On leadership: “I don't want my team members to come into work every day and feel like they have to be a different person at work than they are at home. I want them to be their authentic self all the time, no matter what that may look or feel like, and it's not going to look and feel the same way every day. You don't know what's going on in someone's life. But when you're working with me, be who you are.”
➡️FULL PODCAST EPISODE LINK: https://theautomotiveleaderspodcast.com/episode/leadership-insights-for-the-ev-supply-chain-deconstructing-the-jeremy-mccool-interview-with-carolyn-sauer
Themes discussed on this episode:
-The unique challenges of EV suppliers
-Safety features in EV technology
-How OEMs should approach sourcing for electric vehicles
-Personal conviction meets company branding
-Trends in Millennial and Gen Z leaders
-How to influence others in difficult circumstances
-Why fewer meetings lead to better problem-solving
-Innovating without fear of the unknown
Featured Guest: Carolyn Sauer
What she does: With a background in both traditional automotive and e-mobility, Carolyn is the Director of Business Development for Schaltbau GmbH. Her wealth of Tier 1 sales and marketing experience and her cross-functional approach to problem-solving help her drive product innovation and strengthen relationships with OEMs.
On leadership: “I don't want my team members to come into work every day and feel like they have to be a different person at work than they are at home. I want them to be their authentic self all the time, no matter what that may look or feel like, and it's not going to look and feel the same way every day. You don't know what's going on in someone's life. But when you're working with me, be who you are.”
Episode Highlights
Timestamped inflection points from the show
[2:21] Old company, new tricks: Carolyn details her background in traditional automotive and explains why Schaltbau, even as a 93-year-old company, acts like a tech. startup.
[3:43] Networking challenge: In his interview, Jeremy McCool described the difficulty suppliers have in finding the right decision-makers at OEMs. Carolyn says it’s because electrification products fit so many applications.
[6:32] Feel the power: Schaltbau manufactures bidirectional DC contactors. Carolyn explains what those are and how they function inside electric vehicles.
[7:14] Nurture the relationship: How should an OEM approach the sourcing process? When bombarded with new products from an array of different suppliers, Carolyn says buyers have to be open-minded. As for suppliers, she suggests a consultative approach to selling.
[10:07] Next-gen leadership: Jan and Carolyn are impressed by Jeremy McCool’s personal conviction, purposeful branding, and willingness to break the traditional mold of an automotive CEO. They discuss macro trends they’re seeing in Millenial and Gen Z leaders.
[14:52] Safe space in the battle: Jeremy spoke about leading people to move out of their comfort zones. Jan and Carolyn reflect on how to influence others, and Carolyn throws out a challenge.
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