celine Dion, Ginuwine, and Usher, to becoming an award-winning filmmaker, Frank’s creative journey eventually led him to corporate facilitation, where he’s worked with brands such as BMW, MINI, Rivian, Toyota, Jaguar Land Rover, and many more. Frank combines a performer’s ability to inhabit a role with a deep understanding of emotional intelligence, helping people authentically represent their brand while delivering standout customer experiences. He’s also the author of the forthcoming book The Lost Art of Giving a Shit: Why Caring About Customers Pays Off — a timely, relevant, and entertaining call for more empathy and connection in the workplace. In our conversation, we talk about Frank’s upbringing in Mesa, Arizona, and the creative, art-filled environment that shaped his early life. We explore his performing arts high school years, his transition into acting and professional dance, and the mentors who helped him pivot into corporate facilitation. Frank shares how he adapts to embody different automotive brands, why emotional intelligence is essential for great customer service, and how his handwritten thank-you card practice has built trust and lasting relationships. We also discuss his filmmaking projects, his upcoming book, and his philosophy that customer experience starts with employees who feel valued, supported, and connected. Connect with Frank LinkedIn Website Black Season 1 & 2 on Vimeo BLACK the Web Series - Season 1 & 2 About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 August, 2025.

    1h 26m

  4. AUG 17

    Side Mirror: 13 ways Fulfilling Performance changes the game.

    No matter how bright and experienced we are, thankfully there are still exciting new developments that can surprise us with their potential. I am fortunate to have seen my belief in the power of Fulfilling Performance ignited in others. I’ve seen people pick up the framework, run with it, apply it in ways I hadn’t even thought of, and come back to share what they’d learned. When someone really gets it, they see the incredible range of situations it applies to, and it changes the way they think about performance forever. And yet, not everyone sees it right away. I’m left thinking: what do I need to do to help more people realise what an absolute gem this is?  In this Side Mirror, I’m going to walk you through 13 reasons why Fulfilling Performance is such a game-changer. I’ve grouped them loosely so they tell a story—starting with why it matters, how it works, who it’s for, and finally, what it enables. My hope is that you’ll come away with a clear picture of why this framework is worth having in your toolkit—and why I’m so committed to sharing it. About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 August, 2025.

    14 min

  5. AUG 10

    Glen Dyer: A leadership journey toward authenticity and fulfilment.

    In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Glen Dyer. Glen is currently Managing Director at Iveco Trucks Australia. His career started at NatWest Bank, and he went on to build experience across banking, finance, and the automotive sector—holding key leadership roles at companies including Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in both the UK and Australia. His journey has included everything from frontline sales roles to leading major organisational transformations, including the launch of innovative financial products and the integration of multiple sales divisions across vehicles and finance. He’s a leader who has grown through experience—often by learning the hard way—and who now takes huge satisfaction in developing others to thrive in their own roles. In our conversation, we talk about Glen’s upbringing in London and his move to Newport Pagnell at age 12, and how his early experiences shaped his sense of identity and resilience. We trace his journey from his early banking roles—where the lack of recognition and rigid hierarchy frustrated him—to the realisation that sales, when approached systematically, could be an empowering path to success. Glen speaks candidly about the tough transition into leadership—being promoted without training, trying to carry the load for his whole team, and burning out in the process. He shares how the loss of his best friend, Paul Davis, at just 30, caused him to step away from work and go travelling for over a year. That time gave him fresh perspective and a renewed sense of purpose. We also talk about his time at Mercedes-Benz—both in the UK and in Australia—where with the support of good leadership and professional development, Glen thrived in roles that played to his strengths and stretched his capabilities. Now, as MD of Iveco Trucks, he continues to lead with authenticity, empowering others to succeed, and finding fulfilment in seeing his teams grow. Connect with Glen LinkedIn About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 14 July, 2025.

    1h 32m

  6. AUG 3

    Side Mirror: Smarter than a smart phone

    In this Side Mirror, I compare two game-changing tools—one globally recognised, the other perhaps still flying under the radar. The smartphone redefined connection with the world; the Fulfilling Performance framework is redefining how we connect with ourselves and those we lead and care about. I explore what happens when we combine coaching, performance psychology, and real-world experience to activate human intelligence—with empathy—to enable high performance, growth, and fulfilment. About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 14 July, 2025.

    13 min

  7. JUL 27

    Paul Ripley: From drum solos to driving mastery and safety advocacy.

    In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Paul Ripley. Paul Ripley is one of the UK’s most experienced and decorated advanced driving coaches, with a 45-year career dedicated to helping people drive more skilfully, more safely—and with more enjoyment. Nicknamed “God’s Chauffeur” by The Daily Telegraph, Paul has worked with top global manufacturers including Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Porsche, and Rolls-Royce, and has appeared as the “Driving Doctor” on Channel 4’s Driven. His story began in Leeds, where he left school at 15 to pursue a career in music. He played professionally as a drummer, performed at iconic venues like the Royal Albert Hall, and went on to build and sell a successful amplifier business—funding the Ferrari that sparked his next career chapter. In our conversation, we talk about Paul’s journey from working-class roots and musical ambition to becoming a trusted advisor on road safety, a weekly columnist for The Telegraph, and a globally respected coach of high-performance drivers. He shares his philosophy of mindset over mechanics, and why emotional stability, self-reflection, and attitude matter more than raw speed behind the wheel. Paul’s story is one of ownership, mastery, and making a meaningful impact—not just in driving, but in how we approach performance in life. Connect with Paul LinkedIn Email: info@paulripley.co Website Industry accreditations: DVSA ADI, DIA Diploma Di, RoSPA ADA Gold, MDG Gold Level, RoSPA ADA Teaching Diploma, C&G 730 Diploma, Diamond Advanced Test, High Performance Course, MDG Diploma, IAM, Mercedes-Benz Performance Driving Masters (Melsheim),DVSA Grade One Advanced Cardington Test, MDG Masters (Human Factors), Royal Carmen of London, Diploma (Royal Logistics Corps), Performance Coaching Diploma (SJW).  Awards: HRH Prince Michael Special Road Safety Award BRAKE - Best Driver Safety Innovation Award 2018 BRAKE - Best Fleet Driver Safety Product 2019 Business Car Techies Award 2018 WebFleet Best Product Innovation Partner 2019 Author of the Acclaimed Book ‘Expert Driving’ Paul provides Expert Consultancy Services for: UK Dept of Transport, DVSA, RoSPA, UK Police Forces, IMS, BP Chemicals, Cosworth, Daily Telegraph, EVO Magazine,Auto Express / Autovia, Ricardo,  Mercedes-Benz, Lotus Engineering, RoadSafe, Volvo UK, BMW, Porsche, Audi, AMG, Hyundai South Korea, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Chevrolet, VW, Nissan, Pirelli, Caterham, Toyota, Prodrive, Proton, Caterham, BCAA Canada, FTA, Bridgestone Tyres, AA Magazine, Shell, Webfleet, The Driving Doctor, Dunlop Suspension, Roll Royce Engineering, Mascotech, TWR Engineering, Mitsubishi etc/.  About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy Thank you to our sponsors: ASKE Consulting Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk Aquilae Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Episode recorded on 4 July, 2025.

    1h 6m

  8. JUL 20

    Side Mirror: Playing the game of Fulfilling Performance

    In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts to help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about. In this Side Mirror, I reflect on what happened when a friend taught me a new card game and how it reminded me of the importance of effective strategies when we want to win. I explore how the Fulfilling Performance framework functions in much the same way—giving individuals and teams a shared understanding of what it takes to grow, get results and go home feeling fulfilled. I also share a recent conversation I had with the AI tool Claude about why this way of thinking might just transform performance conversations. About Andy I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—designed to help people bring more of themselves to what they do and experience greater fulfilment and performance as a result. Over the past 25+ years, I’ve led and developed businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Financial Services in the UK, Singapore, and New Zealand, and Tesla Financial Services UK. Alongside this, I’ve coached individuals and facilitated leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America. In 2016, I founded Aquilae to support leaders and teams in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, coaching, and peer mentoring, we enable high performance that’s also fulfilling—for individuals, teams, and organisations. Learn more about Fulfilling Performance Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub Connect with Andy LinkedIn: Andy Follows Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk Join a peer mentoring team: Aquilae Academy 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 10 July, 2025.

    15 min
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CAREER-VIEW MIRROR offers career lessons from the experiences of senior leaders and rising stars in the exciting global automotive industry. Aquilae's Managing Director, Andy Follows, hosts candid conversations, reflecting on their career journeys to help you with yours.

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