In this episode, Jan Griffiths sits down with Joaquin Nuño-Whelan, President of Lincoln, live from Newlab at Michigan Central.
This is not about cars.
This is about leadership.
Joaquin breaks down how he’s building momentum inside a legacy system, why “quiet luxury” is really about gravitas, and how authentic leadership unlocks performance, culture, and brand transformation.
But this conversation goes further.
Joaquin shares his deep commitment to developing the next generation, from investing in early STEM education to serving as Board Chair of Detroit Cristo Rey High School, where students gain real-world work experience while still in school.
Then you hear it firsthand.
Diego Vargas, a Detroit Cristo Rey student, shares what it’s really like to step into the workforce as a teenager and what he expects from leaders today.
This is the future of the automotive industry, happening right now.
If you care about leadership, culture, and building talent that lasts, this episode is for you.
Episode Highlights:
01:30 Who are you as a leader? Momentum over everything
02:50 The real challenge: Leading inside a legacy OEM
03:14 From Rivian to Ford: The turning point
06:49 Rediscovering Lincoln’s heritage
09:12 Quiet luxury = gravitas
10:15 “I listen, listen, listen… then I act”
12:36 The moment authentic leadership clicked
18:24 Building teams and momentum at scale
22:08 Why Detroit Cristo Rey matters
29:01 What surprised him about work culture
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🎙️Check out our podcast, THE AUTOMOTIVE LEADERS Podcast, where we interview some of the finest leadership minds on the planet.
➡️ https://theautomotiveleaderspodcast.com/
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