In this episode, Cooper Standard CEO Jeff Edwards reveals how people, culture, and authentic leadership drive transformation across 20 countries and 22,000 employees.
Discover how leadership on the plant floor, not just in the boardroom, fuels innovation, trust, and performance. 💡
👉 Watch now to learn how culture drives speed, why leadership starts with listening, and what it takes to build a future-ready manufacturing company.
🔔 Subscribe to the Automotive Leaders Podcast for more insights from top industry executives! https://theautomotiveleaderspodcast.com/
Episode Highlights
00:56 – Built by People, Not Walls: How Cooper Standard’s culture starts with 18,000 people on the shop floor
02:12 – From Command to Connection: Transforming leadership from top-down control to collaboration
04:32 – Culture Isn’t an HR Project: Why every leader owns culture at Cooper Standard
06:21 – Culture Drives Speed: How strong culture accelerates decision-making and innovation
09:53 – The Heart of Leadership: Jeff Edwards on empathy, resilience, and integrity in action
14:26 – The Cooper Standard DNA: What makes great teammates and leaders thrive in manufacturing
15:59 – Redefining the Structure: How Cooper Standard flattened hierarchy to move faster
22:39 – The Excitement of Change: Culture and relationships driving success in the EV era
24:31 – Partnership Through Innovation: Turning suppliers into strategic partners for the hybrid future
30:47 – The Power of Conversation: Why real dialogue builds stronger leadership and better decisions
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