Career-view Mirror: Recent Episodes
Andy Follows
Career-view Mirror offers career lessons from the experiences of senior leaders and rising stars in the exciting global automotive industry. We have candid conversations, reflecting on their journeys to help you with yours.
This is episode 250 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR. I searched how many podcasts make it to 250 episodes and am advised it's less than 2%.
We published our first episode on 1 March 2021 and have published weekly on Mondays at midnight in the UK ever since. Our initial aim was to celebrate the lives and career stories of senior leaders and rising stars in the global automotive industry.
Along the way we evolved and added Side Mirror episodes to cover specific topics. Sometimes we invite along a guest expert and other times like this episode I fly solo.
I'm going to take the opportunity of this being a landmark episode to share a little about what I hope to achieve from all these conversations and let you know about some exciting changes as we continue to evolve.
I am happy to guess that a large proportion of our weekly audience is made up of transient listeners who join to listen to a specific guest, perhaps a friend or colleague or senior leader from their organisation. I'll say more about the value of this later.
It's difficult to be sure but I have a sense from the data that we are privileged to also have a loyal core of regular listeners. I don't believe you're a huge group but what you lack in numbers you make up for in taste and intelligence and I imagine looks and I am incredibly grateful for you showing up each week. The changes I'm going to talk about later will mostly affect you, I hope to your benefit, so please do keep listening to find out more.
About Andy
I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—a simple, practical way to help leaders cut through silos, get people pulling in the same direction, and build ownership and accountability, so organisations perform better and their people thrive.
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 delivered leadership programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.
In 2016, I founded Aquilae (The Fulfilling Performance Company) to support CEOs and senior leaders in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, peer mentoring, and coaching, we help reduce the unseen friction that drags on performance — and create teams where people deliver, grow, and work constructively together.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world to surface insights leaders can apply in their own context.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 hearing our guests’ career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 4 December, 2025.
In this Side Mirror, I want to talk about something we all experience — the knowing–doing gap.
We live in a world where more knowledge is available to us than to any humans who lived before us. And yet… if knowledge alone were enough, we’d all be billionaires with six-packs by now.
Clearly, there’s more to performance than just information.
Today, I want to explore why that gap exists — and invite you to cross it by actually using the Fulfilling Performance framework, rather than simply understanding it intellectually.
About Andy
I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—a simple, practical way to help leaders cut through silos, get people pulling in the same direction, and build ownership and accountability, so organisations perform better and their people thrive.
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 delivered leadership programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.
In 2016, I founded Aquilae (The Fulfilling Performance Company) to support CEOs and senior leaders in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, peer mentoring, and coaching, we help reduce the unseen friction that drags on performance — and create teams where people deliver, grow, and work constructively together.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world to surface insights leaders can apply in their own context.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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
EIf you enjoy hearing our guests’ career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 26 November, 2025.
Hacia Atherton is the author of The Billion Dollar Blind$pot, global speaker, and the first female CEO of a major plumbing company in Australia. After surviving a near-fatal horse-riding accident, Hacia turned personal adversity into a global mission—founding Empowered Women in Trades and championing a new era of leadership grounded in psychological safety, inclusive strategy, and bold cultural reform across male-dominated industries.
In our conversation, we talk about Hacia’s family background as the fifth generation of a successful Australian business, and how the complementary strengths of her parents—her father’s business discipline and her mother’s creativity—have influenced and inspired her.
We then follow an exploratory journey as Hacia heads toward commercial law, refines her choices, and consistently tests opportunities adjusting the mix of business and creativity until she’s truly forging her own path and bringing everything she’s learned to each new role.
There’s a wonderful moment on the shop floor, learning to weld, when a simple piece of feedback reframes her thinking about gender in trades—a spark that ultimately contributes to founding Empowered Women in Trades.
Her story is brutally interrupted by a serious accident in 2017. We talk about the incident, her long recovery, and how she applied positive psychology to keep moving forward—demonstrating servant leadership even in rehab.
Finally, we discuss her book, The Billion Dollar Blind$pot, which explores the link between workplace culture and financial performance.
I loved getting to know Hacia through this conversation and I’m excited to share it with you. I look forward to hearing what resonates.
We don’t talk explicitly about Fulfilling Performance in this episode, but Hacia’s story is a live example. As you listen, I encourage you to notice the four Guiding Principles at work — Know Why, Be Clear, Equip Yourself, Support Others.
Connect with Hacia
Billion Dollar Blind$pot book
Website
Empowered Women in Trades
About Andy
I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework.
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 AndyLinkedIn: 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
Episode recorded on 17 November, 2025.
In this Side Mirror, I explore a blind spot that affects all of us. It’s something that slowly creeps in as we gain experience, and it quietly widens the gap between what we think our people understand and what they actually do.
I’ll share a couple of recent examples — one from a global organisation trying to gather insight, and another from a leader who chose a more hands-on approach — plus a slightly embarrassing personal story from early in my automotive career.
All of them highlight the same human tendency… one that reduces Clarity, Capability, Culture and Purpose without us even noticing.
About Andy
I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—a simple, practical way to help leaders cut through silos, get people pulling in the same direction, and build ownership and accountability, so organisations perform better and their people thrive.
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 delivered leadership programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.
In 2016, I founded Aquilae (The Fulfilling Performance Company) to support CEOs and senior leaders in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, peer mentoring, and coaching, we help reduce the unseen friction that drags on performance — and create teams where people deliver, grow, and work constructively together.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world to surface insights leaders can apply in their own context.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 hearing our guests’ career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 15 November, 2025.
My guests often share stories from their careers of stepping into a new role which they know is going to require them to grow but is also going to allow them to leverage knowledge, skills and experience that they have developed in multiple previous positions.
It's a very satisfying scenario to find ourselves in because we know that there's a good chance we will be able to bring more of what we've already got — our existing capability — to bear in this new position. It increases our opportunity to add value, perform well and experience fulfilment from doing so.
I was able to draw on my own roots and background experience recently when invited to a customer event. My past roles in fleet management, leasing, retail automotive finance and mobility consulting meant that I thoroughly enjoyed being immersed in the topics of the day alongside good people. What made it extra special was that it came with a completely unexpected and highly relevant link to the work that I do now to enable Fulfilling Performance.
About Andy
I’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—a simple, practical way to help leaders cut through silos, get people pulling in the same direction, and build ownership and accountability, so organisations perform better and their people thrive.
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 delivered leadership programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.
In 2016, I founded Aquilae (The Fulfilling Performance Company) to support CEOs and senior leaders in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, peer mentoring, and coaching, we help reduce the unseen friction that drags on performance — and create teams where people deliver, grow, and work constructively together.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world to surface insights leaders can apply in their own context.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 hearing our guests’ career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 9 November, 2025.
Glenn is the Co-Founder of Simplify Holdings International, a company specialising in personal and automotive finance across New Zealand and Australia. Ten years ago, Glenn and his team spotted a gap in the New Zealand market—limited consumer finance options and an almost non-existent online experience—and built Simplify to solve it.
Today, over 17,000 customers have used Simplify, and the business is on track to write over $150 million in finance volume this financial year. Glenn now plays a more strategic role in the group while the day-to-day is led by the team.
In our conversation we talk about Glenn’s foundations: growing up just outside Melbourne, Australia, being told by a teacher at 16 that he’d prefer it if Glenn left school, and how he turned that moment into fuel. We revisit his early career in IT, leading teams older than him, and the leadership lesson that it’s more important to be respected than liked.
We explore his move to BMW Australia, starting in customer service, building relationships across the organisation, and the practical value of curiosity. We discuss the impact of losing his mum, a period of travel and reflection, and the shift from finance broking as a sole operator to deciding—after a pivotal Tony Robbins event in Los Angeles—to build a bigger business.
We then trace the path to Simplify: seeing the New Zealand opportunity, starting small, persevering through perceptions of being “too Australian,” growing a distributed team across NZ and Australia, installing a CEO, and stepping into a strategic role while keeping close to the team and partners.
Connect with Glenn
Website
About AndyI’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.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world to surface insights leaders can apply in their own context.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 23 October, 2025.
When I introduce leaders to the Fulfilling Performance framework with its four Diagnostic Questions, they invariably appreciate its simplicity. They find Step 1 relatively easy. This is the part where we use the four questions to identify the most likely sources of unseen friction or handbrakes as we call them.
I covered Step 1 in last week's Side Mirror episode where I explained how Fulfilling Performance is a simple tool we can use to act on engagement every single day.
Step 2 is to consider options, decide on an action and create a plan to release the handbrake.
Depending on the nature of the handbrake, Step 2 can be more complex and less straightforward. The options at your disposal and the quality of your plan will vary according to your level of leadership capability, experience and authority.
When we get to Step 2 in our workshops, leaders often ask me to share handbrakes that I or previous participants have identified with examples of how they released them.
So in this episode, I want to share four stories from my own career—each one showing a handbrake in action, linked to one of the Four Fundamentals: Clarity, Capability, Culture, and Purpose.
They’re real examples of what happens when a Fundamental is lacking—and what could have been done to release the friction.
About AndyI’m a business leader, coach, and the creator of the Fulfilling Performance framework—a simple, practical way to help leaders cut through silos, get people pulling in the same direction, and build ownership and accountability, so organisations perform better and their people thrive.
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 delivered leadership programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe, and North America.
In 2016, I founded Aquilae (The Fulfilling Performance Company) to support CEOs and senior leaders in the mobility sector and beyond. Through workshops, peer mentoring, and coaching, we help reduce the unseen friction that drags on performance — and create teams where people deliver, grow, and work constructively together.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world to surface insights leaders can apply in their own context.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 21 October, 2025.
I was listening to an interview with Ellyn Shook recently. Ellyn is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Accenture where she is responsible for 774,000 people. She told Michael Gervais on his Finding Mastery podcast that if companies could figure out how to give their leaders tools to act on engagement every day they would see a big difference.
The Fulfilling Performance framework is that tool and in this Side Mirror episode I share how I introduce leaders to how it works and get them up and running with it in just a few hours.
About AndyI’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.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 15 October, 2025.
In this Side Mirror, I share a recent frustration that a leader presented to me in a one to one and I use it as an example of how we can apply the Fulfilling Performance framework to a real world business issue - specifically a dip in engagement and morale caused by an impending organisational restructure.
About AndyI’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.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 9 October, 2025.
In this Side Mirror, I want to talk about “the thing is not the thing.” It’s about those situations where what looks like the issue on the surface turns out not to be the real issue underneath.
For the amusing bit on how the UK has been shaped by immigration over the years:
Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle, S03E02
About AndyI’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.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 29 September, 2025.
In today’s Side Mirror, I reflect on a week working with three different teams in Melbourne—one was a peer mentoring group and two were the leadership teams at automotive OEMs. It was a fulfilling week, and their feedback reminded me how quickly people can grasp the Fulfilling Performance framework—and how much more they want time to practice releasing handbrakes once they’ve spotted them.
So I want to share how you can move from identifying friction to defining practical actions—and why those actions need to be big enough to make a difference, but not so big that you try to “boil the ocean.”
About AndyI’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.
I’m also the host of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, where I share the life and career journeys of key players in the automotive and mobility world.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: 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 25 September, 2025.
In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Richard Savoie.
Richard is the co-founder and CEO of Adiona, which uses AI to power millions of efficient, lowest-carbon deliveries around the world for brands such as Coca-Cola and Amazon. He’s a sought-after speaker and thought leader on transport, mobility, and AI.
His career has taken him from New Hampshire to Boston, and eventually to Sydney, Australia, through roles at EMC, Smiths Medical, and Medtronic. Along the way, he’s gained experience across engineering, medical devices, and entrepreneurship — building resilience, adaptability, and the insight to eventually launch his own business in sustainable technology.
In our conversation, we talk about Richard’s early years in Nashua, New Hampshire, where family challenges and early responsibilities shaped his determination. He shares how severe asthma inspired him first toward medicine, then pivoted him into engineering after falling in love with physics.
We follow his path through Northeastern University, internships with Panametrics and EMC, and his transition into medical devices with Smiths Medical and Covidien. He reflects on career setbacks during the financial crisis, lessons from mentors, and the importance of empathy and relationships in leadership.
We also talk about his relocation to Australia, his experience running a small medical device company, and the difficult decision to leave after equity disagreements — a setback that ultimately led him into entrepreneurship. Richard describes how Adiona’s optimisation technology, developed through a partnership with Coca-Cola, delivered dramatic reductions in emissions and on-road time, and how branding, support structures, and resilience are critical to startup success.
Connect with Richard
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richsavoie/
Website: https://www.adionatech.com/
About AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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 09 September, 2025.
In this Side Mirror episode, I’m joined by James Warren.
James Warren is the Founder and CEO of Share More Stories, a human experience insights company. The company’s primary offering is the SEEQ Platform, which helps organizations and brands uncover the emotional drivers behind employee and customer experiences. James is a researcher, strategist, writer and facilitator who blends storytelling, AI, and insights to help companies better understand themselves, their customers, and their communities. With nearly 30 years of experience in marketing, insights, strategy, and innovation, he is passionate about the intersections of humanity, technology, brands, communities, and culture. An active community leader, he volunteers on several boards. He studied economics and literature at Princeton, and creative writing at Columbia. Originally from New York, James now calls Richmond home.
In our conversation, James shares his journey from corporate life at Altria to creating a storytelling platform that helps organisations uncover the emotional drivers behind customer and employee experiences. We talk about vulnerability, leadership, and how creating space for people to share their stories can deepen connection and engagement. James also introduces SEEQ GPT, a new tool that uses generative AI to analyse stories and deliver context-rich insights while preserving human nuance.
Connect with James
Connect with James on LinkedIn
Connect with Share More Stories on LinkedIn
IG + YT: @warrenjwric
IG + YT: @sharemorestories
Web: sharemorestories.com | SEEQPlatform.com
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling Performance
Check out Release the Handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 08 September, 2025.
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
Website
About AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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 AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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
Website
Black Season 1 & 2 on Vimeo BLACK the Web Series - Season 1 & 2
About AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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 AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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
About AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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 AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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 AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
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 AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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.
In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Arron Oliver.
Arron is the founder of Even Financial, a finance broking business based in Melbourne, Australia. He supports business and personal clients with tailored finance solutions and brings a wealth of industry experience to the table, having spent over 20 years in automotive financial services. His career has taken him from Australia to China and Germany in various roles with BMW Financial Services, including market leadership and strategic head office assignments. Arron began his career at Ford Credit and has grown into a relationship-driven, values-led entrepreneur with a global perspective and deep sector knowledge.
In our conversation, we talk about Arron’s journey from a lively school life in Berwick to discovering the world of automotive finance almost by accident. We trace how a graduate position at Ford Credit opened the door to a rewarding international career, spanning local dealer-facing roles to senior strategy positions at BMW’s headquarters in Munich. He shares how opportunities often came through performance and relationships rather than applications, how he and his wife Alison navigated dual careers across continents, and what it was like to adapt to life and work in China.
We also explore his view on cultural humility, the HQ–market career cycle, and what it takes to build a successful, values-based business. Now running his own brokerage, Arron brings a grounded, human approach to helping clients make smart financial decisions. His story is rich with insights into career ownership, global mobility, and the power of relationships—both personal and professional.
Connect with Arron
Website
Email: arron@evenfinancial.com.au
About AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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 2 July, 2025.
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 do my best to explain what it is about Fulfilling Performance that means I've chosen to make enabling it my purpose. The idea for this episode was prompted by a recent workshop I ran and specifically an insightful piece of feedback from a participant.
I'll be honest, listening to this is not going to give you the same experience as coming to a workshop in the same way that reading a restaurant review isn't the same as eating at the restaurant. But recognising that's the case I'd like to invite you come to a workshop and I'll share at the end what to do if you'd like to accept my invitation.
About AndyI’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 AndyLinkedIn: 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 30 June, 2025.
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.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
In this Side Mirror, I want to do something a little different.
Over the last few years, we’ve built an incredible archive of long-form interviews with guests from all over the world. Many of them are women who’ve had fascinating, international careers and generously shared their stories with humility, humour, honesty, and gratitude.
Three years ago, I wanted to find a way to catalogue and surface all the brilliant lessons and themes hidden in those stories—but the sheer scale of it made it too big a job.
Enter Google’s Notebook LM.
I recently gave it access to 38 episodes of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR featuring women guests, and it produced an audio summary of themes, lessons, and quotes across those episodes. The tech is impressive—but what’s even more impressive is what our guests shared.
So in this episode, I want to:
- demonstrate one way creators can collaborate with AI to extract more value from their content;
- showcase some of the inspiring insights and voices from the women I’ve had the pleasure of interviewing;
- and invite you to explore their full stories in their own voices.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 22 June, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
In this Side Mirror, I’m talking about something I see often after we run a Fulfilling Performance session—leaders hesitating to use the framework with their teams. I share why that hesitation is normal, why it matters, and why stepping into the role of coach—even before you feel like an expert—might be the most powerful move you make.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 15 June, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
In this episode, I share a recent shift in how I communicate about Fulfilling Performance—and why I now say, with confidence, that it drives employee engagement. You’ll hear why that matters, what changed my mind, and how this perspective can help you turn passive measurement into proactive progress.
Gallup’s State of the Global Workplace: 2025 Report
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 8 June, 2025.
In this Side Mirror episode, I’m joined by Kay Korsh. Kay has spent 20 years as a professional stylist — dressing celebrities, working with luxury brands, and helping business leaders use their image as a strategic advantage. Her work helps clients look credible, feel confident, and secure more business opportunities.
Kay believes — and I now agree — that style is a form of communication. In our conversation, we explore how what we wear affects how credible we appear, how confident we feel, and how effectively our ideas land. We talk about simplifying wardrobe choices to reduce decision fatigue, and why smart casual requires more intentionality than it first appears.
We also touch on gender differences in style complexity, how to be yourself and be stylish, and what role fabric choice plays in comfort and sustainability. I found it incredibly insightful — and just a little bit confronting — in all the right ways.
Connect with Kay
Connect with Kay on LinkedIn
Download her free Style Guide for Business Leaders
Book a free 20 minute style consultation with Kay
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 13 May, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
To enable Fulfilling Performance we need healthy quantities of what we call the Four Fundamentals. One of those Fundamentals is Purpose.
For episode 191, back in October 2024, I had the pleasure to interview Amy Rowlinson who was about to publish her book, Focus on Why - Create a purposeful way of life.
As Purpose could be considered one of the less tangible contributing factors to Fulfilling Performance I am always keen to learn more about how others approach it and can effectively increase the "quantity" of it they have in their lives.
I have now read Focus on Why and was so impressed with it in many ways. I'm excited by how well it contributes to the conversation as a resource to help enable Fulfilling Performance. I absolutely love it and recommend it! I share more about why that is in this Side Mirror episode.
Connect with Amy:
Friday Focus Newsletter
Website
Order Amy’s book: Focus on Why - Create a purposeful life
Link to Amy’s socials and other resources
Enquire about coaching with Amy
Listen to Amy’s Focus on Why podcast
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 29 May, 2025.
In this Side Mirror episode, I’m joined by Antonia Dixey to explore how we can better engage Gen Z and Gen Alpha in the workplace.
Antonia is championing youth voices for a better future.
She is the visionary founder and CEO of Participation People, a trailblazing organization dedicated to empowering young people and amplifying their voices on issues that matter.
With over 20 years of experience in youth engagement, Antonia has transformed how organisations and young people collaborate to co-produce impactful solutions.
Antonia’s dynamic approach has revolutionized youth participation in decision-making, helping countless organizations become youth-proof and future-ready. Her expertise includes guiding senior executives through the benefits of cross-generational mentoring, driving true diversity in the workforce, and leveraging the power of young people in brand awareness and service improvement.
A charismatic public speaker and expert consultant, Antonia has inspired audiences across the UK and beyond with her commitment to creating inclusive and accessible opportunities for all. Her work has not only improved business performance but also enriched the lives of young people, proving that when youth voices are heard, everyone wins.
In our conversation, we talk about the shifting expectations of younger generations—what they value, how they define loyalty, and why authenticity and recognition matter more than ever. Antonia shares powerful insights on redesigning our systems, communication styles, and leadership mindsets to meet these evolving needs.
Whether you lead young people, parent them, or work alongside them, this episode offers practical ideas and fresh perspectives to help you create a more inclusive, purposeful, and future-ready environment.
Connect with Antonia
Connect with Antonia on LinkedIn
Website
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 April, 2025.
Alexandra is currently Head of Corporate Accounts at Angle Auto Finance, the largest independent auto financier in Australia. She manages strategic partnerships with some of the country’s biggest dealer groups and plays a key role in the company’s growth journey. Before joining Angle, Alexandra built her automotive career with BMW Group Australia, where she rose to the role of Area Manager. Interestingly, her professional journey began not in business but in music—she studied classical bassoon performance at the Sydney Conservatorium and spent her early career as a freelance musician.
In our conversation, we talk about Alexandra’s upbringing as one of four sisters in a vibrant, achievement-oriented household, her transition from the world of orchestras and auditions to the F&I office of a BMW dealership, and how that unexpected step sparked a fulfilling corporate career. We explore how she learned to create opportunities by asking bold questions, why she now feels more creatively expressed in business than she ever did as a musician, and how her roles in both retail and head office gave her valuable insight into the dealer perspective. We also reflect on the impact of becoming a parent and how it shifted her focus from chasing roles to becoming the kind of person she wants her daughter to look up to.
Connect with Alexandra
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 23 April, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
This Side Mirror explores what might be holding you back from bringing your full value to the role you already have. Inspired by a deliberately provocative question I once asked from the stage—“Are you earning more than you’re worth?”—I reflect on how fear, organisational structure, and even our own unconscious biases can prevent us from acting with the autonomy our roles actually afford. I’ll challenge you to consider where you might be clipping your own wings and how to lean in and lead with more intention, creativity, and ownership.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 25 April, 2025.
In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we explore the remarkable journey of Darin Roberge—collector, commentator, and classic car marketing entrepreneur—who currently serves as the President of Motorwerks Marketing and the custodian of Arizona Car Week.
Darin shares his story of reinvention: from a turbulent youth in Colorado, immersed in music and substance abuse, to building a thriving multi-brand business at the heart of the collector car scene. We talk about the mentors who helped him turn things around, the bold leap that brought him to Arizona, and the corporate challenges he faced in his early automotive career.
You’ll hear how he transformed Arizona Car Week into a dynamic, diverse series of events, and how he channels his energy and creativity into supporting nonprofits alongside his commercial work. He even recorded this interview between 2:30 and 4:00 a.m.—a testament to his commitment.
Darin’s is a story of grit, growth, and genuine passion, with a few magic tricks up his sleeve.
We discuss:
• Growing up in Colorado and discovering music at age 13
• The turning point that set him on a new path
• Selling a prized guitar to fund his move to Arizona
• His unexpected entry into the classic car industry
• Learning corporate life on the fly at Russo and Steele
• Launching Motorwerks and expanding it into five businesses
• Reinventing Arizona Car Week
• His work raising $25M+ for nonprofits
• The role of boxing, blues music, and personal discipline in his life
• Why it’s wise to keep “at least two rabbits up your sleeve”
Connect with Darin
Find all of Darin's links here
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 22 April, 2025.
Tim Bryant is the Head of Training & Performance Coaching at General Motors Europe. With over 25 years’ experience in the UK and European automotive sector, he has carved a distinctive path in learning and development—one that spans global brands and pioneering roles. After launching his own EV training business in 2011, he went on to join Tesla as their first UK Sales Training Coach and later led the EMEA learning and development team during the launch of the Model 3. He has since contributed to BYD’s entry into Europe and now plays a key role in GM’s all-electric re-entry into the region. Tim’s journey blends entrepreneurial instinct, passion for people development, and deep curiosity about what’s next in our industry.
In our conversation, we revisit Tim’s roots in Cornwall and follow his career from an early start at Peugeot and Ford to a courageous reset after overcoming clinical depression. We explore how he found clarity around what energised him and began intentionally building a career around those interests—training, EVs, innovation, and both startup and legacy cultures. Tim shares what drew him to Tesla and how he created scalable programs like “Little Big Things.” Along the way, we uncover the habits, mindsets, and moments that have shaped his fulfilling and impactful career in automotive.
Connect with Tim
LinkedIn Profile
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 9 April, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
This Side Mirror is the second in a two part series about friction. Last week, in Part 1, I talked about unseen friction that is costing you more that you realise and I shared how to detect that friction using four Diagnostic Questions. This week I'm going to talk about how we can use four Guiding Principles to continuously remove handbrakes, reduce friction and enable Fulfilling Performance.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 9 April, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
In this Side Mirror which is part one of two episodes, I want to talk about friction.
Not the physics kind. The kind that silently builds up in our work and lives, slowing us down without us even noticing. The kind of friction that gets in the way of us bringing more of what we’ve already got to what we’re doing.
Fulfilling Performance depends on us recognising and removing this type of friction—what I often refer to as handbrakes.
In Part 2, next week I’ll share how the most common forms of friction fall into four broad categories—and how by topping up the Fundamentals we can reduce friction and enable Fulfilling Performance.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 9 April, 2025.
In these shorter Side Mirror episodes, I introduce concepts, tools, and experts that help you enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and the people you lead and care about.
In this episode, I’m reflecting on a recent moment during a Fulfilling Performance session that brought fresh insight into how our past shapes the way we show up—and how long it can take for others to truly understand us.
We’ll explore how creating space for vulnerability in teams can unlock empathy, trust, and accountability—and ultimately help us perform more effectively together.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 March, 2025.
In this episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, we’re celebrating the career to date of Simon Lane, a distinguished automotive executive and entrepreneur with deep expertise in high-performance sports cars. Simon has held senior leadership roles with brands like Porsche, Aston Martin, and Lotus, where he played a pivotal role in shaping bespoke vehicle programs, including Aston Martin’s ‘Q by Aston Martin’ and Lotus Advanced Performance. An award-winning leader, Simon was named General Manager of the Year by Jardine Motors Group in 2018 for his outstanding leadership at Aston Martin Cambridge, where he transformed the dealership into a globally recognized benchmark. He has also managed high-profile special vehicle projects, collaborating with iconic names like the Red Arrows and the James Bond franchise. Now, as the founder of SLS Consulting Ltd, he advises specialist sports car design and engineering firms, leveraging his vast experience across automotive manufacturing, commercial strategy, branding, and customer experience.
Simon’s journey started in Paisley, Scotland, and has been shaped by resilience, adaptability, and a passion for the industry. In our conversation, he reflects on his early challenges, from struggling academically to finding his footing in retail and car sales before landing a pivotal role at Porsche Centre Hatfield. We discuss his time rebuilding Porsche’s sales team, leading Aston Martin Cambridge to new heights, and managing bespoke projects like the DB5 Goldfinger edition.
Simon shares how corporate constraints eventually led him to launch his own sports car brand here in the UK. Along the way, we explore themes of entrepreneurship, creativity, and the importance of career transitions.
I am delighted to be able to share this inspiring conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Simon
LinkedIn Profile
Listen to Simon's interview on TAKONA TLKS: Simon Lane - The Real Q (amongst many things) - Episode 79
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 February, 2025.
Marianne Daniels is an engineer who's worked in the automotive industry for her whole career. Starting as a quality engineer on the shop floor she's since worked in manufacturing, supplier quality, purchasing, programme management, and new vehicle launch.
One of her earliest roles was as a process engineer for V8 Jaguar engines, and her current role is head of supplier quality for electric vehicle propulsion, so her career spans the industrial revolution from combustion engines to electrification.
Along the way against this technical backdrop she's led business transformation, driven culture change, inclusion, talent development, and immersed herself in coaching – gaining a coaching qualification and putting this into practise to shape her leadership style.
In our conversation we talk about Marianne's childhood in Torbay, on the English Riviera and how she excelled in maths and physics at school, leading to a mechanical engineering degree at Birmingham University. Her career began at Rover Group, where she faced challenges as a woman in a male-dominated environment. She later moved to Ford Bridgend and then Jaguar Land Rover, where she held various roles, including supplier technical assistance and program management. Despite setbacks, such as a difficult line manager and pneumonia, she rebuilt her confidence through coaching and leadership programs. Her journey emphasizes resilience, learning from experiences, and the importance of self-belief.
I loved getting to know Marianne through this conversation and I am sure that her insights and authentic and rounded approach will be highly appreciated. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with MarianneLinkedIn Profile
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 21 February, 2025.
Margareta Sailer (Meggy) is the founder of mondaysquares, a consultancy dedicated to enhancing People, Talent, and Culture within organisations.
Meggy has a proven track record in building and scaling high-tech startups, having served as Senior Recruitment Manager EMEA at Tesla and as Global Recruitment Director at Lilium Aviation. In these roles, she played a crucial part in growing teams from fewer than 100 employees to hundreds and thousands in a remarkably short timeframe. Over the years, she has garnered extensive experience working with major global organizations like Blackberry and HP, witnessing firsthand how culture influences both products and teams. With over a decade of expertise in the talent and human resources sector, she has successfully partnered with scaling businesses, and nurturing startups.
In our conversation Meggy shares her idyllic upbringing in Vienna, Austria and she's open about her early struggles with school, particularly in maths and physics.
As we discuss her experiences at Blackberry, Tesla and Lilium, Meggy emphasizes the importance of company culture and relentless learning in career success. We also talk about the importance of self-awareness, resilience, and networking. Meggy emphasizes the value of making mistakes and learning from experiences. She shares her journey from not feeling that her role at Hewlett Packard was the right fit to finding her passion in automotive and tech companies like Tesla and Lilium. She highlights the significance of early hires in shaping company culture and the challenges of recruiting good talent.
I appreciated Meggy's transparency and the practical advice she provides, especially for young professionals, and I hope that some of her insights resonate with you.
Connect with Margareta
LinkedIn Profile
Company Website
Email: hello@mondaysquares.com
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 February, 2025.
Bob Bradley has held General Manager, Managing Director and CEO roles in six different organisations. He's also guided corporate transformation projects and led hypergrowth division for a top consultancy.
He's revitalised slowing revenues in mid-sized companies, led AIM-listed and family-owned businesses, and navigated post-merger integrations.
His experience extends beyond operations. He's served on 21 boards – commercial and not-for-profit – and even created and chaired trusts, including an employee ownership structure.
But perhaps what he values most is the time spent engaging with fellow leaders. He's facilitated over 800 meetings and had confidential discussions with over 300 business leaders, and even arranged over 500 workshops with over 200 different speakers. These conversations, these shared experiences, have provided invaluable insights into the real-world challenges leaders face.
He's now semi-retired from operational leadership and is passionate about sharing these insights.
I was delighted to have Bob join me recently to create this Side Mirror episode on Sailing in Stormy Waters : Survive and thrive in a difficult economic environment.
Connect with Bob
Connect with Bob on LinkedIn : www.LinkedIn.com/in/BobBradley
Check out other leaders' recommendations for Bob: recommend.BobBradley.co.uk
Website: www.BobBradley.co.uk
Additional Resources
Please email Bob@BobBradley.co.uk for a free PDF copy of his eBook on Survive and Thrive.
Free thoughts, tips and tools for business leaders with 50 - 500 staff: www.BobOnBusiness.co.uk
Play your leadership cards right (book on Amazon): 100days.BobBradley.co.uk
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 18 February, 2025.
On 1 March CAREER-VIEW MIRROR celebrated its fourth anniversary. We published our first episode on 1 March 2021 and have continued to publish every Monday since then.
This is episode 210. We have made it a tradition to celebrate these anniversaries with a Side Mirror episode featuring stories from a range of guests throughout the year.
We are doing that again this year and I am excited to share these extracts with you.
I hope you enjoy them and if you haven't already done so, I hope they encourage you to listen to the full episode.
Links to featured episodes in the order they appear.
Sylvia Scherer
Agustina Garcia
Jean-Luc Cartwright
Alexandra Smedley
Paul Flitter
Naeem Ghauri
Michael Kreeft
Larry Sutton
Gerardo Montoya
Jane Cusdin-Harris
Rachel Wolff
Lavanya Wadgaonkar
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 25 February, 2025.
This is part two of an episode called Lilypads and gangplanks which is about how we can navigate our careers in a controlled way by developing ourselves in the direction of our strengths.
In doing so we grow our capability towards our next role, extending a virtual gangplank rather than leaping frog like towards a potential opportunity or lily pad.
In Part 1 I shared an exercise to help you identify those aspects of your current role that you find fulfilling along with those that you find draining.
In Part 2 we will look at how to analyse your findings and start to create weeks for yourself that contain more fulfilling activities and fewer draining ones.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 February, 2025.
The title of this episode is Lily pads and gangplanks and I feel I ought to explain it.
It seems to me that sometimes when we are considering our next career move we adopt a perspective that I imagine may be similar to that of a frog. We are sitting on one lily pad, that is our current role and we spy another more attractive looking lily pad some way away. We decide to make a leap for it and sometimes we make it and have a good landing and sometimes we miss and land in the water.
An alternative approach which is not open to frogs but is available to us is to use the equivalent of a gangplank to traverse more securely and predictably from our current situation to where we believe we want to be.
We build this gangplank by expanding our current lily pad or role in the direction of our strengths until it reaches our desired destination or until we have more information about ourselves or the desired role or a mixture of both and we decide to alter our course.
This episode is the first of two episodes that will help you to start expanding your role in the direction of your strengths and your desired next position or lily pad. I hope you find it useful.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 13 February, 2025.
In this episode, I talk about the not always popular topic of self promotion. If the mere idea makes your toes curl, please keep listening. I’m going to offer you a way of looking at self promotion that I hope will help you to do it authentically and comfortably so that you can benefit from the opportunities that it can unlock for you.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 6 February, 2025.
Our network can have a big impact on our ability to succeed but it’s a word and a topic that elicits mixed, often negative reactions. If you’re not a big fan of networking or you don’t mind it and would like to become more intentional, I invite you to listen in as I demonstrate how we can use the Guiding Principles of Fulfilling Performance to steer the way we approach networking to make it rewarding and even enjoyable for you and those you are developing relationships with.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 1 February, 2025.
In this episode, we are celebrating the career to date of Mike Nakrani.
Mike is the Chief Executive Officer of VEV, the innovative e-fleet solutions provider backed by energy sector leader Vitol. With over two decades of experience in the mobility sector, Mike has navigated pivotal roles at Ford and BP, combining his expertise in sustainable transportation and energy transition with an entrepreneurial mindset.
Mike’s story begins in a small village in India, where his family lived a subsistence lifestyle, before moving to England when he was six years old. He recalls meeting his father for the first time at the airport, an early chapter in a life shaped by resilience and adaptability.
In our conversation, Mike shares how a mentor guided him to take on challenging production line management early in his career at Ford—a move that stretched him but ultimately defined his professional path. We discuss his entrepreneurial foray into scooters while working full-time, his strategic leadership roles at Ford, and the decision to leave BP to build VEV with Vitol’s backing, helping organizations electrify their fleets and accelerate the energy transition.
Mike’s deep focus on people and purpose shines through as he reflects on the importance of getting the right people in the right roles and supporting them to thrive. Whether it’s starting with the local milkman at nine years old or driving a major industry shift toward electrification, Mike’s journey is filled with insights that will inspire and resonate with listeners.
Connect with MikeLinkedIn Profile
Company Website
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 16 January, 2025.
Do you ever look back on things you did earlier in your career and cringe with embarrassment?
I have many examples that pop into my head from time to time. Fortunately, I’ve learned to be kind to myself and to forgive younger me for the jaw-dropping lack of experience and awareness I displayed on occasion. I’ve since reframed these excruciating memories as reassuring evidence of my ability to grow. I wouldn’t cringe about them if I hadn’t learned how wrong they were, would I?
In this episode, I reflect on a time earlier in my career when I lacked the knowledge and experience to fully support my team and how the lessons I learned contributed to the creation of the Fulfilling Performance Framework.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 January, 2025.
In this episode, we are celebrating the career to date of Preeti Dwivedi.
Preeti is passionate about transforming careers and empowering individuals to achieve their true potential.
She's an experienced HR professional turned 'career and leadership' coach and trainer, bringing over 17 years of experience across various companies and roles in APAC, Europe, and the UK.
Preeti specialises in building talent, leadership development, learning & development (L&D) & Organisational development (OD). She's worked across industries including manufacturing, automotive, FMCD and financial services in various HR roles.
Now based in Dublin and India, she leverages her diverse background to guide professionals in navigating career challenges and building impactful careers worldwide.
As a certified “Chartered Fellow” in CIPD and a “Life Coach,” Preeti strives to combine internationally recognized HR practices with personalized strategies to help people stand out, lead with impact, and achieve their career goals.
Whether they are aiming for leadership roles, a career pivot, or just beginning in their careers, she partners with them in their journeys of building a successful and impactful career recognising that Every ending is a new beginning.
I first met Preeti just over ten years ago when I was delivering The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People programme to her and her colleagues in BMW India. It was a pleasure to reconnect with her and learn more about her life and career story in our conversation and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Preeti
LinkedIn Profile
Company page
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 31 December, 2024.
Ten years ago, almost to the day, I landed back in the UK from New Zealand. Looking back, it’s easy to simplify things with hindsight, but that moment marked the start of a significant transformation for me. I had begun the process of self-actualization.
As Daniel Pink articulated in Drive, we’re driven by autonomy, mastery, and meaningful work. For me, those drivers align perfectly with the BIGR framework: belief, intentionality, a growth mindset, and repetition. That’s what has helped me grow—and that’s what I believe can help you grow too.
To become your best self, to self-actualize and fill out your biggest Russian doll, you need to get "BIGR": Belief, Intentionality, Growth Mindset, and Repetition.Last week, in Part 1, I introduced the concept of growing into your biggest Russian doll—of becoming the fullest version of yourself—and teased that I’d explain the name B.I.G. Iain. In this episode, Part 2, we dive deeper into what it takes to grow BIGR and what the name BIG Iain represents.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 29 December, 2024.
Back in 2006, I accepted a role within BMW Group that required moving my family from the UK to Singapore. My wife and I have two children who at the time, were aged 10 and 6.
In the weeks leading up to our move, I often found myself explaining the decision to colleagues: I'd say, “I felt I needed to get out of my comfort zone.”Fast forward to early 2007, and there I was in my new office in Singapore, surrounded by unfamiliar faces, trying to figure out how things worked—and feeling very uncomfortable. I remember thinking, “This is what they mean by a comfort zone!”Around the same time, I was reminded of something I’d learned on a management training program in South Africa: “Your responsibility as a manager is to produce results and grow the people.”In Episode 197, I shared why growing people matters so much. Today, I want to build on that by introducing a metaphor for growth—one that has shaped my thinking ever since. And next week, I’ll explore how we can use this metaphor to grow ourselves and those we lead and care about.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 23 December, 2024.
"Creating and nurturing a high-performing culture at the North Pole is one of my most important responsibilities as a leader. I use the principles of Fulfilling Performance to make sure my diverse team of elves, reindeer, and magical creatures not only excel at work but also thrive as individuals. Here’s how I do it…"
We wanted a big name for this, our 200th Episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, and when we realised that it was scheduled to be published on 23rd December, we knew exactly who that big name had to be.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 4 December, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Matthew Pretorius.
Matt heads up the business and fleet sales channel at Electroverse, part of Octopus Energy here in the UK. He is starting this channel from the ground up and looking to expand it in the coming months.
South African born Matt has been living in the UK for the last 20 years. He finished up his last two years of school in the UK before starting his career here and putting himself through University at a later date.
He got married last year in July and lives at home with his husband and dog.
In our conversation we talk about his family's sudden move to the UK when he was a teenager to build a better future for them all. His desire for financial independence saw him skip higher education initially and find a role for himself where he could start to earn some money.
Matt is clearly a man with a plan and his story demonstrates his ambition and his grasp of what it takes to progress. His natural relationship building skills allow him to forge strong networks and his clarity about what he's looking for help him to make some good strategic choices.
I enjoyed getting to know Matt through our conversation and was delighted with the transferable insights that he shares in telling his story. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Matthew
LinkedIn Profile
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 2 December, 2024.
In last week's Side Mirror episode "Produce results and grow the people", I talked about a significant experience during my leadership journey that took place in November 2006 when I was fortunate enough to participate in a leadership programme led by Ed Eppley.
I suggested why as managers we need to not only produce results but also grow the people and shared a formula Skill x Effort = Results that demonstrated one of the ways we can grow our people so that they can produce more without having to work harder. Working harder isn't a bad thing necessarily but nor is it a long term sustainable option.
I build on that episode this week and share how that formula contributed to the creation of the Fulfilling Performance framework and explain what we mean when we describe Fulfilling Performance as a function of four fundamental contributing factors with effort applied.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Check out Tim Urban’s post: Your life in weeks
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 25 November, 2024.
In January 2007 I started a new role within BMW Financial Services which meant moving from the UK to the Asia Pacific regional office in Singapore. A few weeks before I moved I was invited to join a management training course with colleagues from my new region.
It was held on a Private Game Reserve in South Africa. The location and the experience were memorable and so was the content of the programme.
In this Side Mirror episode I share some of what I learned during that week. I took away learnings that still, 18 years later, remain integral to how I view leadership and how we can enable Fulfilling Performance.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Check out Tim Urban’s post: Your life in weeks
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 25 November, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Duncan Forrester.
Duncan is a globally experienced Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and consultant who’s worked with many of the automotive industry’s most famous brands.
He cut his teeth at BMW and Volvo in the UK, before being appointed as the global head of Product and Brand Communication for Volvo Cars in Sweden, soon after the Geely acquisition, and relaunching the Volvo brand with the then all-new XC90 and the other models that followed.
He then spent a period of time running Corporate Communications for McLaren Automotive in Woking before the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of a small team launching an entirely new and innovative car company – Polestar.
With that unique experience, he started the first communication consultancy specifically supporting start-up and electric vehicle brands, initially creating the PR and Communications function for INEOS Automotive and their Grenadier, and then as Chief Communications Officer for Volta Trucks. And more recently in the same role for Automobili Pininfarina, with their all-electric Battista hypercar – one of the fastest and most powerful road cars ever built.
And he’s now working with the electrification of the vast Ultra Class mining haul trucks, so he really has worked on the decarbonisation of vehicles at every end of the automotive spectrum.
In our conversation we talk about how he knew from an early age that he wanted to get into the automotive industry and he demonstrated great effort and persistence to make that happen.
When opportunities arose, he had his own north star which helped him to decline some that weren't aligned.
As a result he has amassed a significant amount of experience in the specialised field of launching startup EV brands.
Paul Flitter and Paul Kirby had both mentioned Duncan in their recent episodes, highlighting what a supportive mentor he is. I was delighted to get the opportunity to get to know him myself through this conversation and to be able to share his story and experience with you.
Connect with Duncan
LinkedIn Profile
Website
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 4 November, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Agustina Garcia.
Agustina leads a team at BMW dedicated to integrating modular systems into future cars. She has a fascination for technology and communication and believes communication is the key for success in projects and relationships.
Her favourite sentence in her company is “Be hard on the process and fair to the people.” And she takes inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi’s saying, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”
In our conversation Agustina shares how she was already different as a child because her parents were in Germany and she was raised by her grandparents and wider family in Spain.
She was keen to achieve financial independence as early as possible and so her initial ambition to be a surgeon with its many years of study became less attractive. She chose to go into engineering instead.
She only wanted to be a leader if she could be herself.
We talked about the first person you lead is yourself and how you lead yourself will impact how you lead others.
We discussed women stepping up into leadership positions. Agustina suggests a lot of women don't do it because they don't have role models and she encourages women to become leaders and help shape a better society.
I enjoyed getting to know Agustina through our conversation very much and I am delighted that she chose to share her story with me. I hope that you will be inspired by her stepping up in this way and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Agustina
LinkedIn Profile
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 31 October, 2024.
This is the third of three episodes about how the Guiding Principles of Fulfilling Performance can help us to manage our time or as I prefer to describe it, live our lives intentionally and deliberately.
In the first episode I shared some paradigms or ways of looking at our lives that can support us to be more effective in taking ownership of the journey we are on. The second episode focused on how the first two Guiding Principles: Know why and Be clear can help us to invest our time wisely in endeavours that mean the utmost to us whether that's a business project or a cherished relationship.
This episode rounds off the series looking at how the Guiding Principles of Equip yourself and Support others play their part in enabling Fulfilling Performance when time is at a premium.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Check out Tim Urban’s post: Your life in weeks
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 4 November, 2024.
Last week I published the first in this series of Side Mirror episodes about Time Management. It wasn’t my first choice title for this topic but I called it that so it would be as easy as possible to find for people who are looking for help managing their time. After all, they’re busy people.
In the first episode I shared some paradigms or ways of looking at our lives that can support us to be more effective in taking ownership of the journey we are on.
This episode focuses on how the first two Guiding Principles of Fulfilling Performance: Know why and Be clear can help us to invest our time wisely in endeavours that mean the utmost to us whether that's a business project or a cherished relationship.
Check out the Big Rocks video
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Check out Tim Urban’s post: Your life in weeks
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 31 October, 2024.
In a recent Aquilae Academy peer mentoring session, team members were discussing how leaders can make time for themselves to do what the author Cal Newport calls "Deep work" when it seems that as soon as they walk through the door everyone wants to speak to them.
On a call with a woman I am mentoring, she asked how can I manage all the demands on me without becoming stressed and overwhelmed.
When I launched our Fulfilling Performance newsletter, Release the handbrake! on Substack, a couple of readers were quick to ask how Fulfilling Performance can help us to manage the barrage of demands on our time.
It seems it's about time for a Side Mirror about time and how we can use the Fulfilling Performance paradigm to manage it. In this series of Side Mirror episodes I am going to show you how to apply those four Guiding Principles: Know why, Be clear, Equip yourself, and Support others to manage your time more effectively.
In this episode I'll start with some helpful paradigms. In our upcoming episodes I'll introduce each of the Guiding Principles in turn and explain how they apply here.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Check out Tim Urban’s post: Your life in weeks
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 23 October, 2024.
The expert I've invited to join me in this episode is Amy Rowlinson.
Shining a light on what is possible when you focus on why, Amy Rowlinson empowers people to forge their own path to create a purposeful, sustainable and fulfilling way of life.
As a life purpose coach, podcast strategist and podcaster, Amy's chosen mission is to gift a living legacy of inspiration, insight and knowledge and create long-lasting, positive ripple effects.
On her podcast, Focus on WHY, Amy provides uplifting and relatable conversations designed to inspire listeners to take purposeful action.
Her book, Focus on Why: Create a purposeful way of life, comes out on 24 October 2024.
Connect with Amy:LinkedIn
Friday Focus Newsletter
Website
Order Amy’s book: Focus on Why - Create a purposeful life
Link to Amy’s socials and other resources
Enquire about coaching with Amy
Listen to Amy’s Focus on Why podcast
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 9 October, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Jean-Luc Cartwright.
Jean-Luc is a Director at Maple House Classic Cars
His first experience in the motor industry came at the age of 13, working weekends cleaning cars at a Sports Car specialist in Cheshire in the Northwest of England. Jean-Luc describes himself as an eternal car nerd who has been fortunate to work with some of the most forward thinking automotive brands in the world Lexus and Tesla - He is now pursuing a personal passion by looking back to classics with Maple House Classic Cars.
In our conversation we talk about his early experiences, including his father's influence on his engineering mindset. Jean-Luc explains how he secured his role at Lexus and his subsequent transition from Lexus to Tesla, highlighting the culture shock of joining a startup. He emphasises the importance of building rapport and relationships and acknowledges the mentoring he received. He shares how he adapted to his leadership roles in Edinburgh, Dublin, and Newcastle. Jean-Luc's story underscores the value of initiative, adaptability, and the ability to lead and develop teams.
I enjoyed getting to know Jean-Luc better through our conversation and I'm pleased to be able to share his insights. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Jean-Luc:
LinkedIn Profile
Email: info@maplehouseclassiccars.co.uk
Website
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 27 September, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Susanne Allmendinger-Vogt.
Susanne is the founder of BB&R Brand Business & Responsibility Consulting. Prior to starting her business she had a 25 year career with BMW Group where her last role was Global Head of Brand and Communication Strategy for MINI.
She has a curious mind always seeking the root causes behind the obvious. She's a challenge seeker who loves to explore new horizons and push things forward. She's an optimist who believes there is power and goodness in everything and everyone.
She believes our economic system needs companies with fresh, innovative solutions for the world's big problems - healthy companies that care about all their stakeholders, including the environment, and see themselves as a force for good.
As a passionate brand strategist, Susanne has dedicated herself now, after years in the corporate world, to supporting deep tech startups in building strong, successful brands and businesses.
She helps them overcome their biggest challenges and pain points to bring their impactful solutions to market.
She's also active as a Business Angel and mentors startups in their early stages.
Susanne loves all kinds of sports, mainly outdoors and preferably in the mountains. Living in Munich, this is just around the corner and her source of energy. Fortunately, her husband and 17-year-old son share this passion.
In our conversation we talk about how she found her way into BMW, her early experience of weekly trips to the MINI plant in the UK, her longstanding affinity for the MINI brand, her early foray into the world of Connected Drive and her eventual sense that it was time to move on.
Susanne and I spent 18 overlapping years at BMW but had not met before this call. I enjoyed getting to know her and learning more about her life and career journey.
As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Susanne:
LinkedIn Profile
Website
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 24 September, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Paul Kirby.
Paul is well known in the UK van world as "the Electric Van man" and as a member of The EV Café team.
In our conversation we talk about his rocky start in life, and his career journey from his first job with a library suppliers as a warehouse person and van driver to his current position.
I'm grateful to Paul for sharing his experiences as openly as he does. His approach to our conversation makes the story of his life and career journey all the more inspiring.
As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Paul:
LinkedIn Profile
YouTube: @Electric Van Man
Websites:
The EV Café
EV Essentials
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 September, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Alexandra Smedley.
Alexandra’s most recent role was Customer Care and Aftersales Director, Europe for General Motors based in Zurich, Switzerland.
After an accomplished tenure with General Motors that took her to five distinct locations within and outside of the US, she’s says it’s time to pause and reflect.
The desire to be rooted in community has led her to the decision to stay in Switzerland as she looks to enter the next chapter of her professional career.
In our conversation Alex shares that she was a good student who initially aspired to a medical career.
She found a way to use her problem solving skills in a medical device startup until a family friend suggested General Motors were hiring.
A school trip to Europe had shown her she liked to travel and so GM’s requirement for candidates to be prepared to go wherever they said was an attraction rather than a drawback.
Alex learned how to influence people at dealerships and back at Head Quarters until one of her managers took her with him into the Aftersales business.
She took ownership of the opportunity to manage the Autozone account and achieved success growing the value of that relationship.
She brought senior leaders of both businesses together to recognise the value of the partnership. That initiative got her recognised and won her a new mentor.
When the time was right, she pushed for an international opportunity and landed an amazing experience in Shanghai in a joint venture with mostly Chinese colleagues.
After a brief spell back in Michigan, Alex was excited to join GM’s re entry to Europe which was like being in a start up within a big corporation. Once again she got to deploy and develop her skills to set up an aftersales function from scratch.
I loved getting to know Alex and hearing her story. I hope that the insights she shares can help you or someone you lead and care about. Maybe this interview can unlock some new relationships and opportunities for Alex in Switzerland!
As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Alexandra:
LinkedIn Profile
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 13 September, 2024.
In this episode I'm joined by Colin Tomlinson.
Colin owns a learning and development company specialising in teaching Project Leadership and Management in the Civil Engineering and Construction industry. He uses techniques adapted from his 24 years career as an Officer in the Royal Engineers and his 12 years of experience within the industry to help navigate through the complexities of working on projects. He has recently completed two legs of The Clipper Race sailing almost 15,000 miles from Australia to Seattle via Vietnam and China.
When he and I talked about his recent sailing adventure I found myself fascinated by why he’d decided to do it, how he went about it, what was the impact on his business and family, what was the experience really like and what did he take from it that has remained with him now he’s back at home and back in his business.
Colin kindly agreed to join me to create this episode and answer all my questions. In doing so he shares how instead of pausing his business to go sailing, the trip has been a catalyst to help him scale it. Perhaps less surprising were the numerous leadership lessons that emerge from the concentrated team environment of an ocean racing yacht.
I’m excited to invite you to join Colin and me as he takes us behind the scenes of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race, the only event of its type in the world where anyone, even if they’ve never stepped on a boat before, can join the adventure.
Contact Colin:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colintomlinson/
Clipper Round the World
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 11 September, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Kwan Segal.
Kwan is an experienced human-capital consultant and a career coach for International Students and immigrants in the US. With over 15 years of experience at global companies such as Deloitte, Accenture, and BMW, she has aided Fortune 500 firms in creating their talent strategies worldwide. Kwan is now the founder of ICAway /i-see-a-way/, where her goal is to empower international students for global employability and provide trusted advising services for international educators and career centers. Kwan was raised in Bangkok, Thailand, and currently resides in Chicago.
In our conversation we talk about her childhood in Thailand where in her early teens she appeared in music videos and released a pop album. Kwan shares how she was highly motivated to create a career for herself. She found a mentor who supported her appetite to stretch herself. She kept pushing herself out of her comfort zone taking on challenges that would allow her to grow.
Eventually she found herself in the United States where the nuance of cultural difference made communication much harder that we might first imagine. Again she networked and sought out teachers who could help her achieve her goals.
I loved reconnecting with Kwan and learning more about her fascinating life and career story. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Kwan:
ICAway Website
My LinkedIn Profile
ICAway LinkedIn Page
ICAway Instagram
ICAway Facebook
ICAway Youtube Channel
X (Twitter) handle
TikTok
Other links referenced in our conversation:
Music video (~1993)
Pop album (~1995)
More about Kwang & Kwan
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 29 August, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Lavanya Wadgaonkar PhD.
Lavanya is Chief Communications Officer & Corporate Vice President, Nissan Motor Corporation.
As Chief Communications Officer, Lavanya is responsible for strategic communications & campaigns, knowledge dissemination and outreach to the key audiences that Nissan seeks to influence with an aim to build reputation, earn trust and ensure consistent authentic experiences. She is also the global champion for DEI responsible for actively promoting a diverse, supportive, and inclusive workplace.
Lavanya joined Nissan in 2012 and since then held various leadership roles in India, Asia, Oceania and Japan. Earlier, she held a number of leadership roles in multinational organizations like Eaton, Reliance Industries and Lexmark.
Lavanya holds a PhD and MPhil from Osmania University, India, with specific focus on the language of cinema in India and its effectiveness in representing socio-economic issues.
In our conversation we talk about her childhood growing up in a highly creative environment that featured regular storytelling around the dinner table.
Lavanya explains that she was a quiet introverted girl who liked to learn. Her appetite for learning has seen her return to formal education whenever she wanted to close gaps in her knowledge.
She shares her experience of going from a very diverse upbringing in India to a homogenous society in Japan via South East Asia and recognising that each country has its own culture and way of doing things.
I loved getting to know Lavanya better through this conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with LavanyaLinkedIn: Lavanya Wadgaonkar PhD
Instagram:write_ur_way
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Chris Kirby.
Chris has been speaking about how technology will change the automotive landscape since he published a white paper on the subject in 2017. Since then, he co-founded Tomorrow's Journey, an Enterprise SaaS platform that enables automotive brands to launch and scale fully digital solutions, working globally with the likes of Hyundai, Jaguar and Leaseplan.
Chris Kirby has a diverse career spanning multiple roles in the automotive industry including as a Strategic Advisor at Autofutura Limited, as the Automotive Director at WeCreateClarity and as the Head of Business Development at FGA Capital UK Ltd.
As well as speaking at events across the globe, Chris also hosts the Autocar Change Makers Podcast, where he regularly meets and engages with automotive industry leaders on the future of the industry.
In our conversation we talk about how he left school at 16 and how he had an early opportunity to demonstrate his leadership skills on the rugby field.
Chris shares how he somewhat fell into a career in the automotive industry. He found himself with a good manager in his first role in a Ford dealership, he worked hard and made good progress.
His father had been an entrepreneur and so he'd seen the reality of how hard that can be. Nevertheless he felt the need to step out of his corporate environment to be able to work on the significant change initiatives that he believed the industry needed.
Even though he went in with his eyes wide open to the likely challenges, external factors like Covid and difficult conditions for fund raising proved strong headwinds.
Chris explains his approach to navigating the ups and downs of start up life and is clear about what constitutes the right reason to become an entrepreneur.
I enjoyed and appreciated getting to know Chris better through this conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with ChrisLinkedIn: Chris Kirby
Website: Tomorrow's Journey
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 13 August, 2024.
In this Side Mirror, I talk about a powerful way to enhance our own capability that is open to every single one of us regardless of our circumstances.
This episode is about learning from experience and the role that reflection plays in that.
If you don't already do this, I want to encourage you to reflect on the experience you have built up during your life so far, value it and get into the habit of reflecting on the multiple experiences that you have each day so that you can extract the learning from those experiences and apply that learning for your ongoing benefit.
The more we are open to new experiences the more varied opportunities we will have from which to learn, the more value we will have to offer and the more secure and fulfilling our future can be.
I refer to the following additional resources:
Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Our weekly newsletter where I write about how to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and those you lead and care about.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 15 August, 2024.
In this episode I use my first job to illustrate the contributing factors that came together to enable Fulfilling Performance for me.
If you consider your current situation through the lens of Fulfilling Performance, how does it look?
Does it provide the healthy levels of Clarity, Culture, Capability and Purpose required for you to experience Fulfilling Performance?
Which of those areas, if they were improved, would have the greatest impact on enabling you to perform at an even higher level and experience more fulfilment from doing so?
What can you do to improve that fundamental contributing factor?
What about the people you lead and care about?
Consider each of them and their current situations through this lens.
What is the biggest handbrake preventing them from bringing more of their talent, intelligence, creativity, capability and resourcefulness to their roles and lives?
How can you release the handbrake for them and enable Fulfilling Performance?
I refer to the following additional resources:
Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Our weekly newsletter where I write about how to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and those you lead and care about.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 2 August, 2024.
In this episode I'm joined by Kees Jan Boorsma.
Kees Jan is the owner of Global Automotive, Interim Management and Consultancy. They advise customers and provide interim management focusing on wholesale and retail in the global automotive industry. Their services are geared to OEMs, Importers and Retailers in diverse multicultural environments.
They advise and execute in a competent, pragmatic and hands-on fashion.
Prior to forming Global Automotive, Kees Jan had a successful international career with PSA spanning the Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and France.
In our conversation we talk about his early experiences from a celebrated hotel school and military service and how he finally found his way into the automotive industry.
He shares how nothing was wasted as each step played a part in contributing to the next, how he continued to learn throughout his career including needing to be able to transact business in multiple languages and how his approach to relationships particularly with retail partners assisted him to achieve his goals and the targets of the organisation in a manner that was sustainable and earned valuable respect.
I very much enjoyed getting to know Kees Jan through this conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Kees JanLinkedIn: Kees Jan Boorsma
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 22 July, 2024.
In this episode I'm joined by Louise Brogan.
Louise runs a boutique marketing agency working with entrepreneurs, SME’s and professionals who want to raise their profile through LinkedIn in a genuine and valuable way.
She is an international speaker, and hosts the LinkedIn with Louise Podcast and YouTube channel.
For the past three years, Louise has been a Small Business Britain Champion, in the top 100 Small Businesses in the UK and the top 100 female entrepreneurs. In 2019, Louise was invited to attend No 10 Downing Street to represent small business and was invited in 2022 to meet King Charles at Buckingham Palace at a reception honouring Small Business contributions to the UK economy.
In our conversation we talk about how to get the most out of LinkedIn, whether we are small business owners or corporate employees.
It was a wonderful opportunity for me to ask many of the questions that I had about the platform and to get such helpful, step by step guidance from Louise.
I'm delighted to be able to share Louise's insights with you along with links to all the amazing free resources Louise provides below.
Contact Louise:LinkedIn: Louise Brogan
Website: https://louisebrogan.com/
Youtube: www.youtube.com/c/linkedinwithlouise
Instagram: www.instagram.com/louisebrogan_
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Learn more about Fulfilling PerformanceCheck out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 15 July, 2024.
Stephanie May is Commercial Director of the Women Automotive Network, a global community of 34,000+, whose mission is to support and empower women in the automotive industry. She is an advocate for diversity and inclusion in the automotive industry, and strongly believes in the power of working together for a better future.
In her role, she is responsible for strategic partnerships and steering the Network’s community activities. She is committed to bridging the gender gap in this traditionally male-populated industry, and ensuring talent is both attracted to join and has the resources to develop and be successful.
In our conversation we talk about her career, the development of Women Automotive Network and where to from here.
I very much enjoyed getting to know Stephanie through this conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I help business owners and executives to enable Fulfilling Performance for themselves and those they lead and care about. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub. 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 Stephanie
LinkedIn: Stephanie May
Email: hello@womenautomotive.com
Website: Womenautomotivenetwork.com
Connect with Andy
LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae Academy Guided Peer Mentoring
Email: academy@aquilae.co.uk
CAREER-VIEW MIRROR
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, 2024.
In this episode I talk about how I began to transition very deliberately and intentionally from being in what was already a very good place career wise to now being in my element.
I describe at a high level how I now spend most of my time engaged in work that I absolutely love doing.
I share why I decided to create this role for myself.
I also explain how I set about doing it by describing the first steps which led to me identifying what my element is.
I refer to the following additional resources:
Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Our weekly newsletter where I write about how to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and those you lead and care about.
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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, 2024.
In this Side Mirror I address the topic of one to ones and demonstrate how by looking at them through the lens of Fulfilling Performance we can make them valuable and effective for the individual, their manager and the organisation which is, let’s not forget, paying their salaries.
I refer to the following additional resources:
Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Our weekly newsletter where I write about how to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself and those you lead and care about.
Previous CAREER-VIEW MIRROR episodes
074 The hidden costs of hybrid working.
129 Leading from behind.
132 Purpose and Paradigms of Effective Delegation
133 Delegating with the Guiding Principles of Fulfilling Performance
134 Coaching for Managers
Specific posts from Release the handbrake! relevant to this episode.
Four Diagnostic Questions
About AndyI'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty five years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with AndyLinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 2 July, 2024.
In this episode I'm joined by Beth Sherman.
Beth is a speaker, comedian, and Emmy-winning Hollywood comedy writer who's written jokes for the biggest names in entertainment.
As a speaker, she helps individuals and organizations harness the power of humour to create meaningful connection and genuine engagement with clients, colleagues and audiences.
In our conversation we talk about how she found her way into writing and performing comedy and how skills required for comedy writing and stand up can be used to enhance communication, connection and business building in other domains including the corporate world.
We discuss how Beth now shares her significant experience gained in the entertainment industry to help those of us who, just like stand up comedians, need the people we deal with to connect quickly, engage fully and leave wanting more.
I have enormous respect for those who can write and perform comedy. The most enjoyable and engaging environments I've worked in have been highly professional and at the same time welcomed humour for all the benefits it brings.
I'm excited to be able to introduce you to Beth as someone who has made humour her profession and her craft and who is now sharing her skills through her keynote speaking and one to one consulting.
Contact Beth:
LinkedIn: Beth Sherman
Website: https://www.bethsherman.com/
Check out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
About Andy
I'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with Andy
LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 18 June, 2024.
Paul Flitter is the Chief Operating Officer of HWM a privately owned dealer group based in Walton on Thames, Surrey, England representing brands such as Caterham, HWM Sports Cars and Aston Martin. HWM have the proud accolade of being the longest serving Aston Martin dealership in the world.
Paul’s automotive career spans 25 years working for both PLC and Owner/Driver dealerships collaborating with brands such as BMW/MINI, Aston Martin, Alfa Romeo, Jeep and Chrysler across Aftersales, Sales and Financial Services functions within a dealer environment.
He's a widely experienced customer centric leader within the automotive space with a demonstrable and proven track record in Retail Sales, Dealership management, cultivating OEM relationships and Financial Services all within premium and luxury automotive brand representation.
In our conversation we talk about how he didn't have a clear direction during his school days but once he had a vision he was able to work towards it. Paul shares how by finding mentors and gaining the experience they recommended he was able to begin his automotive career. Paul is a people focussed leader who believes that businesses who take care of their people benefit from stability and motivated team members.
I very much enjoyed getting to know Paul through this conversation and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you're listening for the first time, hello, I'm Andy Follows. I help business owners and executives to enable Fulfilling Performance for themselves and those they lead and care about. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub. 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 Paul
LinkedIn: Paul Flitter
HWM Aston Martin
HWM Sports Cars
About Andy Follows
Andy is an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty years, he has played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, he has coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
He started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with Andy
LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Aquilae Academy Guided Peer Mentoring
Email: academy@aquilae.co.uk
Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
CAREER-VIEW MIRROR
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 5 June, 2024.
Moritz is Head of Advanced Simulation Technologies at AVL Germany, leading AVLs Advanced Simulation Technologies Business for the German Market.
Together with his team, he's responsible for winning customers for AVLs simulation solutions and helping them get the most out of them.
In our conversation we talk about him growing up in a small village in Bavaria before moving to Munich and how his eyes were further opened and his appetite for travel whetted by a chance trip to Asia.
Moritz shares some of the benefits he's derived from high quality management training programmes including how learning about ourselves helps us to become better leaders and how important it is that we are able to grow in our roles, step away from our core competence and embrace new tasks like leadership or sales responsibility.
I enjoyed getting to know Moritz through this conversation and I'm pleased to be able to share his story with you in this episode. 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 help business owners and executives to enable Fulfilling Performance for themselves and those they lead and care about. If you'd like to know more about Fulfilling Performance, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack. 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 Moritz
LinkedIn: Moritz Frobenius
Connect with AndyL
LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae Academy Guided Peer Mentoring
Email: academy@aquilae.co.uk
CAREER-VIEW MIRROR
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 23 May, 2024.
In this Side Mirror episode I’m excited to tell you about the next steps we are taking to share the concept of Fulfilling Performance.
Check out Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub.
Think of it as a resource for you if you are interested in learning more about Fulfilling Performance and how to enable it for yourself and those you lead and care about.
Over the coming weeks and months you can expect posts and articles, examples and interviews and a warm welcome, if you'd like to engage in discussion on those pages.
About Andy
I'm an experienced business leader and a passionate developer of people in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
During over twenty years, I have played a key role in developing businesses including Alphabet UK, BMW Corporate Finance UK, BMW Financial Services Singapore, BMW Financial Services New Zealand and Tesla Financial Services UK.
At the same time, I have coached individuals and delivered leadership development programmes in 17 countries across Asia, Europe and North America.
I started Aquilae in 2016 to enable “Fulfilling Performance” in the mobility industry, internationally.
Connect with Andy
LinkedIn: Andy Follows
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Join a guided 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 4 June, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Adam Sutton.
Adam is the President of RNR Tire Express.
In 2004, he founded Red Letter Studios (RLS), an award winning creative agency in Tampa, FL which focused on Video Production, Design, Digital media and Printing.
In January of 2012, RLS partnered with Thuzi (now LEAP), where Adam became the Chief Experience Officer (CXO).
He became a founding member of Thuzi’s groundbreaking live event & marketing technology division leading and producing hundreds of iconic projects and events for global brands such as Microsoft, Disney, Oprah, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Outback, Ford, Honda, Under Armour, Feld Entertainment, UFC and top agencies alike.
He has had a life-long passion for film, and has directed and / or produced over 50 TV commercials, winning dozens of national advertising awards.
He's also created countless brand films, short films & corporate marketing and non-profit videos.
As a passion project, he co-directed and produced an international documentary titled "The Magic History Of Cinema", which premiered at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.
In 2017, Adam accepted the Executive Vice President position at RNR Tire Express, the franchisor of nearly 200+ retail locations in 29 states. In 2021, he was promoted to President of RNR.
In our conversation we talk about his early entrepreneurial ventures as a magician and fire breather. Adam explains how he was drawn towards graphic design and film making and shares how following his interests eventually led him to the bleeding edge of marketing technology and live events.
As exhilarating as that environment was, he recognised that his life was out of balance and he needed to recalibrate his priorities.
When his father Larry Sutton who was my guest for episode 164 asked him to join the family business he admits to having some initial reservations even though it was an opportunity he'd always dreamed of.
I enjoyed hearing about Adam's somewhat unconventional early years and how seeing perfectionism as procrastination enables him to keep iterating and moving forward. I am pleased to share his story in this episode 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, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack.
Connect with Adam
LinkedIn: Adam B. Sutton
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 7 May, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Gerardo Montoya.
Gerardo is the Managing Director of Automotive at Experian in the UK where his mission is to bring to market advanced digital products that support the rapid transformation of the industry.
With nearly three decades of international experience in the automotive and asset finance industries, Gerardo has accumulated a wealth of expertise working with OEMs, Retailers and Finance Companies across 3 continents.
Before joining Experian, he enjoyed a 23-year career at the Volvo Group where he held Senior Leadership roles in the areas of business development, strategy, and innovation.
In our conversation we talk about his childhood growing up in Peru, the different ways that he felt like an outsider and the happy coincidence that helped him envision an international career in business.
Gerardo talks openly of the sacrifices made by him and his family and shares the exact moment when he realised that his international journey must come to an end.
I loved getting to know more about Gerardo, his experiences and his leadership values during our conversation. I'm proud to be able to share his story and 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 Gerardo
LinkedIn: Gerardo Montoya
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 3 May, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Rachel Wolff.
Rachel is the co-founder of Movebite, an early-stage startup on a mission to bring movement into the workday, personalized for the needs of each employee. Movebite helps companies reduce absenteeism with a workday AI health coach for every employee.
Before Movebite, Rachel was a legal counsel for over a decade at Baker & McKenzie, Uber, and Navan (formerly TripActions). Five years ago, she pivoted to workplace wellbeing and helps corporations and employees with their health and wellbeing challenges. Additionally, Rachel is a certified personal trainer, digital wellbeing and CrossFit coach.
In our conversation we talk about how she decided she wanted to be a lawyer when she was still a child and this meant she was able to make some helpful decisions at school and university. Rachel describes how she learned about her own preferences from experiencing different roles within the law firm. She shares the positive impact that it had on her when she witnessed a senior lawyer comfortably asking questions and openly explaining that they knew little about a specific topic and she reveals how her passion for health and well being kept tugging at her attention throughout her career until she finally made the switch.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about Rachel's journey and I'm delighted to be able to share it 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 Rachel
LinkedIn: Rachel Wolff
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 1 May, 2024.
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 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.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Martin Haley.
Martin was head of Strategy and Corporate Development for BMW’s financial services businesses across the UK; and CEO and co-founder of Red Whale, the UK’s largest provider of medical education to primary care, which was acquired by the Medical Defence Union late last year.
He now works with organisations to develop strategies whilst helping them avoid the pitfalls of poor implementation. He defines strategy as ‘how to get to where you want to get to’ and backs the research evidence that the vast majority of strategies fail because of poor implementation and not because the strategic direction itself is flawed.
He is a qualified executive coach and loves working with leaders seeking to overcome imposterism.
In our conversation we talk about his route into business and into automotive marketing and strategy. Martin shares some highlights and learnings from his time at BMW and his reasons for leaving a successful corporate career to co found Red Whale. We discuss how he and his team scaled and recently sold that business and we explore his passion for coaching and strategy and what the next phase of his career looks like.
I met Martin 25 years ago when he interviewed me for a job at Alphabet. I enjoyed working with him and for him and we have stayed connected as friends and mental sparring partners. I am delighted to have this opportunity to share his life and career story 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, check out: Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub on Substack.
Connect with Martin
LinkedIn: Martin Haley
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Episode recorded on 14 March, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Michael Kreeft.
Michael recently retired from BMW after 37.5 years with the brand. He lived his first 32 years in the Netherlands, then started his international career with BMW in Germany and worked and lived over 22 years with BMW outside of the Netherlands That time was made up of 6.5 years in Germany, two stints of 4 years each in the UK, 4.5 years in France and 3 years in Japan.
He gained experience as CEO in the Netherlands and in France with BMW Financial Services as CFO for BMW's National sales companies in the Netherlands, UK and Japan and as a Financial manager in BMW Plant Oxford in the UK.
Michael loved his international experience and speaking languages to the extent that he is now fluent in Dutch, English, French and German as well as having a basic level of Spanish and Japanese.
He is currently ‘between jobs’ and enjoying spending his free time with family and being granddad. In due course he plans to set up his own company and become active as a coach, consultant, interim CFO and Non Executive Director.
In our conversation we talk about the de-integration of Rover Group from BMW, Brexit preparation, organising and hosting the European Soccer tournament for BMW FS employees in the Netherlands, moving to Japan during Covid and you'll hear a story that may cause you to quickly enrol on a first aid course.
My path had crossed with Michael's a few times during my time at BMW and I am delighted to have now had this opportunity for a deeper dive into his life and career story and to be able to share it here. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Michael
LinkedIn: Michael Kreeft
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Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub
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Episode recorded on 11 March, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Naeem Ghauri.
Naeem is the Chairman and a founding member of NetSol Technologies Inc., a Global provider of end to end IT solutions for the Leasing and Finance Industry. NetSol's clients are the Global Who's Who of Captive Auto Finance Companies as well as specialist Banks lending into Asset and Auto Finance for Large Enterprises, SME's and Consumers. They manage in excess of $300 Billion of their clients' Assets through their various IT platforms for over 200 clients globally.
Naeem is also a founder and former CEO of OTOZ, an On Demand Mobility platform.
OTOZ is the new enabling platform where OEMs, Auto Finance Companies, Car Dealers and Car Users will converge to create supply and demand for cars that are connected, insured, fuelled, charged, cleaned, accessible and ready for all types of journeys; an hour, a day, a week, a month or years.
NetSol has been listed on Nasdaq since 1999 and has clients in 30 countries and offices in 8.
In our conversation we discuss the influence that Naeem's entrepreneurial father had on Naeem and his brothers. We talk about why he turned away from aeronautical engineering and embraced IT. He shares openly about his successes and failures in property development in Australia and his route into NetSol with his brothers. He explains how his early years with Mercedes Benz finance were the start of a 28 year relationship between NetSol and Daimler. And we wrap up with some comments on the current landscape and NetSol's role to provide thought leadership and technology that enables their clients to be the beneficiaries of industry disruption rather than casualties.
I first heard about NetSol when I was in China in 2008 and I've met Naeem on various occasions since then. But we had never had such a detailed conversation about his life and career journey. I found it fascinating and helpful to understand Naeem's background as one of the brothers behind the NetSol business and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Naeem
LinkedIn: Naeem Ghauri
Website: NETSOL
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Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub
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Episode recorded on 5 March, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Sylvia Scherer.
Sylvia is a certified Business Coach who accompanies organisations and leaders in times of transformation.
Before founding her own business, she worked over a decade as a sustainability leader for the BMW Group, including 3 years as Head of Strategy and Internal Communication in China.
Sylvia is determined to transform the business world through coaching. She focuses on deep individual development of visionary and pioneering personalities, supporting them in being mature leaders and in moving our world forward together.
In our conversation we discuss her childhood efforts to create some financial independence and the sense that there was more for her outside of her village. Sylvia shares how her desire to fit in affected both her performance at school and her choice of people to hang out with, which may surprise you. We talk about her career journey including her time in China and her reintegration back into Munich where she co-founded the Connected Culture Club. And Sylvia explains the work that she is doing now working with pioneers.
I met Sylvia over 10 years ago and I feel I really got to know her a lot more and connect during our conversation. I'm pleased to give you the opportunity to get to know her too and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Sylvia:
LinkedIn: Sylvia Scherer
Email: sylvia@sylviascherer.com
Website: Sylvia Scherer
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Release the handbrake! - The Fulfilling Performance Hub
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Episode recorded on 21 February, 2024.
On 1 March, 2024 we celebrated the third anniversary of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR. It has become a tradition for us to mark each anniversary by curating a collection of different guest stories from the year's episodes and that's what we have done for this episode.
We have also chosen 1 March 2024 to launch Release the handbrake! The Fulfilling Performance Hub. Think of it as a resource for you if you are interested in learning more about Fulfilling Performance and how to enable it for yourself and others. Over the coming weeks and months you can expect posts and articles, examples and interviews and a warm welcome, if you'd like to engage in discussion on those pages.
I'm thrilled to be celebrating three whole years and 158 episodes of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR. I couldn’t have done it without the help of the CAREER-VIEW MIRROR team and we couldn't have done it without our guests.
You'll hear 12 different voices in this episode. If you're a regular listener I hope you'll enjoy this trip down memory lane and if you are new to CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, I hope this will help you to identify some episodes to dive into next.
157 Katrin Zimmermann: building an adventurous, innovative and intentional career from an apprenticeship with Lufthansa to establishing and leading TLGG's New York office.
151 Karolina Bullock: Combining a set of transferable key ingredients with self awareness, determination and hard work to create an inspiring career.
140 Side Mirror: Caroline Rae on building a career on your own terms.
138 Vitória Lorenzetti: From Brazil to Amsterdam, Fueling the Future of EVs.
117 Elisa Viaud: The organisational psychologist bringing compassion back into fashion in the HR and recruitment world.
115 Kevin Powell: the "innovative scientist" on a mission to create delightful consumer experiences.
114 Mike Ellenthorpe: a case study in taking opportunities when they appear and remaining proactive and resilient when they don't.
113 Kit Wisdom: navigating an automotive career journey driven by an internal need to remain challenged.
110 Rachel Johnson: Defining a personal operating manual to help managers get the best out you.
109 Rhys Long: on taking a slow boat to China and making the most of opportunities along the way.
108 Dave Palmer - how a humble, hard working former auto finance guy is navigating an entrepreneurial journey in the world of travel.
107 Preston Rogers: on proximity to decision makers, customer feedback loops, awareness of diminishing challenge and the importance of balancing family priorities within an international career.
As always, I'll look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
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Episode recorded on 27 February 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Katrin Zimmermann.
Katrin launched TLGG’s New York office. As Managing Director, she is responsible for consulting services with global clients. At TLGG, Katrin has served and mentored clients on business strategy, digital transformation, marketing transformation and innovation up to the C-suite.
Prior to joining TLGG, Katrin co-created the Lufthansa Innovation Hub (named as best digital lab by Capital Magazine in 2017 and 2018) with global responsibility for business innovation where she developed ventures in the services and mobility field from Seoul to Berlin.
She has a deep knowledge of digital marketing and growth hacking techniques which enabled new ventures to scale quickly and incumbent players to strategically maximize their ROI.
Katrin has over 15 years of client-side experience in travel, hospitality, logistics and loyalty.
She is also an expert in web analytics, SEO and SEM. She has a proven track record of driving traffic and improving conversions through data-driven optimization strategies.
In our conversation we discuss the early influence of her Montessori education, her apprenticeship with Lufthansa, the transferable skills and experience she developed as a Flight Attendant and how she has built her career block by block, having fun, creating opportunities and taking them even (or maybe especially) if they took her outside of her comfort zone so that she now finds herself fulfilling one of her dreams which was to live and work in New York City.
I enjoyed getting to know Katrin during our conversation and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Katrin
LinkedIn: Katrin Zimmermann
Email: katrin@tlggconsulting.com
Website: TLGG Consulting
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Episode recorded on 8 February, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Adam Harley.
Adam is Sales Director for the Leasing division of Santander Consumer UK. He joined to help the business grow market share, volume and capability in the leasing sector. Santander is the 8th largest leasing company in the UK and has bold aspirations.
Prior to joining Santander, Adam spent 18 years with BMW Group where he was fortunate to work in all three of the UK sales operations - Alphabet, BMW UK and BMW Financial Services.
He's very much a family man. Work has to balance with home life and he needs more than a little bit of fun while he's at work.
In our conversation we talk about the influence of his older brother and how that led to his first role in real estate. Adam shares how he later identified a desire to move into a larger corporate environment, ideally in automotive. He couldn't just walk directly into that world but he worked out some steps he could take to make that happen.
He also reminded me how it was a call from me almost 20 years ago that led to him enjoying a successful 18 year career at BMW. Finally we talk about how in spite of BMW being such a great company he eventually felt the need to take on a fresh challenge and how he set about finding and securing that.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Adam on LinkedIn: Adam Harley
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Episode recorded on 6 February, 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Justin Ammerlaan.
Justin has spent the majority of his career to date with the Dutch bank ING and with BMW's leasing company Alphabet. He has lived in the Netherlands, America, Italy and Germany. All of which makes him a knowledgeable commercial leader in the international automotive and mobility sector.
He has a focus on achieving growth, innovation and customer satisfaction in complex and competitive environments. And he is fascinated by everything related to sustainable mobility and energy. He is often described by others as 'a driving force', someone who gets things done.
In our conversation we talk about how once he'd decided on business as an interesting route to take he became involved in digitisation and direct sales from the beginning of his career.
He shares his experience with ING and then living through the acquisition by BMW's leasing company, Alphabet, and his onward trajectory within the new business. I learned the delightful story of how he met the woman who'd become his wife in Italy and why and how they felt the need to keep their relationship secret. Justin very generously lets us in on the challenges he faced that caused him to re-evaluate his path and the approach he has taken to preparing for the next phase of his life and career.
I absolutely loved listening to Justin's story. I'm very proud to share it and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Justin on LinkedIn: Justin Ammerlaan
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Episode recorded on 25 January 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Paul Bennett.
Paul's focus centres on the Asset Finance industry, primarily on the sale
and delivery of complex FinTech/SaaS solutions to Tier 1 (captive and
non captive) automotive financial services companies, their OEM
partners and retail networks in Europe and other key international
markets.
Over the past 40 years he has originated, invested in, and successfully
exited several commercial ventures, mostly in the technology sector.
He's a dynamic yet pragmatic highly skilled communicator with a proven
track record of UK and international success in all aspects of business
development, consulting, and relationship management. He thrives on
close customer interaction and developing executive relationships to
achieve commercial success.
In our conversation we talk about his entrepreneurial background, his early career years and his transition into automotive retailing and then the software side of customer retention. Paul shares some entertaining examples of how his appetite for risk has led to foreign adventures and business success.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Paul on LinkedIn: Paul Bennett
Email: pab@madoxsquare.com
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Episode recorded on 24 January 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Tilly Lyles.
Tilly joined Toyota Insurance Services in March 2023, after moving across from Toyota GB.
She'd undertaken a year’s Student placement with Toyota in 2019 and was invited back onto the 18 month Graduate scheme after she completed her degree in 2021.
Her student placement was spent within the Network Development team under Operations, and she returned to the Network Operations team for one of her graduate rotations.
Other rotations during that programme included Retailer Services, Customer Experience & Innovation and Customer & Network Support.
Each rotation provided an opportunity to manage projects, present to Directors and Senior management, plan and coordinate brand events and manage relationships with external partners.
During her time so far with Toyota Insurance Services she's enjoyed the opportunity to offer support and advice to colleagues within Toyota and Lexus Centres and Groups.
I'm pretty sure that Tilly is the youngest guest I've invited to join me. I first met her about a year ago as part of the work we have been doing with Toyota.
She joined the Toyota Insurance Services team as an Insurance Performance Manager and took part in our Towards Fulfilling Performance development programme. Tilly immediately impressed my colleague Ian and me with her mindset and approach to the programme.
During one conversation I had with her CEO he said, "Why don't you take a different angle with an episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR and feature someone who is much earlier in their career?"
I thought this was a great idea and I hope that Tilly's episode will be particularly helpful for listeners who themselves are in the early stages of their career and find her experience relatable.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Tilly on LinkedIn: Tilly Lyles
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Episode recorded on 9 January 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Steve Siebold.
Since 1997, Steve Siebold, CSP, CFEd has helped Fortune 100 companies increase sales by $1.3 billion USD through his flagship training program, Mental Toughness University.
Siebold has delivered $16 million in keynote speeches at National and International Conventions for companies such as Johnson & Johnson, Ingersoll-Rand, Caterpillar, Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, Toyota, Chrysler-Fiat, Transamerica and hundreds of others.
His 12 books have sold over 1.6 million copies, including the #1 selling book of 2020 on Personal Finance, How Money Works, with co-author Tom Mathews. Siebold’s books have been translated into 7 languages.
He’s a former professional tennis player and national coach. His sports clients include Andre Agassi, the Boston Celtics, Miami Marlins and Ohio State Buckeyes.
As the CEO of Siebold Success Network, Steve oversees a team of 118 inside and outside salespeople, which gives him unique insights on how to build a mentally tough sales team.
Steve’s work has been featured on every major television network in the United States and Canada, and his interviews and articles have appeared in the Wall Street Journal, Fortune, Forbes, USA Today and hundreds of other publications around the world.
As a professional speaker, Steve ranks among the top 1% of income earners worldwide. He is the former chairman of the National Speakers Association’s Million-Dollar Speaker Group.
In our conversation, we talk about what Steve learned from his professional tennis career and how that helped him as an entrepreneur, the value of coaches and mentors (particularly if we are able to follow their guidance with commitment), how it's easier to commit if what we are committing to is genuinely the right thing for us, the role that luck has played in his success and how he and his wife and business partner Dawn are now intent on giving back and giving others a hand up in various ways including the International Personal Development Association whose mission is to reduce human suffering around the world through personal development.I first got to know about Steve in 2010 and I've followed his work ever since. I'm delighted that he joined me to create this episode and I'm thrilled to share his insights with you.
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn: Steve Siebold
Speaker Steve Siebold
International Personal Development Association
Steve on TV
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Episode recorded on 4 January 2024.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Karolina Bullock.
Karolina is the General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy for Toyota Insurance Services UK.
Before taking on her latest role, Karolina spent the majority of her career within facilities management with the Japanese insurer Aioi Nissay Dowa, part of the MS & AD Group.
In our conversation, we talk about her childhood in Poland, her move to the UK aged 18 and the key ingredients that she has leveraged over the last decade or so to develop her career.
When I first heard Karolina's story I was struck by her courage, her tenacity and drive, her pragmatism, her self awareness and her ambition. Karolina openly shares the paradigms and behaviours that have clearly contributed to her success so far and that will transfer easily and equally effectively into other domains.
I am inspired by how Karolina has navigated her career journey so far and delighted to give you an insight into her mindset and approach in this episode. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect on LinkedIn: Karolina Bullock
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Episode recorded on 8 January 2024.
This is Episode 150 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR. We are celebrating this milestone with a very special guest, Annie Wechter.
Annie helped us to get the podcast started and was our guest for Episode 1.
When we last spoke to Annie, she was in lockdown mode, fresh out of a world tour and taking a career break from the EV world while launching a sustainable swimwear company. She didn't sit out of the game for long. Annie joined the exciting British start-up Arrival at the end of 2020 to launch their innovative electric delivery Vans and city Buses, powered by local microfactories. After an exciting ride at Arrival, which witnessed the highest-valued IPO in UK history, followed by many twists and turns, Annie left to join a Cambridge-based battery tech company called Nyobolt this year, leading their Investor Relations activities while also pursuing a Master's degree in International Development, Social Justice and Sustainability.
In our conversation we talk about Annie's experiences and learnings from 2.5 years at Arrival, she gives us an update on the 4 months she spent this past summer in Uganda and Brazil supporting her personal social projects, we talk about her appreciation and passion for renewable energies and green tech and how she has now joined Nyobolt and enrolled on a Masters programme at Bath University in the UK.
I am proud to call Annie a friend and privileged to be able to share this latest phase of her career and life journey. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Annie on LinkedIn: Annie Wechter
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Episode recorded on 16 November 2023.
In November 2010, prompted by a suggestion in an email newsletter that I had subscribed to, I sat down and fleshed out the details behind the statement, “What my life will be like”.
I’m recording this episode knowing that it will be published on 1 January 2024.
As it’s a time of year when we often set aside some time for reflection and goal setting I thought it would be an ideal episode to share my experience of this exercise.
Often when we talk about Goal Setting, we are encouraged to set SMART goals. That is goals or objectives that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound or some slight variation of the SMART acronym.
We are recommended to break them down into action steps and work out how we are going to measure our progress. Whilst this approach is well proven and effective, it can feel like a fair amount of work and be offputting. Sometimes so much so that we decide not to bother at all!
Unlike that approach, I'd say this exercise was fun. I'd even use the word playful. I use that word very deliberately because play is a behaviour we often consign to our childhood.
The exercise I am going to share with you allows or even requires us to use our imagination. Some of us find that easier than others.
The exercise encourages us to create in our imaginations how we would like our life to be.
When I did this, just over 13 years ago, I chose to focus on imagining my next career.
My end in mind for sharing this story is to encourage you to have some fun, unleash your imagination, reflect on your values, strengths and interests and in some way, shape or form capture that stream of consciousness about how your life will be in a document. That exercise will give you increased clarity and a sense of intentionality that will inform your decision making and actions.
And I hope that you will return to this document after an appropriate period of time to find that much of what you have wished for you have been able to create for yourself.
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Episode recorded on 29 December, 2023.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Gurpreet Singh.
Gurpreet is the Founder at 3rd Eye Consulting in Dubai in the U.A.E.
Born in India, he started his career in consumer electronics with LG before spending ten years in the Indian automotive market, first with Maruti Suzuki and then BMW. He seized an international opportunity to join Jaguar Land Rover in the UAE where he spent a further 7 and a half years until he left to start 3rd Eye.
3rd Eye aims to be the MENA region's Agency of choice when it comes to Data Analytics, Business Intelligence, Media and CRO Services. They uncover insights that help clients take the meaningful decisions that matter most for their businesses. Their Tech partnerships with industry leading OEMs put them in the driving seat to bring cutting edge solutions and solve problems with the utmost efficiency. All this is done by a highly skilled, experienced and accomplished team who are on a mission to help their clients unlock the tremendous growth opportunities hidden beneath reams of data.
I had the pleasure to first meet Gurpreet when I was in India around 10 years ago and we have kept in touch.
I am grateful to him for sharing his life and career journey with me and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Gurpreet on LinkedIn: Gurpreet Singh
Email: gurpreet@3rdeye.ae
Website: 3rd Eye Consulting
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Episode recorded on 23 November 2023.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Pieter Demaeght.
Pieter is director of mobility at the consultancy DDX, building products and services while serving global customers.
He has a rich international management background and specialises in automotive sales, financial services and customer loyalty.
Pieter's experience spans leading automotive digital transformation at DDX, roles in Sales, Marketing, Finance and Operations at BMW Group Financial Services, and transformation projects for international banks.
He also works as a mentor and coach for young professionals around the world, sharing his international network, experience and growth mindset.
Our conversation covers his challenging childhood dealing with a rare medical condition, his early consulting career, his international experiences with BMW and his recent move back into consulting and back to Europe where he has settled in Portugal.
Enjoy Pieter's story and I invite you as always to reach out and share what resonates with you.
Connect with Pieter on LinkedIn: Pieter Demaeght
Email: Pieter@ddxtransformation.com
Website: DDX
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Episode recorded on 22 November 2023.
For this episode I am joined by Dr Lucy Ryan who has a well-earned reputation as a wise, vibrant leadership coach and a voice that leaders take seriously.
Lucy is a senior lecturer at the University of East London and a visiting research fellow at the University of Liverpool.
With a master's in Positive Psychology and a PhD in Leadership, she has developed over 10,000 global leaders, blending psychology with practical, accessible guidance, encapsulated in her 2021 book, Lunchtime Learning for Leaders.
Lucy’s latest book “Revolting Women” offers a fresh and informed take on why professional women over 50 leave their jobs at the top of their game - and what business leaders can do about it.
In this book she draws on her PhD research and extensive experience of working with female leaders to challenge assumptions of women over 50 in the workplace and promote their strengths.
Revolting Women shows that assumptions about declining midlife motivation and energy just aren’t true for women and reveals how you can retain and develop this invaluable talent pool with a better understanding of their challenges and a few simple changes.
LinkedIn: Lucy Ryan
Website: www.lucyryan.co.uk
Buy Revolting Women
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Episode recorded on 20 November, 2023.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Christopher Hope.
Chris is the Brand Manager for Rolls Royce Motor Cars in Melbourne, Australia.
It took Chris a little while to identify his calling in the car industry but from his earliest years he demonstrated curiosity, a fascination with cars and design and an ability to connect with people.
With over thirty years in the industry behind him he continues to leverage his talent, intelligence, creativity and capability to configure beautiful bespoke motor cars and experiences for, as he says, friends of the Rolls Royce family.
In our conversation we talk about his childhood, a family connection to Captain James Cook, learning from the mindsets and behaviours of his immigrant neighbours and his challenging academic performance at school.
Through his stories, Chris shares numerous examples of how his curiosity and approach helped him to develop extraordinary connections with individuals from all walks of life leading many to comment that "There's something about you…"
Occasionally his way of being led to job offers and exposure to guides and mentors. Countless people enriched his life, allowed him to be authentic and paved the way for him to now excel at what some call the pinnacle of the industry.
I loved getting to know Chris in this episode and hearing how he developed from being the boy with something about him to become a talented, generous and caring expert in his field.
Please enjoy his story and I invite you as always to reach out and share what resonates with you.
Connect with Christopher on LinkedIn: Christopher Hope
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Episode recorded on 14 November 2023.
Sejal is on a mission to educate and empower people to create a world where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Sejal is a former employment law attorney, a 2X TEDx speaker, and the Founder and Chief Civility Officer at TrainXtra, a woman/minority- owned training consulting firm, where she helps leaders create positive, safe, and respectful workplaces through customized training and coaching.
Sejal is also the Chief Culture Officer of Nobody Studios, a venture capital firm that aims to create 100 compelling companies, guiding them from ideation to full-scale company validation. She is responsible for cultivating a people-first culture at Nobody Studios.
I knew a little of Sejal's story and mission from her TEDx talks and was keen to introduce her you to you. I hope that you find her as inspiring as I do.
Connect with Sejal:
LinkedIn: Sejal Thakkar
Website: TrainXtra
Email: sejal@trainxtra.com
Watch Sejal's TEDx talks:
The Pain, Power and Paradox of Bias
Go from Longing to Belonging
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Aquilae
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Episode recorded on 30 October, 2023.
Margie Oleson is a dynamic executive coach and leadership virtuoso armed with a doctorate in Organization Development.
With a strategic blend of expertise and innovation, Margie empowers leaders and their teams to forge robust foundations for collaboration and productivity.
Navigating diverse industries from aeronautics to fintech, Margie’s client roster reads like a global who’s who. Her pioneering approach has redefined sectors including Financial Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing, and Nonprofits.
At the heart of her legacy lies the Top Team Accelerator, a transformative force driving senior leaders and their teams to master change and drive enduring advancements.
Margie thrives on sculpting unified, high-performing teams. Her unique methodology turns leadership squads into cohesive forces, translating to elevated performance across the board.
I love working with teams myself and was excited to talk with Margie and learn more about her approach. I'm pleased to share our conversation here and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
LinkedIn: Margie Oleson
Website: Oleson Consulting
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Aquilae
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Episode recorded on 16 October, 2023.
In this episode we are celebrating the career to date of Derren Young.
With almost three decades working in the field of HR, Derren has worked with some of the biggest media & entertainment brands, such as EA Games, Universal Music and England Rugby, across all aspects of people management globally.
He describes himself as an engineer and a fixer first with an ability to help define and manage critical processes and complex challenges; whether difficult negotiations, employee relations or re-organisations. But he's also an HR leader who wants to help individuals, leaders and organisations find great outcomes.
More recently he has held senior roles in private equity backed businesses, broadening his portfolio to include handling Environment, Social and Governance (or ESG) compliance and initiatives. Recently impacted by AI, he has been taking time to research and understand the practical and ethical impact new technologies could have on both HR and on businesses more broadly.
In our conversation we talk about how he managed to navigate his way through a tough school environment in the North East of England and his early aspirations towards a military career which sadly didn't go to plan. Derren shares how it was a chance invitation to join an HR team that set him off on his amazing career.
Along the journey, not every move was for the best and we discuss how he encountered organisations with very different approaches to developing people.
And we end with his current exploration into AI with MIT in order to understand and leverage for good its likely impact on the world of Human Resources.
I enjoyed learning about Derren's life and career so far and am pleased to be able to share his story with you.
Connect with Derren on LinkedIn: Derren Young
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Episode recorded on 29 September 2023.
Kevin recently established Esprit de Corps Consulting having retired from BMW after 32 years, during which he held a number of interesting roles that culminated with him being the Managing Director of BMW Group Ireland.
His focus for this next phase of his career will be on non-executive directorships, consulting in the automotive sector and coaching.
In our conversation we talk about his early years in Scotland. He was born in Edinburgh and spent his first 21 years in Stirling with his family. Kevin shares how he started his career on a Graduate programme with the Bank of Scotland before joining Lloyds Bowmaker to move into automotive finance. When BMW acquired the share capital, Kevin chose to move south and join BMW Financial Services marking the beginning of a very rewarding journey with the brand.
We explore the moves he made and the experiences that he collected along the way which along with his all important network ultimately equipped him to run the business in Ireland during some particularly challenging years.
I enjoyed getting to know Kevin through his story. I'm pleased to share it with you and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Kevin on LinkedIn
Website: Esprit de Corps Consulting
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Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 3 October, 2023.
Caroline has coached hundreds of experienced leaders, founders and creators to build a career on their own terms and secure opportunities they believed were 3-5 years away.
In every high stakes arena that her career has taken her (from tackling health inequality to 10 Downing Street to co-founder to coach), she's witnessed the career trajectories of countless brilliant humans stagnate or burn out. Caroline is committed to helping clients say goodbye to toxic careers and say hello to more impact and fulfilment in work and life.
Caroline and I caught up recently to discuss her coaching practice and the topic of how we can attract and secure career & life opportunities we thought were 5 or more years away. Caroline also shared some of the context of her own fascinating career story, her personal experience of burnout and the exciting lifestyle experiment that she and her husband are currently doing.
We had a fun conversation with lots of practical tips and helpful paradigms. I'm pleased to share it here and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
LinkedIn: Caroline Rae
Website: Fiorlo
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Aquilae
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Episode recorded on 4 October, 2023.
From beekeeper to hospitality to premium automotive retail, Ingo is now just doing the things he likes doing without the responsibility of employing staff, reaching targets and turning a profit.
Whilst he enjoyed building a very successful business, he's also loving the fact that he has time for most things he rarely found the time before; time for family and friends, time to go for a bike ride or a read a book and time to earn a little bit of pocket money along the way.
In our conversation we talk about his background and his family's roots in Germany. He explains his reasons for emigrating to Australia in 1983 and we explore his early job roles including his entry into the automotive world.
A family connection provided a very warm introduction into BMW Australia and from there he never looked back as he pursued a career firstly working for the manufacturer and then as a business owner.
You'll hear how it was Ingo's vision and appetite for business growth that caught the attention of his business partner and how that vision and ability to execute bold plans coupled with attention to detail enabled him to build and ultimately sell a successful business.
I found talking to Ingo fun and inspiring and I am excited to share his story with you.
Connect with Ingo on LinkedIn: Ingo Reisch
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 2 October, 2023.
Vitória is the EV Public Charging Network Manager at Last Mile Solutions, a SaaS EV Charging & smart energy management platform. She was born and raised in Brazil. She was educated in the US where she started her career and she is now based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands,
Vitória’s work has centred on expanding and continuing to build a seamless and intuitive experience for EV drivers across Europe.
In our conversation we talk about her roots, childhood, and the experiences that fuelled her international career, first in New York and now in Amsterdam.
When Vitória thought she had her life and career figured out in NYC, working for an ad agency on Madison Avenue, life showed her otherwise.
Before embarking on the unstoppable world of eMobility, Vitória worked in client services/brand management for WPP and IPG brand agencies in New York City.
But Vitória's impact extends beyond her professional endeavours – it’s about giving back and empowering others.
She founded a vibrant community of Brazilian women, a support system designed to help them relaunch their new life and regain their confidence in a new and foreign land. It's a validation of her commitment to not only succeed herself but to lift others up along the way.
I'm delighted to have met Vitória and excited to share her story with you in this episode. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Connect with Vitória on LinkedIn: Vitória Lorenzetti
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Aquilae
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Episode recorded on 29 September 2023.
Karen is an Executive Coach with a depth of business experience from over 30 years in the professional services industry, including 23 years as a Partner of Deloitte. After 16 years as a Tax Partner and following completion of her Master of Science in Coaching Psychology, she commenced her second career designing and implementing the Coaching Program for Women Partners at Deloitte.
With over 2,000 coaching hours and as a Professional Certified Coach (ICF), Karen currently provides executive coaching to evolving senior leaders, supporting them with
achieving their professional goals. She also regularly volunteers with Dress for Success and the Bambuddha Group, providing coaching support for their clients.
Karen most recently published her first book, Be your own leadership coach (self coaching strategies to lead your way) with Major Street Publishing. Her hope is that this will provide more equity to coaching by sharing evidence-based self coaching practices, which can be used by you, in the moment, when your coach is not on hand. Through building your self coaching strategies you will be better equipped to lead as your best self, improving your wellbeing and that of your teams, organisation, and our communities.
I recently caught up with Karen virtually and I thoroughly enjoyed talking with her about her book and I'm delighted to introduce her to you in this episode.
Connect with Karen on LinkedIn: Karen Stein
Buy her book: Be Your Own Leadership Coach
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 27 September 2023.
Debra Corey is a highly experienced and award-winning HR consultant, world-class speaker, and five-time best-selling author who has been named as one of the top 101 global employee engagement influencers. After over 20 years working for global companies, she now ‘pays it forward’ by inspiring and helping others develop and deliver people and culture strategies and initiatives, and helps leaders and managers support their people to truly drive employee engagement.
Her most recent book is all about helping managers to leverage the benefits that come from recognising our people. It's called See it, Say it, Appreciate it!", and Debra and I met virtually recently to discuss it.
Buy Debra's Book: See it. Say it. Appreciate it!
Connect with Debra on LinkedIn: Debra Corey
Website: Debcohr.com
I'm delighted to have this opportunity to introduce Debra to you and to give you a flavour of what's included in her highly persuasive and practical book. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
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Episode recorded on 25 September 2023.
I’ve talked about getting out of my comfort zone before in these Side Mirrors and moving from BMW to Tesla was a clear example of doing this. I was immersed for two years in an organisation that was finding its feet in the UK and Europe.
In this episode I want to share some of the behaviours that I observed in play during my time at Tesla and I want to let you in on some of the paradigms that I strongly suspect led to those behaviours.
I'll share some of my observations, I'll illustrate them with stories taken from earlier interviews with Tesla friends and former colleagues and at the end I'll give you my interpretation of the paradigms that played a part in Tesla achieving what many considered to be impossible.
When it comes to companies, we talk about culture, we talk about purpose, we talk about mission and we talk about values. We don't talk as much about paradigms.
I'd like this episode to serve to illustrate how paradigms work in real life. I'd like to get you thinking about how instilling a shared set of paradigms allows individuals across an organisation to behave consistently and cohesively at pace when making countless decisions with low levels of experience and with above average autonomy.
Links to other Tesla related episodes:
Annie Wechter
Leopold Visser
David Bowles
Peter Jackson
Brett Mangel
Ross Forder
Ashley Harris
Stefan Dekker
Jonathan Whitby
Elisa Viaud
Nick Gicinto
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 21 September 2023.
When I was about 30 years old and working at Rover Group I went on my first coaching course. We spent three days learning about and practising coaching in a business context and specifically how to use the GROW model devised by John Whitmore, now Sir John Whitmore.
I explain the GROW model later in this episode and you can read more about it in Sir John’s book which is called Coaching for Performance.
In this episode I talk about coaching as a manager and guide you through a fascinating exercise using that model that had a significant impact on my appreciation of coaching and helped me to grasp its relevance and value for developing the people I lead parent and mentor.
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Episode recorded on 13 September 2023.
You know you "should" delegate more, but that doesn't make it any easier.
This is the second of a two part Side Mirror on delegating. The first part (Episode 132) addresses the Purpose and Paradigms of Effective Delegation and in this part I'm going to walk you through the Guiding Principles of Fulfilling Performance and how we can use them to delegate effectively.
At Aquilae we approach delivering results and growing the people through our mission of enabling Fulfilling Performance. I explain this concept of Fulfilling Performance and how to enable it in episodes 60-62.
In short we want to see people performing at a high level and feeling fulfilled by using as much of their talent, intelligence, creativity and capability as possible. We want their underlying capability to be increasing over time and we wish for them to be energised and fulfilled, or literally made whole, by the meaningful work that they are doing so that they are also great partners, parents and all round human beings.
To help us enable Fulfilling Performance, we have our four Guiding Principles: Know why. Be Clear. Equip yourself. And Support others. Those principles each address needs that are so fundamental to how humans perform I’m confident that they can help guide you on your mission too.
Supporting Episodes:
Episode 60: Side Mirror: Fulfilling Performance 1 - The origin story of Aquilae’s vision and mission.
Episode 61: Side Mirror: Fulfilling Performance 2 - Reflecting on your experience of Fulfilling Performance in your own career.
Episode 62: Side Mirror: Fulfilling Performance 3 - How to apply the Fulfilling Performance Framework.
Episode 99: Flow, Purpose and Growing People
Episode 120: The Power of Paradigms
Episode 129: Leading from Behind
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 25 August 2023.
We published an episode recently called "Leading from Behind" and I thought it would be helpful to follow that up with a few words on delegating which is a fundamental skill for leaders to master. This is part one of a two part Side Mirror about delegation.
Once I started jotting down my thoughts things kind of snowballed and I realised I have more to share on this than is reasonable to expect you to listen to in one sitting. Even with two parts this is a big topic so please forgive me if I've not covered something you're interested in or a technique that you like to use yourself and feel free to contact me if you'd like to discuss that.
In this first episode on delegation I'll share some paradigms to encourage us to delegate more and in Part 2 I'll share with you how to apply the Guiding Principles of Fulfilling Performance to help you delegate effectively and in a way that is constructive in growing your people.
Supporting resources:
Book:
Let's Be Clear - Ed Eppley
Podcast Episodes:
Episode 50: Ed Eppley
Episode 99: Flow, Purpose and Growing People
Episode 120: The Power of Paradigms
Episode 129: Leading from Behind
Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 25 August 2023.
For this Side Mirror episode I am joined by Emma Weber. Emma is the CEO and Founder of Lever – Transfer of Learning.
Emma is an authority on the subject of learning transfer and she's made it her mission in life to make a difference to learning transfer worldwide. She found herself frustrated by the amount of learning which is wasted when it fails to make it across the knowing – doing gap and so Emma created the Turning Learning into Action™ methodology to solve that problem.
This methodology is now deployed throughout 20 countries and in 12 languages by a talented team and Coach M, a conversational intelligence chatbot. Coach M is challenging the industry's thinking about what’s possible in learning transfer.
Emma shares her passion and expertise through her writing – her first book 'Turning Learning into Action: a proven methodology for effective transfer of learning' was published by Kogan Page in 2014 and she is excited to have her 1st co-written ATD press book launching this spring ‘Designing Virtual Learning for Application & Impact.’
In our conversation we talk about Emma's career journey, how she transitioned into running her own business and how she is now leveraging technology to facilitate learning transfer and make coaching accessible to more employees in the workplace.
Connect with Emma:
LinkedIn: Emma Weber
Email: emma@leverlearning.com
Website: https://transferoflearning.com
Further listening: Episode 58 James Harper
If, like me you are passionate about growing yourself and the people you lead, parent and mentor I'm sure you will find her experiences and methods thought provoking. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 21 August 2023.
Rhett is Managing Director of JLR in Saudi Arabia.
His impressive automotive career path spans the UK, the U.A.E., Oman, Saudi Arabia and South Africa.
Throughout his career he has worked extensively with premium brands including JLR, Audi, Mercedes Benz, BMW and Alfa Romeo.
Additionally he’s had experience with Volkswagen, Honda, Stellantis brands, Great Wall, Peugeot and Nissan as well as used cars, motorcycles and marine products.
In our conversation we talk about his childhood in South Africa and some of the circumstances that have contributed to providing the drive he has demonstrated during his journey so far.
We follow Rhett’s progression from trainee car salesman through to a host of senior international positions. He shares openly how the opportunities came about and the rationale behind each of his decisions to move including factoring in the potential impact on his family.
Rhett reveals how the behaviours that served him well with his classmates had the potential to stymie his car sales potential and the wake up call that allowed him to see the bigger picture and adopt a more mature approach.
Reviewing his most recent move, we learn how the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix of 2021 was even more eventful than we already thought. A phone call during that race weekend led to him to break with his final approach plan and return to Saudi Arabia to complete what he saw as “unfinished business”.
I found Rhett’s story authentic and inspiring and I trust you will too. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Rhett
LinkedIn: Rhett Maxwell
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 14 August, 2023
In this episode I talk about making the transition into our first leadership role, share some leadership paradigms that have been effective for me and point out some pitfalls that may hold us back or catch us out.
And here's a little teaser: it involves a transformative encounter with a group of children that reshaped my approach to leadership.
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Aquilae
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Episode recorded on 11 August 2023.
I don’t imagine you come to CAREER-VIEW MIRROR for dating tips but if you do then this episode is probably going to quickly become your most valuable one yet. You may also find it helpful if you’re in a role where you’re required to develop relationships with people you see as more senior and you’re not sure how to get them engaged or if you dread going to social or corporate events because you can’t bear small talk or, and this is a biggie, if you want to increase your ability to make deeper connections with others to form successful interdependent relationships and achieve your goals.
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Episode recorded on 5 August 2023.
Ever wondered why your conversations, while well-intentioned, often end with the other person feeling unheard? It's time to turn the tables. On today's episode, we peel back the layers of empathic listening - the silent superhero of effective communication. I'll take you on a journey through my personal experiences and the lessons learned, revealing the power of lending an ear over a voice. We delve into the nuances of why listening is an overlooked yet crucial skill with potential to significantly enrich your relationships.
Brace yourselves, because we're going to pull back the veil on empathic listening: its transformative power, and the practical tips to master it. We discuss the importance of demonstrating understanding, how to resist that itch to offer solutions, and the sheer power of simply making the other person feel heard. Join me in this journey to discover how effective communication can be a catalyst for personal and professional growth. Remember, the art of listening is one that everyone can learn, and this episode could be your first step towards mastering it.
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 27 July 2023.
Sabrina is the Founder and CEO of Avanti Search in Sydney, Australia.
She brings an impressive background in recruitment and diversity and inclusion to the table. Having spent the majority of her career leading talent acquisition functions across APAC, Sabrina launched Avanti Search in 2022 to provide clients with what many agencies cannot - strategic advice built from the perspective of an internal recruitment function.
Sabrina also approaches recruitment with an inclusive lens, honed over years of D&I consulting work - Sabrina chairs the City of Sydney’s Disability Inclusion Advisory Panel, and consults on disability inclusion for the Australian Museum. She is passionate about creating ongoing equity for people in the workplace.
Sabrina is a published author, a member of Mensa, a former Miss World Australia, and a former contestant on the reality TV show, 'The Apprentice'.
In our conversation we talk about her childhood in Australia with her Lebanese father and Indian mother who were first generation immigrants. Sabrina shares the struggles her mother had and how this required her to grow up fast and take on more responsibility in the family.
We talk about her experiences in beauty pageants that saw her achieve the title of Miss World Australia and be a runner up in the overall Miss World pageant and how she used this platform to help raise millions of dollars for children's charities.
We also cover her career journey which includes time spent in talent acquisition and HR roles internally within organisations and externally with recruitment agencies. She's worked in the corporate sector and in government and is now running her own business and enjoying the lifestyle benefits that brings.
I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Sabrina and am pleased to be able to introduce her to you in this episode. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Sabrina:
LinkedIn: Sabrina Houssami
Website: Avanti Search
Email: sabrina@avantisearch.com.au
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 17 July, 2023
Get set for a roller-coaster ride through the captivating career of Gary Brotman, CEO of Second Mind. Prepare to be hooked as we journey from the dancefloor to the driver's seat, mapping how this former professional DJ and PR whizz now uses his skills to help automotive engineers make cars smarter and faster. It’s a story of art and architecture, of music, tech and machines, and ultimately, of mastering the art of storytelling in a rapidly digitizing world.
Gary spills the beans on his teenage love affair with a Datsun 280ZX, his battle with imposter syndrome, and how a passion for storytelling played a pivotal role in his transition from PR to product. Listen closely as we wind our way through the digital music ecosystem, with pitstops at Qualcomm, Yahoo, and Musicmatch. You'll hear tales of pitching digital jukeboxes, the launch of the Neural Processing Unit (NPU), and how a knack for telling stories helped Gary to shape the narrative around AI and mobile technology.
Finally, we park up at Second Mind, where Gary uses his wealth of experiences to revolutionize the automotive industry. You'll learn how this cloud-based optimization engine is helping engineers to design better cars, faster, and how Gary's unique approach to team-building - rooted in authenticity and diversity - is driving success. So buckle up and join us for an unforgettable ride through the intersection of tech, music, and the automotive world. Be prepared, we're going to change gears and accelerate swiftly into the future!
Reach out to Gary:
LinkedIn: Gary Brotman
Website: Secondmind
Thank you to our sponsors:
ASKE Consulting
Email: hello@askeconsulting.co.uk
Aquilae
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 29 June, 2023
In this episode I want to go deeper into some of the complexities of embracing discomfort to realise our dreams but, as talking about realising our dreams might be seen as a bit too "New Age woo woo" for the corporate environment, I'll also talk about actualising our desired outcomes.
I’ll also go into more detail about:
- how to keep going when you’re finding it hard
- Carol Dweck’s work on Mindset
- how to measure your progress according to Sullivan and Hardy
- Jim Carrey’s speech from the Golden Globes in 2016 and
- embracing discomfort to develop a team as recommended by Patrick Lencioni
I’ll talk about how sometimes it’s not only okay but advisable to stop and get out of certain situations altogether and how to frame endeavours that we have chosen to no longer pursue.
I’ll end by reminding us that this is simply a model and a paradigm to help us conceptualise one mindset or approach for personal growth and, as such, it has flaws and weaknesses and a tendency to break when we stretch it too far.
For example, do we really want to get all the way across an outer ring when the journey may turn out to be better than the destination?
Thank you to our sponsors:
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Aquilae
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Episode recorded on 7 July 2023.
Are you feeling stuck in your comfort zone and looking for encouragement to take steps towards growth? Join me as I share my journey of embracing discomfort on multiple occasions during my transition from the UK to New Zealand via Singapore and from BMW to forming my own venture, Aquilae, via Tesla. I will let you in on how stepping into the outer ring of discomfort has been a game-changer in my career and personal growth.
This episode also shares advice from the insightful Morgan W McCall from the University of Southern California Marshall School of Business who exhorts us to thrust ourselves into unfamiliar territories where learning is non-negotiable and seeking help becomes necessity and from Monty Python’s John Cleese on how embracing discomfort can lead to better decision making.
We delve into how the concept of the outer ring, a zone of discomfort, is a vital passage to realise our visions. If you're aiming at acquiring a new skill or nurturing a relationship, stay tuned for tips on turning discomfort into stepping stones towards your success.
We wrap things up by emphasizing control of your destiny. You will discover that growth is about intentionally stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing risks, and acknowledging the potential of failure. A journey to our goals is never a walk in the park, it's a path strewn with challenges we must conquer. So, let's redefine discomfort and expand your horizons together!
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 June 2023.
Imagine having the chance to make television at a young age and being on a trajectory for a media career, only to experience a pivotal event that leads you to public service. That's the story of Nick Gicinto, a seasoned professional whose career spans from media to the CIA, and eventually to the private sector. Join us for a fascinating conversation with Nick as he shares his journey and the inspiring role his mother played in shaping his path.
From elementary school involvement in media programs to discovering debate and forensics in high school, Nick's early experiences helped shape his direction towards a public service career. However, it wasn't until he attended his mom's alma mater, William Jewell College, and connected with department chair Dr. Gary Armstrong, that he began to seriously consider a path in pre-law and intelligence. Delve into the hidden aptitudes and creative problem-solving skills that made Nick stand out in his academic journey and ultimately led to his recruitment by the CIA.
As Nick Gicinto transitioned from a decade at the CIA to the corporate world, he faced numerous challenges along the way. Learn about his experiences at Uber Technologies and Tesla, where he built insider threat and intelligence programs from scratch. Finally, explore Nick's current role as Executive Vice President at Red Five Security, and how his family continues to guide his career decisions. Don't miss this insightful episode as we unravel the captivating story of Nick Gicinto's career journey and the valuable lessons he's learned along the way.
Reach out to Nick:
LinkedIn: Nick Gicinto
Website: Red Five Security
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 13 June, 2023
What if I told you that a simple, affordable, and efficient washing machine could transform the lives of thousands of people? Join me, as I sit down with Navjot Sawhney, the brilliant founder of the Washing Machine Project, and explore his life journey and the incredible impact of his invention on over 30,000 lives across 8 countries. Learn how Navjot's upbringing in London with an Indian heritage, his parents' sacrifices, and his commitment to women's empowerment have shaped his passion to help those affected by displacement.
We'll uncover Navjot's academic and career path, from failing his first year of university to landing a job at Dyson without internships, and how his transformative experience volunteering in India ignited his desire to make a difference. Navjot will also share valuable insights on making informed decisions about one's career and the importance of focusing on learning and passion. Together, we'll dive into the Washing Machine Project's journey, partnering with prominent international NGOs, and their plans to fulfill orders for over 3,000 washing machines in 2023.
As we explore Navjot's inspiring story, we'll discuss powerful stories of individuals touched by the Washing Machine Project, and Navjot's own experiences in bringing his innovative idea to life. Hear about Kausak, a Syrian refugee who regained precious time with her family thanks to the project, and Navjot's special moment at the King's Coronation with his mother and Rishi Sunak. Don't miss this engaging conversation that will leave you inspired by Navjot's passion, determination, and the life-changing impact of his work.
Reach out to Navjot:
LinkedIn: Navjot Sawhney
Email: nav@thewashingmachineproject.org
Website: The Washing Machine Project
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 June, 2023
Have you ever considered the immense influence that paradigms have on our thoughts, actions, and results? By understanding and working with the power of paradigms, we can make meaningful and lasting changes in our lives. In this captivating Side Mirror episode, we explore the ins and outs of paradigms, drawing inspiration from Stephen Covey's "The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People," and discuss how to harness their power for personal and professional growth.
Listen in as we share examples of how paradigms have impacted our own lives and the lives of others, including adopting Richard Branson's belief that taking care of employees is good for business. We also delve into the concept of flow and how adopting paradigms from it can create a highly beneficial state of fulfillment and productivity. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to identify, analyse, and utilize your own paradigms for a more successful and fulfilling life.
Ever wondered how a company can revolutionise transportation and achieve a 95% market share? Join us as we sit down with Alastair Sussock, co-founder of Safe Boda, the ride-sharing company that has taken Uganda by storm. We'll uncover Alastair's incredible journey from his childhood in Glasgow, Scotland, to his career in economics and development across countries like India, Rwanda, Ethiopia, and San Francisco, ultimately leading him to co-found Safe Boda, which now boasts over 1.5 million users and 95% market share.
Take a deep dive into Alastair's diverse experiences, including his time as an ODI Fellow in Rwanda, working with the Rwandan government, the World Bank, and the OECD in Paris. Discover his insights on building a successful business, overcoming challenges in entrepreneurship, and the importance of taking risks. Alastair's fascinating career journey is filled with valuable lessons and inspiration for those looking to make their mark in the world.
Don't miss out on our captivating conversation with Alastair Sussock as he shares his unique perspective on the world, the power of connections, and the importance of embracing diverse experiences. Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, interested in development economics, or simply intrigued by the story of Safe Boda, this episode is sure to inspire and motivate you to dream big and take action.
Reach out to Alastair:
LinkedIn: Alastair Sussock
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 May, 2023
When we take more ownership of our life and career journey we give interviews a level of significance that is more measured and proportional.
My mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance. I talk about that in episodes 60, 61 and 62.
I'm passionate about helping people to take ownership of their life and career journeys. Yes I want you to go out there and smash your next interview. I also want you to keep that interview in perspective and make sure the decisions that you make are guided by your own compass.
It's easy to get caught up in someone else's story and harder to spend time reflecting and writing your own.
Episodes referenced in this Side Mirror:
60 Side Mirror: Fulfilling Performance 1 - The origin story of Aquilae's vision and mission.
61 Side Mirror: Fulfilling Performance 2 - Reflecting on your experience of Fulfilling Performance in your own career.
62 Side Mirror: Fulfilling Performance 3 - How to apply the Fulfilling Performance Framework
79 Side Mirror: Don’t quit your job until you’ve done this.
85 Side Mirror: Owning your career journey - 13 steps to help you take charge.
89 Side Mirror: When one door closes, push on some more.
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 21 May, 2023
Elisa is a People and Culture Expert and Organisational Psychologist with more than 15 years of Talent Management experience at companies like early days Uber, Tesla, and the leading executive search firms Korn Ferry and Spencer Stuart.
She helps Executives with career strategy, promotion preparation, transitions from corporate to entrepreneurial roles, relocation, and adapting to a new industry, function or geography.
Elisa was born in Ukraine, raised in France, has worked with companies based in the US and EMEA. She is now based in Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
In our conversation we talk about her childhood growing up for the first 20 or so years of her life in what is now Ukraine.
Elisa explains how the collapse of the Soviet Union had a significant impact on her personal family situation and how she gradually found her own independence.
Elisa talks openly about realising that she needed to disappear and how she moved to Angers in France with her husband.
She shares how she became interested in psychology at an early age but realised that she needed to get some life experience before she could realistically hope to become a psychologist. Starting a career in HR seemed to be the best place to get that experience and she took an internship with one of the top five executive search firms.
Fast forward a little while and we find her working for UBER in Amsterdam until she suffered a burnout in her late twenties. Again Elisa tells the story of these challenging times with her characteristic openness and vulnerability.
Undeterred she enters another fast paced mission driven organisation, Tesla, and she explains the differences between the corporate cultures that she experienced.
Following a spell contracting at the EV startup, Arrival Elisa achieved her aspiration to set up her own consultancy. We talk about that move out of corporate and how she is about to launch a third pillar to her business, providing relationship counselling.
It was a wonderful experience to spend some time in Elisa’s company and to hear the incredible life and career journey that she has had to date. I am proud to share her story with you and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Elisa:
LinkedIn: Elisa Viaud
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 May, 2023
Florian is a Principal at Boston Consulting Group in Munich, Germany. He's a core member of the Automotive, Industrial Goods, and Marketing & Sales practice areas.
Prior to joining BCG, Florian was a Principal at Roland Berger in Munich, a member of the automotive management team and lead for sales and marketing for the EMEA region.
His automotive career began with a twenty year tenure in various roles in strategy, planning and operations in BMW AG, Panama City, Beijing and Sao Paulo.
Florian was brought up in South Africa and moved to Germany with his family as a teenager.
He holds a Masters degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from LMU in Munich as well as qualifications in business and he completed an Industrial Manager Apprenticeship at the start of his career.
In our conversation we talk first about his early years in South Africa and the family's move to Germany before diving into his twenty years in industry.
During that time, he enjoyed many highlights, including the distinction of being the youngest Marketing Director at BMW Latin America, at the age of only 28.
He explains how that was a key inflection point for him. It brought his first department responsibility and made him a member of the regional office management team.
He had to learn to balance the expectations of the headquarters with those of the dealers and customers in a highly volatile and very interesting region.
And finally, Florian shares how, in 2020, he made the move from industry to consulting, which fits very well with his desire to experience a wider overview.
I thoroughly enjoyed my conversation with Florian. I am delighted to be able to introduce him to you in this episode and as always I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Florian:
LinkedIn: Florian Gorzitzke
The publication Florian refers to: brand eins
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 13 April, 2023
Kevin spent five years in the aeronautical and defence industry at the nexus of machine learning, image processing and analysis and ceramics engineering before realising that his mission in life was to create delightful consumer experiences.
In the mid 1990s, Kevin joined Gillette as an ‘Innovative Scientist’ and found great reward by applying his love of science to challenges associated with cutting human beard hair with atomically sharp razor blades, whilst leaving the skin undamaged.
Following an expatriate assignment in Boston, Mass., Kevin began a series of increasingly senior management roles culminating with the position of Laboratory Director for Gillette’s global upstream R&D laboratory based in Reading, U.K.. Kevin led the teams that created multi-billion dollar shaving systems including Gillette Guard, Fusion and Venus.
Following the $57bn acquisition of Gillette by P&G, Kevin and his wife Ruth moved with their family to Cincinnati, Ohio where he led global R&D for Head & Shoulders, Pantene and Herbal Essences.
A desire to broaden his responsibilities led Kevin to join Mondelez International in East Hanover NJ, where he had global R&D responsibility for Gum, Candy and Biscuits with 800 colleagues in Tech Centres across the world.
In his time at Mondelez, Kevin led consumer-centric new product launches and quality improvements across brands including Oreo, Ritz, belVita, Trident, Sour Patch Kids and Lu.
After 12 years of expatriate life in the US, Kevin and Ruth returned to the UK to live near Cambridge. Kevin is enjoying a life of semi-retirement where he is focussed on giving back, guided by his purpose of helping improve the lives of others. He is an advisor to the Carbon 13 accelerator and coaches companies in the realms of consumer-centric innovation, innovation strategy and sustainability. Kevin is also realising a decades-old promise to himself of becoming a Reader in the Church of England.
I’m confident that you’ll find his story and his insights about consumer focus gleaned at the cutting edge (literally) of another global industry fascinating. I’ve had the privilege to call Kevin a friend for over 20 years and I’m delighted to introduce you to him in this episode. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Kevin:
LinkedIn: Kevin Powell
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 April, 2023
Mike is Head of UK Sales at McLaren Automotive.
He is navigating a fascinating career journey that’s seen him progress from selling Fiats for DC Cook in Manchester through multiple countries, automotive brands and levels of seniority to arrive at his current position.
In our conversation Mike shares the personal stories behind many of the job moves he’s made. Like most of us he’s had some good fortune but I found myself noticing that he has often taken decisive action to increase his chances of success.
His approach has seen him secure roles in Bahrain, Dubai and the Caribbean and he’s traveled extensively as a consultant.
His international background proved to be more of a curse than a blessing when he was looking to return to the UK. He talks openly about those times, how they made him feel and the proactive steps he took to cope with what was going on and finally find a role.
I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated having this opportunity to talk with Mike. In listening to his stories there are lessons we can learn and examples of proactive behaviour that I find inspiring. There are clear reasons and demonstrable actions that reveal how he has been able to do what he’s done.
I first had the pleasure and good fortune to meet Mike in 2008. I’m excited to introduce him to you in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Mike:
LinkedIn: Michael Ellenthorpe
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 13 April, 2023
Kit is the Chief Operating Officer of Tusker, the UK's largest salary sacrifice scheme provider and part of the Lloyds Banking Group.
Kit has been with Tusker for almost five years and prior to joining he held a number of mobility and operational roles during a seven year tenure at Alphabet.
He began his automotive career with three years at Enterprise Rent-A-Car in a variety of roles that culminated in him becoming UK Implementation manager.
In our conversation we talk about his entry into the industry and his progress through it driven by his own internal need to maintain a level of challenge.
We talk about jobs he really wanted and one that he really didn't want but found he actually loved and Kit shares his reflections on some of the best leadership traits he's been fortunate to experience.
Kit is a very calm and considered automotive leader who has progressed from washing cars on the Enterprise Graduate programme to being COO of a well respected player in the UK industry.
I am pleased to be able to introduce him to you in this episode and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Reach out to Kit:
LinkedIn: Kit Wisdom
Thank you to our episode 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 April, 2023
Ed is the Vice President Strategic Automotive Initiatives at Siemens Digital Industries Software.
His responsibilities include strategic planning and business development for mobility and motorsports.
He leads mobility thought leadership and hosts the Future Car Podcast.
He was the founder of VISTAGY, acquired by Siemens, that developed composite engineering software for the automotive and aerospace industry.
Previously he directed the Automation Technology Group at Draper.
He has a Masters in Mechanical engineering from MIT, a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue and an MBA from Butler.
I had a lot of fun talking with Ed about his career journey. He has such energy and enthusiasm and shared some great experiences. In our conversation we talk about his childhood growing up in an Italian community in Indianapolis, his early exposure to heavy plant in the mining and fracking industries, how his girlfriend persuaded him to go back to school and how he managed to get a foot in the door at MIT.
With a baby on the way he left a secure job, gave up 90% of his income and started a software company.
Ed and his colleagues had gained expertise automating the manufacture of blue jeans and suit sleeves. The value of their expertise had a ceiling because of the low margins in that industry and the shift to overseas production. They turned their attention from clothing to composites and to applications that have a much higher manufacturing cost per pound or kilo like fast jets and Formula One cars. And they built a business over 15 years that they then sold to Siemens.
Ed's story is fascinating and he tells it with such passion and good humour. I really enjoyed our conversation and am proud to be able to share it with you in this episode.
LinkedIn: Ed Bernardon
Future Car Podcast with Ed Bernardon
Life lessons from Mario Andretti
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 31 March, 2023
Karen is the owner of Easton RNA in Melbourne, Australia. Easton RNA is a recruitment business that she founded some years ago and to which she has recently returned full time.
Karen was a member of our first Aquilae Academy peer mentoring team back in 2020 and I've been looking forward very much to having the opportunity to introduce her to you and share her story.
I'm sure that you'll agree that she is a very likeable lady with a wonderful attitude to work and life and people. That attitude shines through in our conversation.
Karen was six years old when she arrived in Australia from South Africa. Her description of how she was at school, looking after other kids who felt side-lined and being the first to volunteer for tasks in the classroom fitted very well with the woman I know and helped to explain the success she has had in a variety of endeavours during her career.
I use the word unlimited to describe Karen based on hearing her career story. Her mindset and approach has enabled her to transition from corporate roles to entrepreneurial ventures and back again and back again!
In our conversation you'll hear how she started her own recruitment business with very little relevant experience and how she built that up until they were serving multiple automotive OEMs in Australia and providing 500 staff at a time for the Formula One Grand Prix and Moto GP.
She shares how one particular opportunity came along that tempted her back into the corporate world and led to a string of further corporate roles with household name brands in retail.
We talk about how she fulfilled another long term dream by setting up a wine bar on Phillip Island and we end by discussing her most recent move back into the business that she founded and her main reason for returning.
I found Karen's story inspiring and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
LinkedIn: Karen Easton
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 30 March, 2023
Rachel has spent 20 years in various Automotive OEM roles across Australia and New Zealand.
Her career to date has included roles with Volvo, Holden, Jeep, Ford and MG. She has often been the first and only female in her department.
Most recently, Rachel was New Zealand Country Manager at MG. She was literally stopped in her tracks when she shattered her ankle and lower leg. This injury has led to her taking a career break while undergoing a full year of intensive rehabilitation.
During her recent enforced downtime, she’s reflected on what is important from her next career step - and concluded that it’s all about being transparent in how she works, especially with regard to the skills we often don’t talk about in interviews, yet which can be career-defining.
Rachel is self aware and she’s used that self-awareness to develop a personal operating manual.
She finds that sharing it with managers helps them to get the best out of her.
This realisation prompted her recent social media post “Dear Future Boss" which is an open letter to potential future managers highlighting certain elements from her personal operating manual.
I saw Rachel’s post on LinkedIn and it resonated with me so I invited her to join me to create this episode.
In our conversation we touch on many interesting topics including her desire to be independent and put her career first, her love of automotive and a curiosity to try different parts of the industry and get as broad an understanding as possible and the reminder that even someone who is self motivated and takes ownership of their career can't control everything.
We wish Rachel all the best in her search for her next automotive position.
LinkedIn: Rachel Johnson
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 13 March, 2023
Rhys is the currently the Director of Strategy and Sales Operations at Brilliance-BEA Auto Finance Company in China, based in Shanghai where he was previously Sales Director for the Jaguar Land Rover brand within BBEA.
Rhys has over 25 years’ experience in Asset Finance across markets in China, Europe, and South Africa. His expertise extends to OEM and Dealer Relationship Management, as well as the strategic alignment and product positioning that is required to successfully enter new business markets and grow share in a sustainable way.
In our conversation, Rhys paints a very positive picture of his time at boarding school in South Africa. I would describe him as stoical about his experience in military service. He suggests that at boarding school he'd learned to make the most of opportunities whatever they might be.
He shares how an introduction from a friend started him on his career journey in finance and he explains how he learned a lot from being in a smaller town where he was exposed to different customer types and financing requirements.
He tells the tale of how he put his hand up to grow the Alphera business in South Africa once he recognised that it was never going to happen unless someone had it as their priority.
And he talks about how he recognised the need to do an international move and had the great support of his wife Michelle when it came to considering a move to Shanghai.
I thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Rhys's career to date with him and I'm pleased to be able to give you this opportunity to get to know him too.
LinkedIn: Rhys Long
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 17 February, 2023
Dave is the owner of Perfect Getaways Travel Agents.
Perfect Getaways operates a chain of independent travel agents in the North West of England in the UK with stores in Little Sutton, Neston, Birkenhead, Liverpool and St Helens.
At a time when many businesses have migrated away from the high street and onto the internet, Perfect Getaways takes a different approach.
As Dave puts it, "We believe that booking a holiday should be a fun experience. Our concept is that 'Your Holiday Starts Here' when you walk into one of our stores. We provide a fresh and fun environment with complementary bars, beer gardens, relaxed seating areas and large screen TV's to view your preferred holiday destination. If you have children we have complementary sweet shops in every store and children's areas including cinema room, children's TV, Xbox, drawing and colouring.
In addition, our Travel Consultants are trained to be experts in their field to give advice on all types of travel and holidays.
In our conversation, we talk about how he left school at 16 with 1 O level at Grade A (maths) and no other qualifications, how he'd had it instilled in him that you have to work every day, how he started working in the mail room at Shell and how he found his way from there into the automotive leasing industry.
As well as sharing the steps that he took he shares the paradigms and thoughts that lay behind the actions that he took that helped him to develop himself and progress in the industry
Those paradigms, thoughts and actions are filled with transferable value for all of us.
And he talks openly about the fascinating entrepreneurial journey he and his wife Nicola have been on since leaving their corporate jobs.
I'm particularly excited to introduce you to Dave. His story is a truly engaging one and he is such a humble and hardworking guy, I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing him tell it.
LinkedIn: David Palmer
Website: https://www.perfectgetaways.co.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perfectgetaways
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 17 February, 2023
Preston moved to Lloyds Banking Group in 2022 to lead their OEM Captive Finance Partnership, Jaguar and Land Rover Financial Services.
The vast majority of Preston’s career has been in Sales & Marketing roles in the OEM Financial Services space where he’s tried to get as close to the promotion and sales process as possible.
His career has been roughly split between South Africa and the UK, where he’s now permanently based.
Preston spent almost 20 years with the BMW Group and since 2010 has been in various General Sales Management and Director positions across South Africa & the UK.
In our conversation we talk about his childhood in South Africa, his early love of all things automotive and how he found his way into the industry.
Some of the key takeaways for me in this conversation include:
- how he found school relatively easy academically until what’s known in South Africa as standard 8 when he needed to apply himself more
- the impact of subjects that interest us and the ability of a good teacher to make a subject engaging
- that he was an all rounder into sport, academic subjects and got involved in the plays too
- his awareness of being too far away from the decision makers from his earliest job when he was filling shelves for Glaxo Smith Kline
- how a conversation with a mother of two girls at his school had a contact in BMW, that led to an almost 20 year career with that brand
- his experience being on the phones to customers in his early days at BMW FS SA where the size of the organisation made for a highly effective customer feedback loop
- a recurring theme of Preston noticing the level of challenge reduce after time in any role
- the story about bringing together four disparate teams during COVID and them becoming a strong team
- his realisation that upward progress would require international mobility and preferring to opt for some stability for his children
- and the vital role played by his wife to enable him to follow this career
I have known Preston since 2006 and am delighted to be able to introduce him to you in this episode. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
LinkedIn: Preston Rogers
Episode Directory on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 13 February, 2023
On 1 March 2023 CAREER-VIEW MIRROR turned 2 years old.
During our second year of podcasting we have had yet more wonderful rising stars and senior leaders from the world of automotive joining us to share their stories. Thanks to the generosity of all our guests, we are creating an incredible resource library of valuable content.
Each guest brings their own unique experiences and every episode is peppered with original stories and golden nuggets of wisdom derived from their experiences and from which we all can learn.
To celebrate our anniversary we’ve put together a tiny collection of stories from just a few of our guests who’ve generously joined us during the last 12 months.
I hope you'll enjoy it and be mindful that this represents less than 2 percent of the content we created during our second year alone.
I introduce my guests briefly and provide the number of their episode so that you can easily find them to help you listen in full to those that capture your interest.
Please also check out our instagram @careerviewmirror where you will find details of every episode and a soundbite to whet your appetite and help you choose where to dive in next.
David is Director of Behaviour Change and Sustainability at SKIM, a global decision-behaviour consultancy. He has over a decade of experience in customer-centric research and data analytics, and has also worked on sustainability as a campaigner, in policy, communications and as a startup founder.
David is currently focused on accelerating EV adoption by better understanding the issue from a human perspective. In this period of rapid transformation, he takes the view that the automotive industry is now selling behaviour change, not simply new models.
David has an MA in Legal and Political Theory from UCL and an MSc in Demography & Public Health from The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
In our conversation, we talk about how growing up in two very different households prevented him getting stuck in a single way of thinking. He shares how one particular text he read flicked a switch during his teens turning him into a much more engaged student.
We also discuss how recognising his purpose to do something for the greater good served both as a compass steering his direction and a ticking clock encouraging him to move on when a role was no longer fulfilling that need.
Two months before his daughter was born, David left the security of a corporate role and embarked on a start up journey and we reflect on his rationale for that and how that played out.
Finally we turn our attention to the work he is doing now at SKIM, the need for us to accelerate our response to the climate crisis and the role that EV adoption plays in that.
David is a thoughtful, reflective individual with an interesting background engaged in work designed to benefit all of us. I am pleased to be able to introduce you to him and his work and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Links:
Achieving Zero Emissions with More Mobility and Less Mining
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidvoxlin
Email: dvoxlin@skimgroup.com
Website: https://skimgroup.com/
Episode Directory on Instagram: @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
If you enjoy listening to our guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Episode recorded on 10 February, 2023
Iain is currently the CEO at The Upper Room a charity working with the socially disadvantaged based in West London.
At the age of 17, he left school and home and moved to London, confident that his ability to get up in the morning would allow him to earn a living.
He enjoyed working hard at a variety of manual labour jobs. He drove 7.5 tonne trucks, worked in warehouses and timber-yards, was a hod-carrier on building sites and before and after work, he taught and coached swimming.
His approach to always being in work was quite simple, turn up, get stuck in, go home, repeat.
After he met his wife Caroline he transferred that initiative and work-ethic into a sales environment. He learned quickly through a mix of successes and mistakes and he progressed into management.
In 2001, Iain and Caroline decided to start the Callidus Consulting business as a way to see more of the their two children.
When Iain exited the business in 2021 to focus his working time on the charity sector, they had built a search, consultancy and program management business with offices in Hampshire and Dublin, delivering on assignments with clients in 10 time zones.
He brings all his experience and capability together in his role at The Upper Room to support some of the most vulnerable people in our society, enabling them to put one foot in front of another and gain whatever level of independence they can.
In our conversation, we discuss Iain's life and career from labouring on those building sites through to owning a successful consultancy that would become well known in the UK Automotive industry and help countless people secure their next career move.
We finish up talking about his move into the charity sector to spend the remainder of his career doing, as he describes it, "the good that is in front of him".
Iain's is an inspiring story of what can happen when after a bumpy school ride, someone finally finds themselves in an environment where their capabilities and work ethic enable them to gain traction and achieve their goals.
I'm very pleased to be able to introduce you to Iain and share his story in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/iaincooper/
Email: iain.cooper@theupperroom.org.uk
Website www.theupperroom.org.uk
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 3 February, 2023
Olly Bridge is a Health and Wellbeing expert who originally trained at the English Institute of Sport (EIS) and proceeded to work with elite athletes like Jenson Button and Mark Webber at Benetton/Renault Formula One and the British Olympic Gymnastics Team.
Having served as an Executive Director of the Workplace Health Association of Australia (WHAA), Head of Health and Wellbeing at Australia’s largest health insurer and COO of Advanced Health Intelligence, Olly also runs his own consultancy practice called “Build a Bridge” and uses his eclectic 25 years of experience to coach ‘Corporate Athletes’, and their teams, to perform at their peak.
Ollie’s career journey really has been one of self discovery and continuous growth. He has worked in elite sport, for big corporates and for small start ups and he talks openly about the benefits and challenges of each and how he arrived at decisions to move from one type of environment to another and sometimes back again.
I love the authenticity of Olly’s story. He shines a light on the more challenging reality of a successful career in a way that illustrates very clearly what an iterative process life can be, especially if you pay attention to your gut and are prepared to make changes when you’ve outgrown your current role.
He realised that the world of elite sport, that he’d worked so hard to become a part of was not going to work long term for him and so he made a move.
After landing a great position with BMW, getting his own flat and a company car in his early 20s he realised he was living the life of a 45 year old when he felt he should be having more fun.
An international opportunity sounded like the perfect way to inject fun but was a test of his relationship.
With his passion for sport, health and fitness bubbling away under the surface, it was only a matter of time before he had to get back into that world.
Olly’s purpose is to impact health at scale which you’ll hear derives from an impulse to help others that showed up as early as his junior school days. I’m delighted to have this opportunity to introduce him to you and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Olly via:
LinkedIn: Olly Bridge
Email: bridgeolly@gmail.com
Website: Build A Bridge
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 24 January, 2023
Oxana is an engineer by education and a change maker by vocation. She has spent the past 22 years bringing positive change to automotive businesses through identifying new business and profit opportunities; creating and implementing strategies and futureproofing against risks and uncertainties.
She left her home country at the age of 23 and joined Fiat Group in Italy. Since then she's lived in 3 European countries, and visited 27 countries and over 70 cities across the world.
In Fiat-Chrysler, Oxana worked on innovative projects related to the Future of Automotive retail. In Jaguar Land Rover, she led the development of the go to market strategy for the first Jaguar electric vehicle as well as the design of the Digital Customer experience Vision and its delivery roadmap and other projects.
Recently, Oxana joined one of the most innovative automotive companies, Hyundai Motor UK, where she delivers the digital transformation programmes within the dealer network and leads the innovative mobility service, Mocean car subscription.
Oxana is a very busy mum, raising two tri-lingual kids, juggling a very demanding job, studying an Executive MBA at Warwick Business School and volunteering as a Trustee for the Community Transport Association in the UK.
Listening to our conversation you will pick up on some of the key ingredients that enable Oxana to manage all these potentially conflicting commitments; her passion and energy, her ability to focus and plan her time and her level of comfort with asking for help from those around her when she needs to.
We talk about her time growing up during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, her passion for adventure stories as a young girl and how she is navigating her own international automotive career. I loved getting to know Oxana through this conversation and I am delighted to be able to introduce her to you now.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 27 January, 2023
In this episode Mary blends sharing some of her own successful international career journey with multiple golden nuggets of advice and resources to help you master your self and own your future.
I hope you found some helpful points to reflect on and more importantly act on. As Mary says, quoting Susan Jeffers, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!"
Contact Mary:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-barrett/
Email: mary@marybarrett.global
Website: https://marybarrett.global
Listen to the launch episode of A Cup of Tea with Mary B.
Spotify: #1 The Launch Episode
Apple Podcasts
Mary Barrett Global
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 20 January 2023
In this episode Clare shares some of the brain science behind our reaction to change and learning that informs her work in the field of neuroleadership. Clare also shares some of her personal career transitions which saw her move from the world of hospitality into IT and ultimately led to her starting her own people development business, BrainSmart.
I hope you find some helpful points to reflect on and more importantly act on in your own environment.
You can contact Clare via LinkedIn and here is a link to the BrainSmart website.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 19 January 2023
In this episode I share some concepts and experiences that have been absolutely huge to me during the last 10 years or so.
I talk about the concepts of flow and purpose and give you an example of how a skilful leader can use them to foster engagement and grow people.
I hope that you find some useful points to reflect on that can help you with your own journey or that of those you lead parent and mentor.
I’d love to hear what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Mobility businesses are all about people, processes and technology. We leverage our Aquilae Academy for people development and Aquilae Consulting for those wider business topics.
If you're looking for some help with people or business topics and you like the idea of having some additional very experienced, resources who can work flexibly alongside you. Please get in touch with me for a conversation. You can email me directly at andy@aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 14 January, 2023
One book (and it’s not a religious text) has had an increasingly significant impact throughout my career. In this Side Mirror I want to talk about that book, my relationship with it and the lessons that I take from that relationship.
I’ll explain the role it has played in me finding my purpose and how it ultimately contributed to me leaving behind my corporate career and starting my business.
I’m sharing this story because there are a few aspects that I hope may help you when designing your own life and / or help you to develop or grow the people you lead, parent or mentor.
If you’ve taken ownership of designing your life and living intentionally, reflect on the paradigms or beliefs that you have about your situation. Are they helping you to move towards the life you want or stopping you from doing that?
- If you’re asking yourself, “How can I create a job I love without throwing away everything I’ve already got?”, this is how I started to go about that
- Bill Gates is credited with the saying “people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in 10 years.” I’m going to share how long I’ve been working towards being in the position I am now.
- The other learning that I've taken from this part of my own journey that I feel strongly about sharing is that knowing stuff isn’t enough. You have to use your knowledge, you have to apply it, you have to practise it, you have to live through those really uncomfortable early phases of being rubbish at things before you can start to get better and eventually benefit from your new skill
- Finally I’d like to ask you to think about your role as a leader and try seeing yourself for a portion of that role as a facilitator guiding your people to experience insights that will help them grow and become more effective
Those are the points that stand out as learnings for me from my relationship with this book and from the part it has played in my life so far.
There may be other thoughts that come to mind for you as you listen to this story and that is absolutely perfect.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Mobility businesses are all about people, processes and technology. We leverage our Aquilae Academy for people development and Aquilae Consulting for those wider business topics.
If you're looking for some help with people or business topics and you like the idea of having some additional very experienced, resources who can work flexibly alongside you. Please get in touch with me for a conversation. You can email me directly at andy@aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 5 January, 2023
In this episode Alex Case and I explore the topic of people development from the unique perspective of the elite world of the Royal Marines Commandos including:
- The impact of changing roles every two years
- Why you don't have to shout
- Keeping people engaged when most of their time is spent preparing for operations
- Mission command leadership and the importance of trust
- Holding your peers accountable
I think you'll agree that it's a fascinating comparison to make and one which will stimulate ideas that you can adopt in your own environment.
You can contact Alex via email: ac@cordillera-apps.com
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 20 December 2022
Clive is the owner of Torq Consulting Services.
As many traditional automotive OEMs transition to becoming completely digitalised and selling directly to the customer, TORQ Consulting Services was established to provide input to OEMs and financial services entities converting to that "agency" model as it's often called.
Prior to establishing Torq, Clive had a successful international career in automotive financial services including roles as CEO of BMW Financial Services in South Africa, Australia and Japan.
In our conversation we discuss how Clive was inspired by entrepreneurs and noticed at an early age the impact that Chartered Accountants can have in a business.
Having qualified as a CA, he wanted to test his ability in Sales and Marketing and he shares how he got himself into a position to do just that.
We also talk about:
- how he experienced diversity in different markets,
- the point when he realised he really couldn't do everything himself and
- an interesting conversation he had with a former employee he'd had to let go
Clive is a highly experienced professional in our industry whom I've had the pleasure to work and socialise with in different countries since 2006. I'm pleased to be able to introduce him to you in this episode and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Clive via:
email: cp@torq.co.za
website: www.torq.co.za
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 19 December, 2022
Tom is the owner of Ecurie Esprit Car Storage, a business he established ten years ago in Stratford upon Avon in the UK to provide superlative car storage, movement and improvement for investors, collectors and enthusiasts.
Before founding Ecurie Esprit he spent time as a corporate employee and as a consultant.
In our conversation, we discuss Tom's childhood exposure to all things automotive and how that gave him a sense of direction that informed his early life choices. He then openly shares the challenges, opportunities and realisations that caused him to adjust his course along the way.
Some golden nuggets in Tom's story include examples of:
The benefits of knowing the direction you want to go in.
Differentiating yourself from the competition or avoiding them altogether.
Sales based on genuine solutions, not charisma.
Gaining credibility at a young age with senior B2B decision makers.
Responding to external events.
Finding yourself in what feels like exactly the right place.
You can contact Tom via Instagram or email: tom@ecurieesprit.co.uk
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 9 December, 2022
In this Side Mirror episode I’ve introduced you to a good friend of mind, Mark Slater and we’ve discussed some of the challenges that he’s been dealing with in his IT environment, things like coping with a maturing team, integrating young talent, to some extent putting old heads on young shoulders but also taking advantage of their different approach to learning on the go. We also talked about the importance of trust, giving team members space to fail fast and iterate and creating an environment in which they feel safe to share what they are doing, especially if it’s a bit unusual and help each other.
I hope you found some ideas to reflect on in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Could you use some additional experienced resources who can work alongside you and your team on a flexible basis to help you achieve your priorities?
I started Aquilae in 2016 and since then we have worked internationally with established automotive OEMs, EV start ups, FinTechs and insurance companies to achieve their unique mobility goals.
Aquilae team members are highly experienced senior leaders with complementary areas of expertise who have run businesses and divisions internationally in our industry. Because we have all had many years experience of operating in the industry ourselves, we don't just advise our clients on what to do. Instead, we tend to work alongside them, delivering their specific projects. We are happy to help develop strategy and we're equally happy to then get involved delivering the plan.
Mobility businesses are all about people, processes and technology. We leverage our Aquilae Academy for people development and Aquilae Consulting for those wider business topics.
If you're looking for some help with people or business topics and you like the idea of having some additional very experienced, resources who can work flexibly alongside you. Please get in touch with me for a conversation. You can email me directly at andy@aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 22 November 2022
In this Side Mirror episode I've reflected on why our adoption of new skills and behaviours might slow down once we get into the workplace and how we owe it to ourselves to take ownership of our development so that we remain valuable in our rapidly changing world.
I hope you find it useful and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Could you use some additional experienced resources who can work alongside you and your team on a flexible basis to help you achieve your priorities?
I started Aquilae in 2016 and since then we have worked internationally with established automotive OEMs, EV start ups, FinTechs and insurance companies to achieve their unique mobility goals.
Aquilae team members are highly experienced senior leaders with complementary areas of expertise who have run businesses and divisions internationally in our industry. Because we have all had many years experience of operating in the industry ourselves, we don't just advise our clients on what to do. Instead, we tend to work alongside them, delivering their specific projects. We are happy to help develop strategy and we're equally happy to then get involved delivering the plan.
Mobility businesses are all about people, processes and technology. We leverage our Aquilae Academy for people development and Aquilae Consulting for those wider business topics.
If you're looking for some help with people or business topics and you like the idea of having some additional very experienced, resources who can work flexibly alongside you. Please get in touch with me for a conversation. You can email me directly at andy@aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 26 November 2022
Since 2017, Steve has been the Managing Director of Financial Services for Aston Martin Lagonda. Prior to that he set up the global financial services structure for McLaren Financial Services and before that he held the role of Managing Director of Porsche Financial Services GB.
In our conversation we talk about how Steve found his way into the automotive finance industry from banking and his approach to leadership and partnership which very much resonates with me. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Steve via LinkedIn
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 21 November, 2022
James has spent his last 23 years in the automotive industry in a variety of increasingly senior roles with OEMs, and a global Leasing company, both in the UK and European roles, moving overseas with his family twice. For the last 6 years he has been with Constellation Automotive Group, in a variety of MD roles, running the Fleet Solutions and Retail Operations businesses. His last 3 years have been focused on online used car retailing, supporting both cinch & Cazoo in the physical operational delivery of the online consumer experience.
In our conversation, as well as covering his professional journey, we talk about how his career choices have impacted on his family and relationships. It's clear that taking opportunities outside of his comfort zone has helped him develop a wide experience base and skillset across the entire automotive supply chain.
Without spoiling it for you, I will say that James's story features some dramatic plot twists and I'm grateful to him for sharing his experiences so openly. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact James via LinkedIn or email: kendalloneltd@outlook.com
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 11 and 17 November, 2022
John is the Founder & Managing Director of jte Consulting, the global management consulting firm that serves clients in the world where transportation, consumer, connectivity, and software intersect.
As a former executive at Motorola and Global Technologist at Ford Motor Company, John led or participated in teams that built many of the innovations we see today in connected vehicles on the ground and in the air. Since then, he has helped cities and organizations understand how technology is affecting the way our streets, sidewalks, and curbs operate, now and into the future.
John is the best-selling author of The Zero Dollar Car, a former adjunct professor at University of Notre Dame, as well as a former translator in the 1992 Summer Olympics.
In our conversation we talk about John’s childhood experience, the value of learning a language, how he maximised his opportunities at university, and his international career. While John insists he’s a software guy and not a car guy, his experience and worldview only seem to get more relevant to our mobility industry each year. I was lucky enough to be in the audience when John first delivered his Zero Dollar Car speech that spawned his book and his professional speaking career and I’m delighted and proud to be able to introduce him to you in this episode.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact John via LinkedIn or email: John@jte-consulting.com
Buy his book The Zero Dollar Car at www.johntellis.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the mobility industry.
We use our very own Fulfilling Performance paradigm to identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business.
We leverage our Aquilae Consulting arm for business topics and the Aquilae Academy for people topics.
And, once we're agreed on the way forward, we work alongside you and your teams to enable Fulfilling Performance and achieve your goals.
I explain Fulfilling Performance in more detail in Episode 60 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR which is a short Side Mirror episode.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 17 October, 2022
In this Side Mirror episode I've shared a personal story about a role I went for and didn't get and what happened next.
It's deliberately quite detailed as I want to take you behind the scenes and share what I was thinking and what actions I was taking at that time in case it is helpful for your own decision making.
I hope you find it useful and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Could you use some additional experienced resources who can work alongside you and your team on a flexible basis to help you achieve your priorities?
I started Aquilae in 2016 and since then we have worked internationally with established automotive OEMs, EV start ups, FinTechs and insurance companies to achieve their unique mobility goals.
Aquilae team members are highly experienced senior leaders with complementary areas of expertise who have run businesses and divisions internationally in our industry. Because we have all had many years experience of operating in the industry ourselves, we don't just advise our clients on what to do. Instead, we tend to work alongside them, delivering their specific projects. We are happy to help develop strategy and we're equally happy to then get involved delivering the plan.
Mobility businesses are all about people, processes and technology. We leverage our Aquilae Academy for people development and Aquilae Consulting for those wider business topics.
If you're looking for some help with people or business topics and you like the idea of having some additional very experienced, resources who can work flexibly alongside you. Please get in touch with me for a conversation. You can email me directly at Andy @Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 27 October 2022
Matt has always had a passion for the BMW Group products and through optimism, hard work and a sprinkle of luck, defined a formula for success that guided him throughout his journey; enabling him to progress quite quickly throughout the wider group and ensure he was match fit for any opportunities that arose.
Starting his automotive career with North Shore BMW in Sydney, Australia, Matt moved to BMW Australia in 2013, to become a sales and product trainer. It was here he met his wife Lauren, who he admits is his biggest inspiration and the catalyst for his career taking off. Matt eventually rose to lead the strategic sales function for the MINI Brand in Australia and in 2019, relocated to NYC with Lauren to take on the Vice President of Sales role for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars largest region, the Americas.
After more than 13 years with the BMW Group, Matt has recently relocated from New York City to Laguna Beach to take on a new role as Vice President of Sales and Strategy for Virgin Galactic, the world's first commercial space line.
I am grateful to Brett Waudby for recommending Matt as a potential guest and for introducing us. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know Matt in our conversation. Listening to it, I’m sure you’ll get a sense of Matt’s energy levels and the highly intentional way he has gone about managing his career. He also shares the three ingredients that have helped him on his journey. I am delighted to be able to introduce Matt to you in this episode and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the mobility industry.
We use our very own Fulfilling Performance paradigm to identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business.
We leverage our Aquilae Consulting arm for business topics and the Aquilae Academy for people topics.
And, once we're agreed on the way forward, we work alongside you and your teams to enable Fulfilling Performance and achieve your goals.
I explain Fulfilling Performance in more detail in Episode 60 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR which is a short Side Mirror episode.
If you enjoy CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, please follow us in your podcast app.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 14 October, 2022
Kevin has spent his entire career to date in the automotive industry in a variety of increasingly senior roles with OEMs, service providers and the automotive practices of major consulting firms.
We talk about why, following graduation, he chose to join Austin Rover and why he ultimately chose to leave, his experiences in professional services with KPMG and the incredible customer service ethos at the RAC. He shares moments of good and bad luck that shaped his career.
Kevin is the leader who first took a chance on me and accepted me into our industry at the age of 28, when I had no previous automotive experience. You'll hear how I may have given him cause to question his decision on my very first day. I'll always be grateful for his open minded attitude to hiring and the opportunities that his decision opened up for me. I'm pleased to be able to celebrate his career and to introduce him to you in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Kevin via LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the mobility industry.
We use our very own Fulfilling Performance paradigm to identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business.
We leverage our Aquilae Consulting arm for business topics and the Aquilae Academy for people topics.
And, once we're agreed on the way forward, we work alongside you and your teams to enable Fulfilling Performance and achieve your goals.
I explain Fulfilling Performance in more detail in Episode 60 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR which is a short Side Mirror episode.
If you enjoy CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, please follow us in your podcast app.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 13 October 2022
Peter has traversed a career in the Automotive Financial Services industry for over 18 years with BMW Group in Australia from the early beginnings in an intern program through to senior leadership roles across Finance, Operations, Risk and Sales functions culminating in C level roles as Chief Risk Officer and GM Sales & Marketing.
Peter holds a bachelors degree in Applied Science from Deakin University Melbourne a Masters in Commerce also from Deakin a diploma in Financial Planning from the Financial Planning Association of Australia and his professional accounting qualifications from CPA Australia.
He has experience across diverse functions, and he is passionate about leading and developing individuals and teams, Peter has gained deep experience leading through significant periods of organisational and regulatory change.
In our conversation we talk about his earliest work experience in the family business his initial wish to have a career in sport and the subsequent need to pivot, go back to the drawing board and embark on a corporate career. We discuss his progression during 18 years with BMW in Australia which culminated in a difficult decision and change of course for him. Without spoiling the surprise for you, I will share that there is a satisfying plot twist at the end!
I first met Peter a dozen or more years ago and I was immediately struck by his attitude to learning and leadership. It is my pleasure to introduce him to you and to share his career story in this episode.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Peter via LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the mobility industry.
We use our very own Fulfilling Performance paradigm to identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business.
We leverage our Aquilae Consulting arm for business topics and the Aquilae Academy for people topics.
And, once we're agreed on the way forward, we work alongside you and your teams to enable Fulfilling Performance and achieve your goals.
I explain Fulfilling Performance in more detail in Episode 60 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR which is a short Side Mirror episode.
If you enjoy CAREER-VIEW MIRROR, please follow us in your podcast app.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 7 October, 2022
Over the years, I've invested personal time and money to develop my own career and I've amassed a good amount of experience. In the 1:1s I have with clients and young people I mentor, I share some of the paradigms and methods that have proven effective for me and I work with them to help them take ownership of their own careers.
A little while ago I wrote down a list of the main ideas that underpin my approach. They form a sort of 13 step guide and I thought that sharing them would make a good Side Mirror episode. It's very high level and no substitute for working with me 1:1, but I think you'll still be able to derive value from it. You'll also notice quite a few references to people and resources that have shaped my thinking and you'll find details and links for some of those below.
I hope you find it useful and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Resources and links:
How to make hard choices - Ruth Chang
Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck
CliftonStrengths 34
Thinking Fast and Slow - Daniel Kahnemann
Go put your strengths to work - Marcus Buckingham
Steve Siebold
Mike Dooley
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen R. Covey
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the mobility industry.
We use our very own Fulfilling Performance paradigm to identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business.
We leverage our Aquilae Consulting arm for business topics and the Aquilae Academy for people topics.
And once we're agreed on the way forward, we work alongside you and your teams to enable Fulfilling Performance and achieve your goals.
I explain Fulfilling Performance in more detail in Episode 60 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR which is a short Side Mirror episode like this one.
Contact me directly if you’d like to know more. My email is Andy@Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 8 October 2022
Erich is an assertive and result-oriented leader. He has a history of building high performance management teams combined with in-depth understanding of the Financial Services, IT Services and Automotive industries. He has held positions with global leadership responsibility for over 8,000 employees spanning 40+ countries.
In our conversation we discuss Erich's journey from bank apprentice to Global Head of Financial Services and then Aftersales for BMW. We talk about his time on Wall Street, what it was like heading up BMW's treasury function during the Global Financial Crisis and the successful integration of ING Car Leasing and Alphabet. Erich shares his early leadership experiences during his period of military service and his later strategy to develop a global culture by leveraging young talent.
I know Erich as a driven and innovative leader with a focus on growing people and developing positive and progressive organisational culture. It is my pleasure to share his career story in this episode.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Erich at: erichebner@t-online.de
The Business Model Canvas that Erich refers to can be downloaded here.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 26 September 2022
Nicolas is an expert in the rapidly emerging field of car subscription and connected car retailing.
After spending his work life in big corporations working internationally, Nicolas moved into entrepreneurship 18 months ago.
This was initially intended to be a temporary situation but it extended beyond his expectations, in terms of duration but mostly in terms of personal discovery and growth.
A husband and father of two, Nicolas is widely enjoying his new lifestyle and discovering as he goes along what it means making the journey from employment to self employment.
We discuss how young love played a part in him finding his way into the automotive industry, the incredible experiences he had as a result of connecting with locals in South Africa and the challenges he faced moving back to his home country of France. We also talk about his journey in recent years to be at the forefront of vehicle subscription and the current transformation that OEM, dealerships and car finance companies are going through.
I'm delighted to be able to introduce Nicolas to you in this episode and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Nicolas via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 23 September 2022
Jon has spent all his working life in sales, most of it in the automotive sector. He was with the Audi network for 17 years. He started as a trainee sales exec and spent the last 10 years of his time there as a General Sales Manager for dealerships in and around Manchester in the North West of England.
In 2015 he took a gamble and went to work for what was at that time a pretty much unknown, American electric car company called Tesla. Jon was initially hired to manage the new Manchester store. After 10 months he was promoted to Regional Sales Manager looking after North UK and Ireland.
His role expanded as the business grew until he was ultimately responsible for the in-store sales operation in the UK/IE which consisted of 25 stores.
In 2021 he decided to try to even the scales on his work/life balance and he bought a franchise from ‘Sales Geek’. He now provides a part-time sales director service and sales training to businesses predominately in Cheshire and North Staffordshire which he finds immensely rewarding.
In our conversation we cover his sales journey from selling flowers on a market stall to selling £100k Teslas and running multiple stores. We talk about some of the differences between the approaches of traditional automotive brands and Tesla and how having a compelling mission affects the behaviour of people with an organisation.
Jon is open and straight talking. He has had an interesting career journey that traverses the old and new worlds of automotive. I am pleased to be able to share his experiences with you in this episode.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Jon via LinkedIn or email: jonathan.whitby@salesgeek.co.uk
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 9 September 2022
My guests are incredibly gracious in sharing their stories and demonstrating vulnerability in our conversations. I owe it to them to do the same. I shouldn’t ask them to share if I wouldn’t be prepared to share myself.
At the same time, I wanted to talk about crucible moments and how they forge our character and influence our behaviour often subconsciously and sometimes indefinitely unless we seek to identify them. I wanted to prompt you to reflect on your own life journey and consider whether that’s been the case for you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our very own Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business.
I explain what we mean by Fulfilling Performance in Episode 60 of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR which is a short Side Mirror episode like this one.
Contact me directly if you’d like to know more. My email is Andy@Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 29 August 2022
After working in the corporate sector for nearly 30 years (in varying sales and marketing roles), Shona decided to take a completely different career path and step into the world of yoga. It took her a little while to navigate the transitions, but after 8 years of teaching yoga full time, she tells me that it feels completely natural to have taken that step change that combines a vocation with a passion.
She teaches a variety of different yoga styles, including: bikram, vinyasa, yin, pilates and HIIT.
She says, "We all have to start somewhere and there is never any ending to where Yoga can take you… I've come to believe that everything we do in our lives is some form of Yoga. There are always ways to grow and develop and this practice allows us to see ourselves as we truly are. It transcends the physical and marries together emotional, mental and spiritual wellbeing."
In our conversation we also talk about her corporate career journey that included a period with Rover Corporate Finance and Alphabet when that business was in its infancy. We talk about her time working for Alan Pascoe, the elite athlete, and other high flying international roles in sports marketing and, with this episode recorded in the week that the world mourns the passing of Mikhail Gorbachev, we hear a first hand account of Shona's personal encounter with the great man.
Shona is a beautiful soul who has had a quite extraordinary career journey filled with experiences that can offer insights to us all. I am extremely proud and excited to be able to introduce her to you in this episode.
And if, after getting to know Shona through our conversation, you want to do some yoga with her you can contact her at www.ShonaLangridge.yoga
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can also contact Shona via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed?
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 1 September 2022
With lots of people leaving roles, this episode covers how you might approach such a decision. I encourage people thinking of leaving a job to take a broad and measured view of the components that go to make up your current situation. Before you bet everything on a completely new set of circumstances, have a look at how you could keep all the best bits of your existing role whilst seeking to improve on the weaker components.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae. Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our very own Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more. My email is Andy@Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 10 August 2022
Stefan is the VP for New Markets for the Norwegian EV Charging start-up Easee. After spending the last 2,5 years setting up the Benelux market and building the foundations he is now part of a small team duplicating that effort and helping Easee expand further into Europe and beyond. Easee has two missions, Shaping the future of electricity and shaping the future of business culture.
Growing up, Stefan always had the desire to explore and move outside the comfort of his small home town. After a few years figuring out what he wanted to do, his passion for cars lead him to working at Tesla. He was there in the early days of trying to explain why a car manufacturer had a showroom in a fancy shopping street in Amsterdam to delivering the first Model S in the UK. He took what started out as a frustration, how to deal with customer trade in vehicles and built it into a successful Used car & Remarketing program for the UK, combining the traditional car industry with the new ‘Tesla’ way of doing things.
In our conversation we go into more detail about his journey so far, how he obtained the roles he's held, how he missed out on some others and how with the benefit of hindsight that was not necessarily a bad thing at all.
Stefan is open and fun and shares his story with energy and passion. I'm grateful to him for creating his episode with me and I’m pleased to have this opportunity to introduce him to you in this way. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Stefan via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 8 August 2022
His passion for The Toyota Way, the Toyota production system and Kaizen evolved through multiple job rotations throughout Toyota during a 24 year tenure with the brand which included holding the position of General Manager Aftersales Operations at Toyota Motors Europe, General Manager Aftersales at Toyota Sweden and Regional Manager Sales and Aftersales at Toyota Deutschland.
He has spent over eight years with Al Futtaim Group in Dubai, three years of which were in the role of Managing Director Al Futtaim Automotive.
Ralf is currently in working in Doha in Qatar as Group Director of Aftersales for Jaidah Group.
It was my absolute pleasure to talk with Ralf about his career. As you'll see he is an incredibly warm and friendly human being and very open and generous in sharing his experiences. As well as allowing me to question him about the unique methods and culture used to powerful effect at Toyota, he was equally happy to talk holistically about the role his wife has played in his journey and the impact on his family of their international life. I am excited to give you the opportunity to get to know Ralf through his episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Ralf via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 1 August 2022
Julian is co-founder and CEO of MOTOM, a new technology company servicing the vehicle remarketing sector in the UK. MOTOM is a joint venture with Flipacar of Australia and with support from three close colleagues, Julian successfully launched the business earlier this year.
He has a proven track record in the automotive, automotive finance and asset finance sectors, both in the UK and Europe but, as a school leaver, he decided to start his career in baking.
At the age of 18 he began a 3-year spell learning professional b2b sales in the office equipment sector before his interest in cars led him to join Cowie Interleasing.
He found early success in both new business and account management roles before becoming the youngest sales manager in the business at the age of 28 and building a high performing team. In 1999 the business was sold to GMAC where Julian enjoyed success in growing the business as head of sales to then take on the role of Managing Director, private label operations in 2005. In 2007 he complemented the MD role with the role of European sales development director.
He left GM 2009, when they filed for bankruptcy protection and closed a number of businesses across Europe.
He started an advisory business in 2010 and worked with a number of the world’s leading automotive brands.
In 2013, Julian and a number of ex-colleagues co-founded Maxxia, an asset and vehicle finance business as a joint venture with MMS of Australia. For a time, Maxxia was the fastest growing asset finance business in the UK, scaling from zero originations to £600m per annum in 5 years. In December 2020, he and his co-founding colleagues sold their 50% shareholding to MMS and finally left the business in March 2021.
In our conversation we talk about his preference for learning by doing, those 3am starts at the bakery and the gradual discovery of his career path during those early years leading to a successful corporate career with GM and successful exit from the startup he co founded. We discuss the impact of professional sales training on his skills development, confidence and business results and how he made the transition from high performing contributor to leading a team of his peers.
I found Julian easy to talk to and had fun exploring his story. I’m pleased to be able to share it with you and hope that you find it inspiring.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Julian via LinkedIn or at MOTOM
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 29 July 2022
This episode explains how with the help of an inspiring mentor, we created the Aquilae Academy and how it's possible to forge strong connection between people in a virtual environment as long as you are intentional about doing that.
I hope that it encourages you to keep going and push boundaries in your own projects and reminds you how given the opportunity and the right environment, people love to help each other.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae. Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our very own Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more. My email is Andy@Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 27 July 2022
This episode urges some caution in adopting wholesale hybrid and remote working practices and encourages you to be intentional in your leadership and management decisions to enable Fulfilling Performance for all team members.
I hope that you can use it to provoke a discussion about the transformation that is taking place and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae. Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our very own Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more. My email is Andy@Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 23 July 2022
Ashley loves a challenge - it’s the intrinsic motivation for everything he takes on. From the physical and mental effort of ice climbing in the Himalayas as part of his Outdoor Leadership Degree, to his five years at Tesla working his way up to a position dealing directly with Elon Musk and ultimately leading Tesla’s European Delivery and Logistics Team in the launch of Model 3.
Behind it all he has developed a passion for Operations in various guises in order to meet these challenges, enabling him to streamline organisations by optimising people, processes and systems.
This passion is being put to good use in his current role as Operations Director at Clearview Imaging, an exciting globally expanding company of Machine Vision Experts looking to revolutionise automation over a wide range of industries.
In our conversation he shares how failing to grasp the step up required to succeed at A level derailed his initial plans for further education and how it was almost by chance that he ended up at Enterprise rent a car where he picked up the knowledge and experience that would make him a valuable addition to the team at Tesla. We discuss his rapid progression through that business and Ashley describes some of the challenges he faced and the course corrections he made on the way. He also shares how he was motivated by the need to prove himself and relays the phone call that helped him to realise that he had finally done enough.
Ashley is a wonderfully genuine and inspiring human being and I'm delighted to know him and to be able to introduce him to you in this episode. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests' career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Ashley via LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 27 June 2022
Alan has enjoyed an international career with premium automotive brands, holding senior positions spanning 5 continents. Most recently he has embraced his passion of leadership development through his own successful coaching and consulting company.
In our conversation Alan describes his childhood experiences growing up on a dairy farm where he first came across the machinery that would ignite a curiosity that led to him starting out as an apprentice car mechanic. He reveals how that curiosity combined with ambition eventually saw him agreeing to put down the spanners and embark on a geographical and career journey spanning the globe and leading to senior positions across the spectrum of an OEM's commercial functions. Alan shares with me the thinking behind the moves he made as he navigated his way around the world and through corporate life.
Alan is a warm and approachable leader with a wealth of experience to offer us and his clients. I'm delighted to be able to introduce him to you in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Alan via LinkedIn or at Remarkables Coaching.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 23 June 2022
Steve has a proven track record within the automotive industry in the UK.
The youngest ever production manager with Land Rover – managing over 100 personnel at the age of 21, he made the jump from manufacturing to corporate sales for Rover Group in 1997 managing the leasing and independent rental sector in the North of the UK.
In 2000, he made the move to Volvo Car UK Ltd as Southern Area Leasing and Rental Development Manager before a 2 year spell as National Sales Manager for an independent leasing company saw exponential growth with the business being ranked the 27thfastest growing company in the UK.
Steve later moved to RAC heading up its Fleet & Commercial sector where he delivered a significant turnaround in profits and growth before founding Multifleet Vehicle Management in 2011 which trades as runyourfleet.
Runyourfleet is now a multi award-winning company managing 30,000 vehicles across the UK on behalf of more than 1,200 businesses. It has its own unique customer platform developed in-house and is seeing significant growth across all services.
In our conversation we talk about Steve's engineering apprenticeship at Rover Group his early success in the production environment and his transition to the commercial side of the business. He describes some very happy times along with some challenging times in a number of corporate roles with household name brands like Volvo and the RAC before sharing his story of another transition, this time into starting a fleet management company from scratch. Steve is a such a warm and friendly human being and I am delighted to be able to introduce him to you in this episode. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests' career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Steve via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 22 June 2022
Anirudh takes us on an international journey that sees him starting his own garment business in Mumbai, India before transitioning into a successful corporate career with BMW and then Centric Consulting. He shares the steps he took and the challenges he overcame on the way.
Anirudh is an experienced professional having 25 years of experience in Automotive Finance and Consulting. He has vast international experience, having lived, and worked in 5 countries - USA, Malaysia, South Korea, Germany, and India over the last 20 years. He has extensive experience in IT services, project management, process improvement, sales and marketing, and strategy in the banking and finance, and insurance industries.
Currently he is a Partner at Centric Consulting, an international management consulting firm with more than 1,400 experts in digital, technology and business consulting. He is responsible for the offshore development center in India.
I'm grateful to him for joining me to create this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Anirudh via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 20 and 21 June 2022
When he felt his career was on a plateau David took himself to Australia to maintain momentum and after several years finally returned home to the UK when the timing was right. On his journey, he experienced corporate and personal success, significant challenge in his home life and a shock redundancy, all of which he shares openly during our conversation. I am pleased to be able to introduce you to David in this episode and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
David is a globally experienced executive across the premium & luxury consumer goods and automotive industries in the UK, EU, Australia and New Zealand. He holds tertiary qualifications in both engineering (B.Eng, Bath) business management (ADP, London Business School) & (Adv Dip. Bus, Deakin University, Melbourne). He's a passionate advocate of organisational & team development, strategic & operational rigor, continual change and programs to optimise the consumer experience. He's fluent in German, a Member of the UK Institute of Directors (IOD), Board Member of AMDEA, and a British and Australian citizen.
And he's the founder of a concept not-for-profit called SaddleUp! supporting people recently made redundant.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact David via Linked In
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. Adopting our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm helps you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 13 June 2022
Simon has spent most of his life in the corporate world. He worked for Aviva for 30 years, leaving in February 2022 to set up his own pricing and data science consultancy business, Brightfathom.
In his Aviva career, he spent the vast majority of his time pricing life insurance and general insurance business.
His career breakthrough was introducing full credit score into the car insurance pricing journey. This ultimately led to him being the Chief Underwriting Officer for Personal Lines business and the Chair of Aviva Insurance Services Limited.
Simon gets a huge sense of fulfillment from coaching, and wants to be remembered for helping people to achieve their life goals.
Simon lives with his wife, two (young) adult children and three dogs. He spends a lot of his spare time maintaining, and occasionally managing to sail, his boat.
His biggest claim to fame is turning down an invitation to have dinner with Elon Musk…
Our conversation we talk about how he found his way into the insurance business, what he took out of his long career within it and his desire to give back. From his experience of retirement planning he shares some fascinating insights about what people aspire to when looking forward to retirement versus what people who have been retired a while tend to end up doing. Simon brings a lot of warmth and humanity to the topic of being an actuary and I am delighted to be able to introduce you to him in this way. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Simon via LinkedIn or via www.brightfathom.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. We use our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 30 May 2022
Ivor Johnson is the multi award winning Global Fleet Services Senior Director for Pfizer.
He is responsible for above market policy, governance, strategy development and execution for 76 markets operating 14,000 cars and around 800 electric bikes
He manages a global team of fleet professionals and is also responsible for the General Management of two captive leasing entities, one in the UK and one in Ireland.
Prior to joining Pfizer, he co-founded and ultimately sold Fleet Logistics UK before moving into the role of Operations Director at Leasedrive Velo. His first fleet industry role was with Bristol Myers Squibb where he spent seven years ending up as the Associate Director, Global Strategic Sourcing.
From double glazing to car sales is how Ivor describes his career journey. Whilst factually accurate, this summary does not do justice to the contribution he has made to the fleet management industry. In our conversation we go into more detail about the steps he took and the significant and highly transferable lessons he learned along the way. I am pleased to be able to introduce you to Ivor in this episode and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Ivor via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. We use our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 27 May 2022
Dr. E. Ted Prince is CEO and Founder of the Perth Leadership Institute, which has developed unique leadership assessments for financial leadership and business acumen. He is the author of The Three Financial Styles of Very Successful Leaders, published by McGraw Hill in 2005 and since published in China, India and Taiwan; Business Personality and Leadership Success: Using the Leadership Cockpit to Improve Your Career and Company Outcome published by Amazon Kindle in 2011 and by Ewin Books in Beijing in 2012; and How Founders Can Bring Success to the New Silicon Valley in China, New World Press, Beijing, (2016 English edition), published in Chinese 2018. He has over 300 publications in the area of leadership, management, human resources, business strategy and technology and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences. He has held the positions of Visiting Lecturer at the University of Florida and Visiting Professor at the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics.
In our conversation for Career-view Mirror, we talk about the effects of his challenging childhood and how the paradigms instilled in his early years turned him into a voracious learner once he finally got the opportunity. A PhD himself, he has strong views about academia in particular its relevance to business and leadership education which I think you'll find thought provoking and direct. Ted describes himself as a contrarian i.e. a person who opposes or rejects popular opinion. This makes him an entertaining conversation partner. I'm pleased to be able to introduce you to him in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Ted via LinkedIn or via email: etedprince@perthleadership.org
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. We use our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 24 May 2022
Anthony is the Managing Director and Founder of Ecosmart Group in Melbourne Australia. Since launching in 1991, Ecosmart Plumbing & Drainage has developed a strong reputation for consistent delivery of reliable, quality plumbing and drainage services.
Ecosmart's strength is its highly skilled staff who are committed to the success of their clients projects, backed by the highest quality procedures developed across 1,000’s of successful jobs.
As well as Plumbing Services, Ecosmart are Builders and Developers who pride themselves on their comprehensive understanding of volume building processes and are committed to growing their partners businesses.
Anthony is an entrepreneur with an incredible passion for nurturing and growing people. I have been working with Anthony and his team for a while now and I was so struck by the way they operate that I asked him to join me to talk about his career journey and the business he has developed.
Our conversation covers his early years growing up and his ambitions to become a professional cyclist which ended abruptly and prematurely. We talk about the very tough early years of building the business and the point when he almost gave up. Anthony shares the focus on people, purpose and values that make Ecosmart what it is and make me very proud to introduce you to him and his approach. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
If you enjoy listening to my guests career stories, please follow CAREER-VIEW MIRROR in your podcast app.
You can contact Anthony via email: anthony@ecosmartgroup.com.au
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. We use our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk for a no obligation conversation about your situation.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 16 May 2022
Michael is an automotive industry veteran with over 35 years’ experience at manufacturer, distributor and dealer level in a number of different markets including the UK, Singapore, Thailand, New Zealand and the Kingdom of Bahrain. His brand exposure covers BMW, MINI, Toyota, Lexus and more recently multi-franchise service centres. Currently he is Senior General Manager, Aftersales for Ebrahim Khalil Kanoo in Bahrain with a multi-cultural workforce of nearly 700 members operating in 10 different locations with an annual turnover in excess of 45,000,000 pounds. A passionate advocate for customer service and a champion of developing people, his team have won multiple awards from Toyota and external parties for their work in talent management, skills development, quality standards and customer satisfaction.
In our conversation we cover Michael’s global career journey and discuss the motivation behind each move and the associated decisions. I am pleased to have this chance to introduce you to Michael in this way and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Michael via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae. Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry, internationally. We use our Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance for yourself, your team and your business.
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 12 May 2022
This episode follows on from our three Side Mirrors on Fulfilling Performance and explains some of the thinking behind the changes I had to make to get myself into a position from which I could focus on my mission to Enable Fulfilling Performance through Aquilae.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to Enable Fullfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our proprietary Fulfilling Performance Paradigm to help you identify what steps you need to take to Enable Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more. My email is Andy@Aquilae.co.uk
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 7 May 2022
This episode is part of a series of Side Mirrors focusing on the origin story of Aquilae's vision of Fulfilling Performance. I share where the idea came from and how it informs Aquilae's mission of Enabling Fulfilling Performance.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae's mission is to enable Fulfilling Performance in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our Fulfilling Performance framework to help you identify what steps you need to take to realise Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 30 April 2022
This episode is part of a series of Side Mirrors focusing on the origin story of Aquilae's vision of Fulfilling Performance. I share where the idea came from and how it informs Aquilae's mission of Enabling Fulfilling Performance.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a Performance Management consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our proprietary performance management diagnostic to help you identify what steps you need to take to realise Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 23 April 2022
This episode focuses on the origin story of Aquilae's vision of Fulfilling Performance. I share where the idea came from and how it informs Aquilae's mission of Enabling Fulfilling Performance.
I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
This episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR is brought to you by Aquilae. Aquilae is a Performance Management consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We use our proprietary Performance Management diagnostic to help you identify what steps you need to take to realise Fulfilling Performance in your business. Contact me directly if you’d like to know more.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Episode recorded on 14 April 2022
Ian has 40 years experience in the automotive industry in retail and corporate sales working across mainstream and premium brands. In the last decade he's made a name for himself in the super luxury segment taking care of Rolls Royce and McLaren private clients around the world. His network of High Net Worth contacts have encouraged him to expand his reach across other luxury goods and now as the owner of luxury goods consultancy Carsmith, he will happily help you find the luxury, car, watch, plane or yacht of your dreams!
In our conversation we track his journey from occasionally sleeping in the footwell of one of his dad's haulage lorries to spending three months in Porto Cervo, Sardinia on the superyacht superhighway connecting with yacht owners and introducing them to Rolls Royce.
I am pleased to be able to introduce you to Ian via this conversation and hope that you enjoy getting to know his story. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Ian via email: ian@carsmith.co.uk
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 25 March 2022
James has worked for over 40 years in the people performance area of organisations. He has lectured on University Masters Programs, facilitated workshops, delivered skills training and carried out senior executive coaching. He has held senior corporate roles and worked as a consultant in Australia, Asia, Europe and the Middle East
In our conversation we talk about his childhood and education in Hong Kong and Indiana, the evolution of his professional career, the stresses that almost brought him down and how, he navigated his way through a prolonged difficult period and with help emerged into an exciting new international phase of his career.
As you'll hear, James has had a fascinating journey and he shares his story openly and authentically. It is my pleasure to introduce him to you in this way. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact James via LinkedIn or email: james@jharper.com.au
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 16 March 2022
Karl is leading on External and Government Affairs for Compleo Charging Solutions UK, and is also the Managing Director of EV consultancy Defcon27 Limited.
Karl was the CEO, board director and founder of innogy eMobility UK, the E.ON owned subsidiary that specialized in supplying advanced electric vehicle charging hardware and software technology from 2018 up until the company was purchased by Compleo in December 2021 and renamed.
Karl joined innogy eMobility from Nissan GB, where he held the role of National EV Manager – Corporate Sales. He has previously held positions with the Energy Saving Trust and General Motors and has been in the automotive industry for 30 years in the UK and overseas.
In our conversation we talk about his entry into and progression through the automotive industry, his relatively early exposure to Electric vehicles and how they became a focus for him and in one role at least provided a differentiator and a key sense of purpose for the team he was leading.
I'm pleased to be able to introduce you to Karl as one of the early champions of our transition to electrification and look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Karl via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 14 March 2022
Declan started his automotive career on the graduate scheme with BMW UK working in training, marketing and sales before leaving to form the training company MFG in 2007. MFG specialised in helping OEMs and dealers in over 30 Global markets to drive footfall and sales through the generation of professional customer appointments via the telephone.
In our conversation Declan shares how he navigated his way into and then out of BMW U.K. and lays bare the ups and downs he experienced building an international business.
You’ll hear how all was going very nicely until COVID and the semi-conductor crises hit…
All my guests bring unique stories. I’m particular grateful to Declan for giving me this opportunity to share his story and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Declan via LinkedIn or email: declangaule@icloud.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 11 March 2022
Greg is the CEO of Turners Auto Retail Division in New Zealand.
Turners is an iconic New Zealand brand that’s been proudly helping Kiwis buy & sell vehicles and equipment since 1967. With over 30 branches nationwide, Turners Group NZ Ltd is the largest seller of cars, trucks & machinery in NZ.
Greg has over 15 years experience in agency and corporate environments gained in roles in New Zealand, UK and USA. He has successfully operated across a number of industry categories including Automotive, Media, FMCG, Travel, and Financial Services. He has a proven track record in strategic brand development, development of high performing teams, and delivering positive bottom line results.
As you'll hear in our conversation, he is passionate about driving staff engagement and enhanced customer experience. We talk about the fun he had getting the travel bug out of his system before he settled down to a career in advertising, how that was such a good fit for him before he transitioned into automotive where he has remained ever since, I hope you enjoy listening to Greg's story and that you identify elements that resonate with you.
You can contact Greg via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 7 March 2022
Jon has 30 years’ experience in the UK leasing and fleet finance industry, having previously worked for such major leasing companies as Alphabet GB Ltd and GE Capital Fleet Services. His 15 year career with Alphabet incorporated roles as Account Manager, Head of Account Management, Head of Consulting Services and Head of Product Management as well as leading the consultancy division to add key value differentiation and technical innovation.
Client relationships that Jon had direct responsibility for included McDonald’s, Shell, Oracle, Royal and Sun Alliance, Royal London Mutual Assurance and the BBC. By managing such large vehicle fleets, he has gained extensive knowledge in all aspects of fleet management, including vehicle acquisition methods, cost control, driver risk, and vehicle choice list analysis.
A subject matter expert in the adoption of electric vehicles into company fleets, Jon also has deep levels of knowledge in the tax efficient alternatives to company vehicle funding and Grey Fleet Management.
Jon has run his own fleet consultancy business since January 2019 with the aim of helping businesses manage their vehicle fleets more effectively and futureproofing the fleet by implementing the transition to 100% electric by 2030
I’ve known Jon for many years and had the pleasure to work with him at Alphabet. I’ve seen him in action. He is exceptional at being the voice of the customer in the business and practises what he preaches when it comes to preparation and professional account management. I’m pleased to be able to introduce Jon to you in this episode and I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Jon via LinkedIn or email: jon@jbfleetconsulting.co.uk
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 18 February 2022
We published our first weekly episode on Monday 1 March 2021 and published episode 52 on 21 February 2022. We thought we’d take advantage of the additional “bonus” Monday available to us before our first anniversary to reflect on our journey and share some of our memories.
Our 52 episodes have reached listeners in 62 countries and over a thousand cities around the globe. When we first started, I remember notching up 15 countries and thinking it’s going to get hard to keep adding new countries from here…
We quickly settled into a format for the podcast, we find out where my guest is coming to us from, we go back to their birthplace and we accompany them on a reflective journey from their earliest memories until the present day.
We pay attention to their early years experiences; their family situation, their memories of school, the roles they had visibility of whilst growing up, and the level of clarity they had about the direction they wanted to take.
We dive into the choices they made, the influencers, the lucky breaks and the mistakes. We sit alongside them as they revisit the more challenging phases of their journeys. We respect them, we appreciate them for sharing their stories and we celebrate their careers to date.
We don’t ask them to teach us, we give them space to tell it as it was from their perspective and we let the elements that resonate with us do just that. Learning from experience is powerful. Learning from others experience is a gift.
Some of my guests have achieved the job titles, the pay grades, the staff count and the airmiles that easily mark them out as successful in one widely accepted corporate sense of the word. Others have gained deep sector expertise and progressed as technical specialists. Some have been launched onto their trajectory off the back of a privileged upbringing others have navigated their way out of more challenging environments. All of them have a story to tell and all their stories contain golden nuggets of transferable experience that we can reflect on and learn from.
One of our listeners, Mike W in Japan described Career-view Mirror as an automotive podcast that's about humans not machines. I am grateful for the humanity and humility demonstrated by my guests. The openness they bring to our conversations is what makes them engaging to listen to. Their humility enables us to receive what they are sharing with us and potentially learn from it.
We hope you enjoy revisiting some of our guests from our first year in this episode and are inspired to listen to their individual episodes and those of our other guests.
Thank you for coming on our journey with us.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 25.02.22
Amira is an Executive leader in Automotive and Financial Services with a focus on the luxury and ultra luxury segment, serving OEMs such as Lucid Motors, Aston Martin and Jaguar Land Rover. She’s an expert in business operations and planning, financial products, branding, marketing and remarketing. She’s known for launching automotive startups and new partnerships and building impactful sales, credit and operation teams. Amira is a collaborator, a disrupter and an empathic leader.
In our conversation we talk about Amira’s childhood in Egypt and her having to take on responsibility at an early age, her sudden move to the US and having to finding her feet in a new country and the unfolding story of her career, starting in premium retail before moving into banking and then into automotive finance.
I loved listening to Amira’s story and I am delighted to be able to introduce you to her in this way. I look forward to hearing which elements resonate with you.
You can contact Amira via LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 28 January 2022
Jason started his automotive career at the entry level as an apprentice mechanic and has worked his way up to the extent that he’s experienced success in multiple international Managing Director positions working with premium brands including Rolls Royce, Porsche, Ferrari, Bentley, Lamborghini and BMW.
In our conversation, you'll hear how his curiosity, competitive nature and openness to learn new skills and adapt to change have enabled him to lead teams to success in multiple countries across the globe.
I hope you enjoy meeting Jason in this way and I look forward to hearing which elements of his story resonate with you.
You can contact Jason via LinkedIn or email: jasonbroome@hotmail.com and you can follow him on Instagram.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 24 January 2022
Ed is a leading global expert in professional management, sales strategy, and performance management. He is a former principal consultant for the Table Group, a Patrick Lencioni Company, and operates The Eppley Group. He has worked with executive teams at multinational companies across the U.S., Europe, China, Japan, and Australia. His clients include a “Who’s Who” of business category leaders such as BMW, DSW, Sara Lee, Bloomberg, Battelle, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Speedway, Steamboat Ski & Resort Company, Value City Furniture, PSA Airlines, Emerson Electric, NECCO, Safelite Auto Glass, and others.
A life-long entrepreneur, Ed started an advertising agency and a manufacturer’s rep firm selling to the industrial and construction markets before creating Tyson Eppley Management, ProspeX, and The Eppley Group.
If you want to benefit more from Ed’s wisdom, clarity and straight talking professional management advice you can get his book, “Let’s Be Clear” from Amazon and you can listen to his podcast, The Ed Eppley Experience wherever you listen to your podcasts.
This is the 50th episode of CAREER-VIEW MIRROR and I wanted to celebrate this milestone by introducing you to a guest who is very special to me and who has had a significant impact on my own development, career and life journey. I first met Ed in 2006 in South Africa when he was facilitating an international leadership development programme that I was attending as part of my integration into my new region at BMW. Ever since meeting him he has been challenging me in his inimitable way to become the best version of myself. For that I am hugely grateful. It is an honour, a privilege and a huge pleasure to be able to introduce Ed to you in this way and to invite him to share his inspiring story.
As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Ed via LinkedIn or via email: ed@theeppleygroup.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 17 January 2022
Rupert is Head of Data Communications at Cazoo and Deputy Chair of the UK’s Vehicle Remarketing Association. He’s an industry expert and business leader with over 35 years experience in all areas of the UK and European automotive market. He specifically enjoys driving change to maximise digital footprint and data excellence, with a focus on the identification of new exciting and profitable commercial opportunities. As a free-thinking disruptor, he finds it highly rewarding to challenge traditional and current processes and seek to push best practice to new levels.
In our conversation he shares the ups and downs of the route he’s taken, from buying and selling cars as a teenager to now being at the forefront of innovation in the UK’s used car market. I hope you enjoy getting to know Rupert in this way and look forward to hearing what elements of his story resonate with you.
You can contact Rupert via LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 21 January 2022
David is the Commercial Manager (UK & Ireland) for Arrival Automotive UK. He is an experienced fleet industry professional specialising in safe, green and efficient fleet management having worked across the fleet industry for 25 years with several different leasing and daily rental companies as well as the Energy Saving Trust (EST) and Zurich Insurance.
Over the last 15 years as a Fleet Consultant, David has helped hundreds of organisations develop robust environmental fleet strategies to support carbon reduction objectives including the effective transition to and adoption of plug-in vehicles.
Now working for the new electric vehicle manufacturer, Arrival Automotive, David has been at the forefront of fleet electrification for the last 15 years having originally developed the Plugged in Fleets Initiative whilst at the Energy Saving Trust for the UK Department for Transport and the Office for Low Emission Vehicles.
As well as being a member of the EV working group for the British Vehicle and Rental Association and the EV committee for the Association of Fleet Professionals, David is a regular speaker at fleet industry events on electric vehicles, the highlight of which was his invitation to speak at the Oxford International EV Summit in 2019.
In our conversation we talk about how a career in automotive was most definitely not his first choice, feeling that something was missing in his career and finally discovering it and how through a series of moves he now finds himself operating at the forefront of sustainable mobility.
I hope you enjoy getting to know David in this way and hearing his career story. As always I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact David via LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can see a directory of all our episodes and comment on those you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @andyfollows
Episode recorded on 7 January 2022
Johanna Stepan is Chief Strategy Officer at the Premium Ride-Hailing Joint Venture between Daimler and Geely in China. She played a key role in setting up this first Joint Venture between the two automotive companies in 2019 and in her current role, she is responsible for Strategy and International Business. Prior to that, Johanna has been working at Daimler for 7 years in both strategic and operational positions in Germany, Singapore and the US. Johanna is married and mum of a 9 months old daughter.
In our conversation we talk about how she set the course in her early years that led to her joining Daimler and the approach that she has taken to her career journey. Johanna shares the key criteria that she is looking for when she assesses a new role, her leadership philosophy and the latest new positive self development habits that she has adopted.
I found Johanna's story inspiring and I hope you do too. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Johanna on LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 20 December 2021
Brian Allan is currently the President, of HyreCar Inc.
He started his automotive retail career in 1980 in Beverly Hills, California selling Lincoln, Mercury, Peugeot and Lotus vehicles while attending University. In 1985, Brian joined what became the Galpin Premier Collection, a division of Galpin Motors in Los Angeles in California.
Brian has served on numerous automotive manufacturer dealer councils & advisory boards for several retail and technology firms. He is renowned for recognizing industry trends and developing innovative solutions that leverage technology to improve the employee and customer experience for the automotive industry.
After 30 years of service as a Group General Manager & Director of Business Development at Galpin Motors, Brian retired from Galpin in 2018. He founded respective.io, a strategic advisory and investment firm focused on emerging technologies and innovation in the automotive industry. In December 2018, Brian joined HyreCar Inc. (Nasdaq: HYRE) which is an innovative online marketplace that connects gig-drivers to vehicles available for on-demand rental, specifically for ridesharing and delivery services) , and now serves as its President.
Brian is a Los Angeles native and lives in Los Angeles with his wife Karon and Fox Terrier, Brandy Alexander.
In our conversation we talk about Brian's paradigms about customer service and his approach to leadership which was a responsibility that he had to get to grips earlier than most. He reveals the Hollywood movie that most closely resembles his own life story and shares how he made what with hindsight may have been the most costly car purchase of all time! We talk about the advent of E.V.s, Mobility platforms and the complexity of the gig economy and Brian shares what helps him when he feels he needs a little boost.
I hope you enjoy listening to Brian’s career story and, as always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Brian on LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 17 December 2021
After four and a half years helping Tesla to accelerate the world's transition to sustainable energy, Ross Forder realised that the unsustainable food industry also urgently required disruption and so, in 2017, he left Tesla and founded the vegan fast food brand Halo Burger. Halo Burger now has sites in Brixton, Shoreditch and Brighton and is planning its first full scale restaurant.
Ross was part of the original sales team that launched the Tesla Model S into the market. His ambition, dedication and competitive nature aligned perfectly with the rapid scaling of the business and saw him advance from his initial role as a Product Specialist to running London's key Tesla stores at Westfield and then Chiswick and culminated in him running sales and delivery training for Western Europe and the Middle East.
In our conversation we talk about how an incredible stroke of luck landed him on his original chosen path only for him to eventually become disillusioned, how his approach proved more valuable than his experience and his competitive nature drove his early success. He openly talks about his increasing self awareness and how that resulted in paradigm shifts along the way and he shares how a comment from a friend made him realise that he needed to join Tesla. We discuss his rapid progression through the ranks in that hyper scaling business and the parallels between Tesla's mission and that of the business he has founded, Halo Burger.
I had the pleasure and privilege to work alongside Ross at Tesla and I am delighted to be able to share his story so far with you. I recommend you check out Halo Burger's Instagram @haloburgeruk for photo evidence of what Time Out described as "Vegan junk food at its junkiest" and if you're anywhere near Brixton or Shoreditch in London or Brighton on the south coast of the UK try them out for yourselves.
I hope you enjoy listening to Ross’s career story and, as always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Ross on LinkedIn
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 10 December 2021
Adrian Davies is an experienced global automotive leader and non-executive director who has worked for leading brands such as a Bentley Motors, Bugatti Automobiles, BMW and Jaguar Land Rover - as well as spending time outside the sector consulting with Accenture; his current focus is on sustainable mobility solutions, driving services ecosystem strategies and organisational transformation in complex environments.
We talk about the encounter that seduced him back into automotive, a split second decision that catapulted him forward in his career and how he and his family recently took the opportunity to move to the coast.
I hope you enjoy listening to Adrian’s career story and, as always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Adrian on LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our Expertise as a Service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 3 December 2021
Peter is the Executive Vice President of Netsol Technologies Americas Inc., responsible for overseeing the company's business strategy, operations, financial performance, investments, and ventures.
Prior to joining Netsol, Peter spent ten years as Director of Operations for Daimler Financial Services Africa, Asia and Pacific in Singapore. This regional role followed an extensive international career that included roles of increasing seniority with Price Waterhouse in South Africa, Mercedes Benz Finance and Fiat Auto Financial Services in the UK, Koc Fiat Credit in Turkey, Daimler Chrysler Bank in Stuttgart, DaimlerChrysler Leasing in Thailand, Mercedes Benz Financial Services and Daimler Fleet Management in South Africa, and Mercedes Benz Auto Finance in China.
In our conversation we talk about Peter’s journey with its multiple international moves, ever broadening roles and diverse experiences.
I hope you enjoy listening to Peter’s career story and, as always, I look forward to receiving your feedback.
You can contact Peter on LinkedIn or by email: peter.minshall@netsoltech.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our expertise as a service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 25 November 2021
Ian joined Auto Trader in the UK in 2017, with over 20 years of experience in the automotive industry. In his current role, he is responsible for leading Auto Trader’s relationships with automotive manufacturers, lenders and franchised retailers to ensure value and revenue for them in both new and used car sales.
Prior to joining Auto Trader, Ian worked at Volkswagen where he was Director of Sales Operations in the UK. In this role, he was responsible for all UK Volkswagen passenger car sales as well as the franchise management and commercial programmes.
Ian also has a wealth of experience in commercial roles across the globe, including working in France for 10 years. He spent 16 years at Renault where, among other senior management roles, he was Managing Director of Renault Retail Group.
Ian holds a BA (Hons) from Loughborough University in Economics, Politics and French, and an MBA from IMD-Theseus Institute in France.
In our conversation you’ll hear how Ian’s journey has seen him work across a broad spectrum of our industry from OEM head office and national sales companies to retailer groups and individual retail sites. Throughout his experience has been the common thread of developing strong partnerships and leveraging digital innovation. These strengths combine to make him very well equipped for his current role with Autotrader.
I hope you enjoy listening to Ian’s career story and, as always, I look forward to receiving your feedback.
You can contact Ian by email: ian.plummer@autotrader.co.uk
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae is a boutique consultancy in the auto finance and mobility industry. We offer our expertise as a service to help you design and deliver projects that develop your business and the people within it. Contact cvm@aquilae.co.uk if you’d like to know more.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 17 November 2021
Shankar is a Senior Leader with international experience in Automotive Financial Solutions delivering large-scale platforms with a track record of change management in the USA, China, South Korea, and Singapore with BMW Financial Services. Shankar is adept in both disciplined agile and waterfall technologies delivering cloud-based SaaS platforms to clientele.
Shankar currently serves as lead strategist and focuses on building Mobility Market Platforms.
We talked about him growing up in a fiercely competitive environment in India and there being a template to follow that meant leaving his home country. Shankar shared how that played out for him and his family as they navigated their international journey.
I hope you enjoy listening to Shankar's story and as always I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Shankar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shankarsubramanianglobal/
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 8 November 2021
Matt is the Head of Retail at SG Fleet in Melbourne, Australia. Prior to joining SG Fleet in 2019 he spent 10 years with BMW Group Financial Services in roles across Insurance, retail financial services, fleet and mobility in Australia and in China. During those ten years he spent time as Head of Fleet and Extended Retail, Head of Alphera Financial Services, Manager - Mobility Services in Australia and Manager of the Insurance Enabling Task Force in China.
I always enjoy my conversations with Matt and I am pleased to be able to introduce him to you and share his journey in this way. I look forward to hearing your feedback.
You can contact Matt on LinkedIn:
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 29 October 2021
Lito is the Chief Executive Officer of SandBox Middle East. Based in Dubai, SandBox is the exclusive importer and distributor of great Filipino brands such as Delimondo, Arce Dairy and Pacquiao Coffee across the Middle East.
Prior to his current role Lito was General Manager, Brand and Product Marketing at Al Futtaim Toyota in the UAE.
He spent four years in Saudi Arabia marketing Toyota and Lexus brands for Abdul Latif Jameel.
Before that he spent six years in Singapore, initially as the Regional Marketing Director for BMW Group Asia with his last year spent as Regional Director, BMW Motorrad (East Asia).
Lito was born and raised in the Philippines and as well as talking about his fascinating international journey in automotive we discuss his earlier years in recruitment, PR and running his own bar.
I'm excited to share Lito's story with you and as always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Lito on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/litogerman
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 18 October 2021
Tom is the Mobility Services Innovation Manager for BMW Financial Services USA. In 2020 he returned to the United States having spent five years as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for BMW Financial Services in Japan and three years as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for BMW Financial Services in India. He has been General Manager Marketing Communications for BMW Financial Services USA and his career has also included a three year spell at BMW's headquarters in Munich.
Before joining BMW, Tom spent 12 years in the entertainment industry with Dick Clark productions in Los Angeles and New York where he learnt a lot of the skills and behaviours that helped him to excel in his later roles. He also picked up some fascinating stories on the way that he shared with me when we spoke.
I would definitely encourage you to check out these links to some of the ground breaking and highly entertaining projects that he talks about.
BMW Films – Madonna
MINI Protection – Paulie Walnuts
Hidden camera test drive surprise – Sachin Tendulkar
BMW Z4 THX project
India Tom and Tokyo Tom Blog
I had a lot of fun recording this conversation with Tom and I am delighted to be able to share his life and career story with you. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can contact Tom via email: Tom.Stepanchak@bmwfs.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 15 October 2021
Peter is the Managing Director DAF Hungary and Hungarotruck at DAF Hungary.
Peter worked over 8 years in the field of car financing for several large Hungarian financial institutions before moving to Australia during the 2009 economic crisis.
He studied business in Melbourne and then worked for BMW Australia Finance as a consultant. BMW soon recognized Peter’s ambitious and dynamic nature and he was appointed as one of the company’s Regional Sales Managers with responsibility for approximately 20 BMW dealers. In his second year, Peter’s dealers won the Dealer of the Year Trophy in 5 categories with 4 dealerships.
Subsequently, Peter was approached by the PACCAR Group in 2017 and he continued his career as the National Sales Manager of PACCAR Financial Australia. In the meantime, he started an MBA, elevating his business studies to a higher level.
With its sales team at PACCAR Financial, Peter more than doubled the company’s turnover, closing a record year in many ways. Seeing this result, the American headquarters of PACCAR approached him with an offer to become the Managing Director of DAF Hungary and Hungarotruck.
This was an attractive opportunity to move back to Hungary with his family and to take advantage of his experience in Australia, so he gladly accepted this offer. In Hungary DAF was a market leader for 10 years at that time, which has since managed to maintain this position for 12 consecutive years.
I first met Peter about 10 years ago when he was working in Melbourne and I was immediately struck by his engaging character. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about his career and life story during our conversation and I'm proud to introduce him to you now. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can connect with Peter on LinkedIn
or contact him by email: Peter.gavaller@daftrucks.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 5 October 2021
Brett is a Data Engineer & Analyst. Having worked for four years at Tesla in Fremont in California and Amsterdam in the Netherlands, and having spent a year building a data infrastructure for an Agricultural Fintech start up in Kenya, he is now building data systems with Whetstone.ai, a consulting company focused on high stakes industries like finance, healthcare, and life sciences.
He’s leveraged his skills to support operations in Service, Manufacturing, Quality, Sales, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, and been able to see a lot of sides of the automotive business, specifically around EVs.
Brett's keen to share what he's learned about being a Data Engineer and Analyst so that others might benefit. The blogposts that he's written on the topic have been very well received and there's a link to these below.
I enjoyed my conversation with Brett and was struck by the clarity of his assessment of situations and courage that he had to act based on those assessments from an early age. His approach to his role in Tesla and the way it enabled him to increase his circle of influence is a valuable case study that has relevance even outside his specific field of expertise.
I'm delighted to be able to introduce you to Brett and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on his fascinating journey so far.
You can connect with Brett on LinkedIn or by email: brettmangel@gmail.com
You can find some of his blog posts about working in analytics here.
Find out more about Opibus here.
Why not follow us on Instagram where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
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Episode recorded on 30 September 2021
Ian recently left the BMW Group after 22 years during which he worked in five international markets including the headquarters in Munich. His most recent role was as CEO of BMW Group Financial Services USA and Americas, a role which he held for almost 5 years.
Ian was born in the UK and he spent the first 8 years of his career there in a variety of Sales and Business Development Functions.
In 1996, he moved to Canada and took a role as Dealer Development Manager with GE Capital Autolease.
His career with BMW started in 1999 when he joined BMW Group Financial Services Canada as a Director / National Sales and Marketing Manager. From there he went to be President of BMW Financial Services Brazil and then to be VP of Sales and Marketing at BMW Group Financial Services North America before returning to BMW Group Financial Services Canada in the role of President.
He spent four years as Chief Executive Officer of BMW Financial Services (GB) Ltd in the UK before moving to Munich to become Vice President Business Development, Marketing, Compliance and Strategy (Financial Services).
Ian says "The role of a leader is not only to lead but also to listen and be able to be led, keeping the ego in the pocket and allowing others to shine, engage and grow."
I personally know many people who were very happy to be led by Ian and were very sorry to see him leave BMW Group. It was a privilege and a pleasure to have this opportunity to talk with him about his career journey and I am delighted to be able to share his experiences with you now. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can connect with Ian on LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
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Episode recorded on 28 September 2021
Sherene is the COO of BMW Financial Services in Thailand. She has over 25 years experience in the Banking Industry, 20 of which have been spent at BMW Financial Services. Sherene has profound experience in operations specifically centered around customer service excellence and continuous process improvement including Robotic Process Automation and AI.
Over those 25 years, Sherene has navigated her career journey from South Africa to Thailand via Malaysia, Germany and the United States.
In our conversation, we talk about the early years in South Africa and finding her way into banking, leaving banking and running her own business, joining BMW Financial Services in South Africa and helping to grow that business over a number of years before she and her husband and family embarked on the international journey that they have been on for the last 13 years.
I loved my conversation with Sherene, I had the privilege to work with her during her time in Malaysia and I'm delighted to be able to introduce you to her in this episode. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can connect with Sherene on Linked In.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
What do we mean by actual performance and available performance?
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the underperformance gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 22 September 2021
Holger is the founder of Torque IT Solutions and the former Managing Director of Mercedes Benz Financial Services New Zealand. Prior to taking up the MD role, Holger was the CFO and Head of Operations at MBFS New Zealand.
It was originally an interest in project finance that attracted Holger to join the Management Associate Program at DaimlerChrysler Financial Services and after a series of assignments in Germany, Puerto Rico, South Africa and the USA across various functions he took up his first role in Finance and Credit Risk for Daimler Financial Services South Africa where he spent 3 years before moving to New Zealand.
In 2012, he and his co-founders left the relative comfort of their roles at Daimler and set out to build the systems that with all their operational experience they knew the industry needed.
Fast forward nine years and there has been a lot of learning along the way. In our conversation, we talk about the importance of having accurate data to know how you are performing and the culture, capability, clarity and purpose that have helped Torque IT Solutions to survive and grow.
I first met Holger about 11 years ago and I remember being inspired by his vision, passion and energy when he explained to me his decision to set up his business. Amongst our listeners I am sure there are individuals who consider leaving their corporate roles to pursue more entrepreneurial endeavours. I'm grateful to Holger for sharing his story so that we can get an insight into the reality of such a transition and what it takes to succeed.
As ever, I'll be interested to hear what resonates with you.
You can contact Holger via email: holger@torque-its.com
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To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae provides Expertise as a Service to Automotive Finance and mobility businesses internationally.
We are a team of highly experienced professionals with diverse and complementary knowledge, skills, experience and professional networks that we have gained over years working successfully in automotive finance, internationally.
If you're looking to set up a captive finance company for your EV start-up or review and improve systems and processes in your existing business, or you would like to set up a virtual Aquilae Academy team within your organisation, email me andy@aquilae.co.uk and let's start a conversation!
Contact details:
Andy: andy@aquilae.co.uk
Holger: holger@torque-its.com
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Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 02 June 2021
Murad is the Chief Product and Technology Officer for OTOZ Mobility which provides business to business white label technology solutions for new mobility.
Otoz is a start up wholly owned and backed by Netsol, one of the most established technology players globally in the traditional asset finance and leasing market.
Murad is spearheading OTOZ Mobility product and platform strategy as its co-founder and CPTO. His mission is to revolutionise the car buying and ownership experience by building out the right blend of online and offline experiences within the OTOZ platform.
Before joining NETSOL, Murad led Fintech and Disruptive technologies for Capital Markets in Deloitte and was part of several innovative initiatives with MAS (Monetary Authority of Singapore), FCA (UK) and tier-1 Banks / Asset Managers around leveraging Blockchain technology, Analytics and Open APIs.
His work on Blockchain featured in the World Economic Forum report - ‘The future of financial infrastructure – study on how blockchain will disrupt financial services’. The RegTech Book (published July 2019) showcased his work on ‘Market Surveillance’ and he was also the key contributor to the first ever playbook on Open APIs produced for the Association of Banks in Singapore and the Monetary Authority of Singapore.
Murad has also launched and scaled B2B and B2C products in senior product roles and as a co-founder for startups and established tier-1 financial companies globally.
I first met Murad in 2019 when my team and I were working with Fair.com the California subscription start up and it was a pleasure to get to know more about him as we recorded this episode.
In our conversation we talk about his upbringing in Pakistan, moving to the UK and having to adapt to a more open culture, discovering a passion for solving problems and wanting to have an impact in the world and how by continuing to adapt and evolve he has been able to combine his engineering skills, consulting skills and entrepreneurial spirit on his career journey so far whilst not losing sight of other factors that need to be taken care of.
It was a pleasure for me to get to know Murad so much better as a result of this conversation and in sharing it like this I'm pleased to be able to help you to get to know him better too. I look forward to hearing your feedback.
You can connect with Murad on LinkedIn.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the underperformance gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Daniel is an international expert in automotive financial and mobility services with more than 20 years’ experience in the finance and banking industry. He is currently CEO for Mercedes-Benz Financial Services in Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Prior to this, he worked as Global Head of Strategy for Daimler Mobility in Stuttgart and has held various management positions around the globe - with a particular interest in the Asia Pacific Region.
Daniel started his career in private and commercial banking at Dresdner Bank in Frankfurt and holds a Master’s degree from Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. He is married and has two young daughters. Daniel has an interest in classic cars, travel and outdoor sports.
In our conversation we talk about Daniel's early interest in finance and business, the difference in cultures between the banking environment he worked in and Daimler and some of the hidden factors at play when navigating a career.
I'm pleased to be able to introduce you to Daniel and I look forward to hearing your thoughts on his journey.
You can contact Daniel on Linkedin.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
What do we mean by actual performance and available performance?
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the underperformance gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 26 August 2021
Christian retired in May 2020 from a long and distinguished career with BMW Group. His final role which he held for ten years was as Regional Manager EMEA, that's Europe, Middle East and Africa for BMW Group Financial Services.
Christian has the distinction of having worked during his career in every division of the BMW Group apart from Research and Development. He began his journey in HR, worked in the plant in Munich, spent time in Organisational strategy, moved into Sales, taking over as CEO of BMW and Rover in Sweden, headed up internal consulting, and set up the strategy department for BMW Financial Services before becoming the Regional Manager for Europe. After the financial crisis he stepped in as interim CEO for the UK.
Christian is incredibly well networked within BMW but also within his community where he has been an active member throughout his life. Now that he is retired he is able to devote more of his time to his community by supporting charities, coaching and getting involved in local politics.
In our conversation we talk about how his career journey saw him move across functions within the company, leveraging his people skills and emotional intelligence for mutual benefit.
Christian was the Regional Manager for Europe when I embarked on my international journey and became my mentor during my time overseas, which was a privilege for me. It's a huge pleasure for me to be able to share his career story with you and to introduce you to Christian in this episode. I'll be delighted to hear what thoughts and ideas it brings to mind for you.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
What do we mean by actual performance and available performance?
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the underperformance gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 18 August 2021
Spencer is the Chief Commercial Officer of Alphabet (GB) Ltd. Alphabet is BMW Group's multi-make fleet management and leasing business. It is represented in 31 markets worldwide and operates over 700,000 vehicles.
Spencer's career spans over 25 years in motor finance with Lloyds Bowmaker, PSA, VW Financial Services and BMW Group Financial Services.
Prior to taking over his position at Alphabet, Spencer was Director of Alphera UK, BMW Group's multi-make retail and wholesale finance division, a role which he has separately held twice during his career. He has lived and worked in London, Scotland, Hampshire and Australia.
Our conversation follows Spencer's career journey including deeper dives into what motivated him during his early years, how his priorities have broadened as he has matured, his experiences in the Australian market and his perspective on change as a source of opportunities.
I first met Spencer when he joined BMW Group in 2006 and our paths crossed again in Australia. He's a well known and respected figure in the UK motor finance industry and I'm pleased to be able to help you get to know him better in this way. As always, I look forward to hearing what elements of Spencer's story resonate with you.
You can reach Spencer on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencerhalil/
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the underperformance gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 12 August 2021
Nicola is currently Senior Manager Partnership Development at Black Horse Finance the motor finance arm of Lloyds Banking Group here in the UK. She's spent 17 years with Lloyds Banking Group in a variety of roles including operations management, account management and now partnership development for the automotive industry.
In our conversation we talk about how she's taken ownership of her career with the bank, been conscious of her own appetite to progress and developed her network deliberately to help her make the moves she wanted to make.
I always enjoy my conversations with Nicola and I'm pleased to be able to introduce her to you in this episode. I look forward to hearing what you take away from it.
You can contact Nicola by email: nicola.middleton@blackhorse.co.uk
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
What do we mean by actual performance and available performance?
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the Underperformance Gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that Underperformance Gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 9 August 2021
Steve is the founder of [M]enable whose purpose is to work with organisations within the Automotive Industry to drive and change cultures, so that Mental Health discussions are embraced and encouraged – to sustain performance and growth.
Steve's career has spanned 35 years in the UK motor industry including time with GMAC and Volkswagen Financial Services. He has previously founded his own training and development business. He's a presenter, a facilitator, a podcaster and a broadcaster. He's a Master of Ceremonies and a professional member of the PSA, the Professional Speaking Association.
Steve is now very much focused on building [M]enable and changing cultures in the automotive industry. I was recently introduced to him and hearing him talk about the purpose of [M]enable, I was keen to invite him to be my guest, to celebrate his career and also to share with us the story behind [M]enable and tell us about the work of this very timely new movement in our automotive industry.
As you might expect from someone on a mission to get us talking about mental health, Steve talks authentically and openly about some of the factors and experiences that have shaped him from his early years growing up in North London to everything coming to a head for him personally more recently resulting in him having to take stock and ultimately identifying his purpose and realising how he can best serve humanity going forward.
I hope you enjoy getting to know Steve in this episode and look forward to hearing your feedback.
You can reach Steve at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenjwhitton/
https://menable.org/
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 6 August 2021
Peter is Senior Manager, Commercial Learning and Development at Rivian. Prior to joining Rivian he was resonsible for Learning, Community Education & Growth Operations at Airbnb. He started his career at Tesla as a Delivery Experience Specialist before moving into training and then Learning and Development. During his seven years at Tesla he spent time in Los Angeles, Oslo, Amsterdam, Fremont and Hong Kong.
In our conversation, we talk about his early ambition to be an actor and how he found a different direction, the impact that international assignments had on his mind and his relationship with his partner, the satisfaction that comes from bringing all your prior experience to bear in a role and the legacy of Tesla and its gift to all future Electric vehicle brands.
It was a huge pleasure to spend time getting to know Peter's story and I hope you enjoy hearing it and meeting him in this episode. As always, we love hearing what thoughts it stimulates for you, so please let us know.
You can reach Peter at:
peterthomasjackson@gmail.com
www.linkedin.com/in/peterthomasjackson/
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the underperformance gap. The Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 28 July 2021
Ian is the Global Managing Director of Benchmark Consulting International Europe. Prior to joining Benchmark he had a successful international career with Ford Motor Credit Company during which he was Head of Mazda Bank Europe, President of Primus, Ford Motor Company's group of financial services companies in the Philippines, Managing Director of Ford Motor Credit Company of New Zealand and Managing Director of Henry Ford & Son Finance in the Republic of Ireland. I am also proud to count Ian a colleague in my business Aquilae.
In this conversation we talk about Ian's experiences moving around the UK and then internationally, the importance of not underestimating cultural differences even between close geographical neighbours who speak the same language, the benefits and importance of having senior leadership witness you in action doing a good job and the challenges of fitting back in in your home country after a few years away.
Ian is an absolute gentlemen, I enjoy working with him and learning from him and I am delighted to be able to introduce him to you this way. I hope you enjoy getting to know him and look forward to hearing what stands out for you in his career journey.
You can reach Ian at: Ian@aquilae.co.uk
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
What do we mean by actual performance and available performance?
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and typically a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performace, the underperformance gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four fundamental contributors to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that underperformance gap.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content, we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 27 July 2021
Alusch is currently Director, Development with Accor S.A., the French multinational hospitality company that owns, manages and franchises hotels, resorts and vacation properties.
He has founded his own professional services, advisory and investment businesses.
Focusing on his automotive finance career, he was formerly Managing Director of BMW Financial Services in Hong Kong and prior to that he was Head of Market Development for BMW Financial Services in Eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia where he initiated market assessments for 8 key markets in Asia and Russia leading to financial services entry into China, India, Russia, Malaysia and Hong Kong.
He led and executed the first auto financing initiative among manufacturers in India achieving profitability in year one.
He identified, negotiated and closed two M&A transactions in Malaysia and negotiated and closed one M&A transaction in Hong Kong.
In this conversation we talk about the building blocks of experience, picking the right teams and giving them space and maintaining the relationships we build during our careers.
Alusch's career story is a fascinating mix of highly entrepreneurial self employment as well as time with small businesses and major corporates. Alusch himself acknowledges the challenge sometimes of existing with a personality and behaviours that are at the edge of what a corporate company can accommodate.
I always enjoy time spent with Alusch and I am pleased to be able to introduce him to you in this way. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
You can reach Alusch at: alusch@me.com
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between actual performance and available performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
What do we mean by actual performance and available performance?
Every individual, every team, every organisation has a level of performance that is available to them right now and, typically, a lower level of performance that they are actually experiencing. We call the gap between the two levels of performance, the Underperformance Gap. Our Aquilae Performance Model recognises the four factors that contribute to performance and helps you identify how to get closer to your available performance and close that Underperformance Gap.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts.
Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 20 July 2021
Antony is Head of RMT (Repair Maintenance and Tyres) at Leaseplan UK. Responsible for service booking, VOR management, Rental, Accident management, breakdown and recoveries, network management, maintenance / tyre authorisation and cost control for their fleet of 200,000 vehicles in the UK.
Prior to that he was UK General Manager Operations for CarNext.com the largest pan-European marketplace for high quality used cars.
In 2019, the Californian car subscription start up Fair.com engaged my business, Aquilae to set up a UK subsidiary for them and I first met Antony when I recruited him into my team to Head up Operational Partnerships for Fair UK.
Prior to that project, Antony spent five years as Head of In-Life Services at Zenith Vehicle Contracts, the U.K.'s leading independent vehicle leasing, outsourcing and fleet management provider with a fleet size of 140k units.
And before that he had 15 years at Leasedrive, with the last three years as Head of Operations.
As you will hear from this conversation, Antony's 20 plus years in the industry have served up a steady stream of opportunities and challenges which in hindsight almost seem like they were designed to provide the best education and most appropriate experience to equip him for the mobility industry in 2021 and beyond.
We talk about the energy that is released and can be sustained when your work and the environment is a good fit, the importance of surrounding yourself with great people to enable business success, how your perspective is influenced when you're working for a private equity owned business and how important it is to be having fun to fuel you on your journey.
I'm proud to have brought Antony into my team once and I'd certainly do it again if the opportunity arose. I hope you enjoy meeting him this way and look forward to hearing your thoughts on his journey.
You can connect with Antony on LinkedIn.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae works with businesses and individuals in the mobility industry, internationally.
We take a holistic approach across people, processes and systems or technology.
We help you to do more with what you already have in your business.
We are a highly experienced team of professionals who have led divisions or businesses in our industry internationally and you can have us come and work alongside you to develop and execute your strategy.
You can find out more at aquilae.co.uk or reach out to me Andy@aquilae.co.uk or via LinkedIn.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 9 July 2021
Peter has a doctorate in educational leadership, a certificate in international school leadership, and teaching and leadership experience in six countries. He is a certified Gallup Clifton Strengths coach and Appreciative Inquiry facilitator and has mentored leaders across sectors helping them use their strengths effectively. Peter provides practical and effective solutions to culture building, team development, leadership and the mindset required to develop an outstanding organization that is future ready.
Peter’s ability to lead change in organizations around the world has resulted in new and innovative practices in leadership and education proving his ability to create vision and translate it into practice. He helped found an international school in Norway, has consulted to schools in Australia, America and South Africa and has been a regular presenter at conferences across the world. He and his wife, Samantha (a fellow educator) have worked in schools on five different continents. They also run a non-profit called The Simunye Project. This is an organization that takes students on an 18-day trip to South Africa each year to work with communities in need. Peter and Samantha have three teenage children.
Peter has spent time in the corporate world at BMW Financial Services as the manager of professional and organizational learning, advising on leadership, innovation and the creation of learning communities.
He was formerly the Assistant Head of School for Innovation and Strategy at Principia, in St. Louis Missouri. He has recently taken up a role in the BOLD team at the DLR Group. BOLD helps schools combine the state-of-the-art environmental design with well-researched and best practice pedagogies to develop students who are future ready and equipped to thrive in the 21st century.
Peter is a close friend of mine whom I was fortunate enough to get to work with during his spell at BMW Financial Services in Australia where we collaborated to develop a culture of continuous learning.
I'm very proud to count him as a member of my team at Aquilae where he brings academic rigour to the design of our executive education programmes for the automotive and mobility industries.
In this conversation we talk about Peter's international career as an educator and his experience leveraging that background to create corporate environments in which people take ownership for their own development. On the way we talk about leveraging purpose in an organisation and creating a competitive advantage through a culture of continuous learning.
I have enormous respect for Peter's skills, experiences and achievements and a lot of love for him as a human being who deeply wants to make an impact in the world. I hope you enjoy our conversation and can imagine how exciting it is to introduce Peter's purpose and energy into a corporate environment. As always, I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between capability and performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode rec
Eva is a startup executive and board advisor in FinTech, Mobility, AutoFinance, Digital and Strategy. She’s working as a client partner for Otoz Mobility in California, as an executive advisor USA for the Twinner Group in Berlin and also holds an advisory position with Way.com in San Francisco.
Prior to that, she served as the Senior Director of Strategy at Fair, a Santa Monica-based tech company pioneering the Car as a Service (CaaS) subscription model in the mobility space. There, Eva closely worked with the Co-founder and President since Fair’s early stage in 2017.
Eva served previously as a vice president at Ricardo Strategic Consulting and worked in this capacity with the C suites of major OEMs in Europe, Japan and the US. Before moving back to Germany in 2019, Eva was living and working in Santa Monica, Washington, D.C. and Paris.
In Eva's episode, we talk about her early life growing up in rural Germany but travelling internationally to play in junior tennis championships and how a business degree gave her a broad understanding and made management consulting an attractive choice of career. Eva shares her experiences of working on international projects and through her stories sheds light on what is required to succeed in that field. And not surprisingly given where Eva's career journey has taken her, we talk about the latest innovations in mobility.
I am proud to be able to introduce you to Eva and I trust you'll find her career journey inspiring and insightful. As always, I'll be delighted to hear what resonates with you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between capability and performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 25 June 2021
Chris is a lawyer, he is the owner of his own professional services firm, Bison Cove, he is a Senior Legal Consultant at the global law firm DLA Piper, he is the co author of the book Legal and Conduct Risk in the Financial Markets and he is a Client Partner and General Counsel for Aquilae.
All my guests' careers are unique but as you'll find out from our conversation there is considerable overlap between Chris's legal and financial conduct world and our automotive or mobility world. His expertise has seen him engaged and appreciated by household names in automotive and, since joining Aquilae, Chris has worked on our projects with Arrival, Fair.com and Toyota.
In this conversation, we talk about how he got into the legal profession and how he has subsequently designed his own portfolio career which provides him with a great deal of autonomy and variety. Chris also offers his own perspective on financial conduct and compliance from which organisations can leverage purpose and culture to create an environment that by design delivers good outcomes for customers.
I am delighted to have him on my team and proud to introduce him as my guest for this episode of Career-view Mirror. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between existing capability and current performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 23 June 2021
Graham is the Chief Executive Officer of Advantage Finance Ltd.
He spent 21 years with Volkswagen Financial Services where he started as an Area Manager and progressed to become Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Financial Services UK, a role which he held for over 11 years. He also spent 3 years in Germany at the Headquarters of VWFS.
His early career included time with GE Capital and Mercantile Credit as well as a spell as the General Manager for a Rover Dealer in Glasgow, Scotland.
In our conversation Graham talks openly about his life and career journey from his humble childhood in Glasgow where he decided to create a different life for himself to the success he experienced leading a team that would grow VW Financial Services significantly in the UK. He describes one particular conversation that would turn out to have life changing consequences for him and he shares his experience of leading through the global financial crisis, dieselgate and Covid 19. We also talk about the personal impact of leaving an employer after investing many years with that business and those colleagues.
I loved our conversation and I am excited to share Graham's story, wisdom and humanity with you. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between capability and performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 21 June 2021
Heidi is Senior Vice President Customer Experience at NextCar.
After working as a consultant for Mercer in Dubai, and then as a self employed consultant in the U.S., the U.A.E. and Germany, Heidi chose Berlín to set up her first startup fromcash2car.com. She went on to co-found Otoz mobility before recently joining subscription startup NextCar.
Heidi has firmly secured her place as one of our industry’s rising stars. We talk about her journey and we also talk about what’s required to start your own business, the shift from vehicle ownership to usership, the opportunities that exist in automotive to streamline and improve the customer experience and the staggering amount of debt on the shoulders of car driving consumers in the US alone.
Lots of people are talking about subscription in mobility not as many are living it and delivering it.
I hope you enjoy our conversation as much as I did and find it enlightening and inspiring.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae exists to close the gap between capability and performance in the mobility industry, internationally.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 14 June 2021
Shannon has over 20 years of experience in the financial industry where she has successfully executed projects in operational department start-ups, rebuilt company customer experiences, and increased business efficiencies for clients who are Fortune 500, Top 100 Best Employers and Market Disruptors.
She also runs her own company called TheBluDoor as a certified Business and Success coach catering specifically to business owners, leaders and entrepreneurs. She is a member of many industry associations and partnerships including Mindvalley and Wellnomics.
Shannon has also co-authored a book called 'Life Lessons in Success' which is about the authors' personal stories of finding success in challenges, overcoming obstacles, trying new things, and finding joy, fulfilment, and success in life's journey and "The Day the World Paused" which is all about stories of success during this Pandemic.
Our conversation covers her journey from a small logging town in Canada to London where she has spent the last 20 years and from being on the road selling chemicals to heading up the Collections and Recovery team for Honda Finance in the UK. Shannon also shares her reasons for moving into consulting and how she made that happen.
You can reach Shannon via these channels:
Email: Shannon@TheBluDoor.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebludoorcompany/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonfaulknercoach/
Phone: +44 7787 147122
I hope you enjoy our conversation and look forward as always to hearing your feedback.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae provides Expertise as a Service to Automotive Finance and mobility businesses internationally.
We are a team of highly experienced professionals with diverse and complementary knowledge, skills, experience and professional networks that we have gained over years working successfully in automotive finance, internationally.
If you're looking to set up financial services for your EV start-up or review and improve systems and processes in your existing business, or you would like to set up an Academy Team for you and your leaders, email cvm@aquilae.co.uk and let's start a conversation!
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 9 June 2021
Nigel is Head of Financial Services at London Electric Vehicle Company where they make electric versions of London's iconic Black taxi cabs
He has worked in the automotive industry for over 30 years including 10 years in the Middle East.
He started his career with Lombard in the UK before moving to Rover Finance. When BMW Group sold Rover, his attention turned to helping establish Alphabet BMW's multi make leasing and fleet management company where he spent ten years.
An opportunity with General Motors took him overseas to the Middle East initially to develop their leasing business before becoming head of their fleet and certified pre-owned operations across the region.
As you'll hear, in our conversation, he was about to return to the UK when an opportunity with Jaguar Land Rover tempted him to stay in Dubai, and return to a financial services role.
After almost ten years in the Middle East region, Jaguar Land Rover brought Nigel back to the UK and back to pre-owned management with engagement across several markets.
He joined London Electric Vehicle Company in February 2020.
Nigel talks about how he grew up with cars and how he pushed to get his first role out in the field with Lombard. His personality helped him build strong customer relationships that were vital when introducing some of the earliest tax efficient company car schemes back in the late 1990s and early 2000s for Royal London, the BBC and others. As well as talking about these product innovations, he shares some of his experiences of living and working overseas in the Gulf countries.
I hope you enjoy our conversation and look forward to hearing your feedback.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae provides Expertise as a Service to Automotive Finance and mobility businesses internationally.
We are a team of highly experienced professionals with diverse and complementary knowledge, skills, experience and professional networks that we have gained over years working successfully in automotive finance, internationally.
If you're looking to set up financial services for your EV start-up or review and improve systems and processes in your existing business, or you would like to have me as your team coach, email me andy@aquilae.co.uk and let's start a conversation!
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Episode recorded on 4 June 2021
Andy is Associate Director Global Partnerships at Tent Partnerships for Refugees based in Germany.
Prior to moving into the not for profit sector, he had an international automotive career that included roles with Volkswagen, Sixt, Alphabet, and BMW Financial Services and led to him founding his own consultancy, Mobility-biz in 2011. He has lived and worked in Germany, the Czech Republic, China and France and studied in Germany and the United States.
In sharing his story, Andy talks about designing his own management training programme at Volkswagen Financial Services, the pace and agility of the family business that is Sixt, helping to develop Alphabet's international reach in its earliest days, going to China in 2005 to set up BMW Financial Services, and the different challenge that comes with being responsible for a mature business compared to a start up. He also shares about his decision to leave the corporate world, initially to set up his own business and then the struggle he had to break into the not for profit sector once he realised that is what he wanted to do.
I've known Andy for 20 years since we worked together in the early years of Alphabet. I admired him then and enjoyed his company immensely. He inspired and encouraged me to pursue an international career myself. I hope that you enjoy hearing how he navigated his own international career and how he comes to be doing something that’s completely outside of automotive now but where he feels very much in the right place.
Please do let me know what you think.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae provides Expertise as a Service to Automotive Finance and mobility businesses internationally.
We are a team of highly experienced professionals with diverse and complementary knowledge, skills, experience and professional networks that we have gained over years working successfully in automotive finance, internationally.
If you're looking to set up a captive finance company for your EV start-up or review and improve systems and processes in your existing business, or you would like to have me as your team coach, email me andy@aquilae.co.uk and let's start a conversation!
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Email: cvm@aquilae.co.uk
Twitter: @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 28 May 2021
Andrew is currently General Manager for Global Sales Finance for Nissan, based at their headquarters in Yokohama, Japan.
Having left school at 16, Andrew started out as an apprentice boilermaker in Pittsworth, Queensland, Australia, fabricating trailers for heavy goods vehicles. As his apprenticeship grew near to completion, he realised that this wasn't the right career for him. Armed with this knowledge he set out on a journey that has seen him work across the automotive value chain and become highly experienced in all aspects of automotive finance. He has added to his technical and leadership experience along the way, earning a degree and an MBA.
Most of his career has been spent with Toyota and with Nissan and he has spent time living and working in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia, Yokohama, in Japan and Bangkok,Thailand.
Our conversation covers the thinking behind the decisions that he made and provides insight into the career steps that he has taken. Andrew's story demonstrates deliberation, self-awareness, determination, curiosity and lifelong learning.
I am grateful to Andrew for sharing his story with me so that we can enjoy it, learn and be inspired.
I look forward to hearing what thoughts it provokes in you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae provides Expertise as a Service to Automotive Finance and mobility businesses internationally.
We are a team of highly experienced professionals with diverse and complementary knowledge, skills, experience and professional networks that we have gained over years working successfully in automotive finance, internationally.
If you're looking to set up a captive finance company for your EV start-up or review and improve systems and processes in your existing business, or you would like to have me as your team coach, email me andy@aquilae.co.uk and let's start a conversation!
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Episode recorded on 26 May 2021
David is a highly experienced automotive finance professional and a wonderful human being.
He started work straight from school in a branch of the Midland Bank which is now part of HSBC before finding his way into automotive with Ford Credit. He rose up through the ranks at Ford Credit from trainee Zone Manager to Regional Director in Europe amassing valuable experience on the way.
After taking early retirement he spent a spell managing his local golf club before heading over to Qatar to set up an auto-finance company
Having done that, he came back to the UK to set up Tesla Financial Services UK and its shared services operations centre in Amsterdam.
From there, he went on to complete consulting projects with a start up bank and Ricoh.
He is now a member of the team at Aquilae the international auto finance consultancy where he has worked on Projects for Fair, the Californian car subscription business, and where he is currently helping an electric bus and van start up prepare to offer financial services to their customers.
David is a wonderful colleague to work with. He is genuinely humble. He understands the automotive finance business inside out and despite his decades of experience he gets genuinely excited by new challenges and relishes finding better ways of doing what we do.
I am delighted to share David's career journey with you. I hope you enjoy it and I look forward to hearing from you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by Aquilae.
Aquilae provides Expertise as a Service to Automotive Finance and mobility businesses internationally.
We are a team of highly experienced professionals with diverse and complementary knowledge, skills, experience and professional networks that we have gained over years working successfully in automotive finance, internationally.
If you're looking to set up a captive finance company for your EV start-up or review and improve systems and processes in your existing business, or you would like to have me as your team coach, email me andy@aquilae.co.uk and let's start a conversation!
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Episode recorded on 17 May 2021
Brett is the General Manager of MINI Australia and New Zealand. His career in automotive has included retail sales and financial services as well as regional management.
In our conversation, he shares openly about how he came into the industry, having initially trained as a plumber, and the journey he is on. He talks about what motivated him at first and what motivates him now, his unusual choice of initial leadership role model and his experiences developing his own leadership style since then.
Brett is full of energy, humility and has a strong sense of humour, mostly at his own expense. In this honest and often entertaining conversation you'll hear about how he plays to his strengths, his love of cars, his ability to build effective relationships with customers and stakeholders and his personal drive to create a fulfilling role for himself and a happy life for his family.
Brett's experiences are unique but the lessons are transferable. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Follow MINI Australia at:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mini.australia
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miniaustralia/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/mini-australia/
Check out the Driving Dogs here Meet Porter. The World's First Driving Dog.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable. For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
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Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 25 March 2021
Kirk thinks globally and acts locally and you'll hear plenty of evidence of that in our conversation as Kirk opens the book on his incredible automotive career so far.
Kirk grew up in the state of Indiana, the heartland of America, and attended Hillsdale College in Michigan, earning a bachelor's degree in finance with a minor in philosophy (including study at Oxford University’s Keble College).
He went to work as a financial analyst and controller for Serra Automotive Group, which runs a network of 42 dealerships represented in seven states. He worked there before returning to school to earn an MBA at the University of Notre Dame.
Kirk then went to work for BMW, and served as a senior executive for two decades including 11 years abroad.
He worked in the late 1990s in Munich, Germany, for the company's chief financial officer. He wrote the CFO's English speeches and other material. On trips to Britain, Kirk had the opportunity to tour Land Rover plants, something he calls beneficial now that he's an owner of and running a Land Rover dealership. It also gave him access to the BMW board at an early age which gave him insights into the inner workings of the company.
In 2008, at age 38, Kirk was given the opportunity to become managing director and CEO at BMW Group Financial Services in China. He spent five years in China, leaving Beijing in 2013 to lead BMW Group Financial Services U.S. in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.
After a short stint in New Jersey, he returned to Indiana as an owner with his old boss, Joe Serra, at BMW of Schererville. He also married his wife, Wendy, that year. Kirk and his family live outside of Chicago in Oak Brook, Illinois.
Kirk says, "Cars are my passion. To be able to combine a passion with a profession is awesome!"
It is an absolute privilege to be able to share Kirk's story with you. It illustrates his passion and demonstrates the level of commitment that his passion allowed him to bring over the years. It's packed with insights from someone who has been operating at a very senior level across our industry and the globe. I'm excited for you hear this. Kirk's experiences are unique but the lessons are transferable. I look forward to hearing what resonates with you.
Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 17 March 2021
Osman is the Managing Director of ContactCars.com in Egypt which launched its new digital used car platform in March 2021.
Before joining ContactCars just over a year ago, Osman spent 22 years involved with the BMW brand. He started as a graduate intern in the financial services business in the UK and ended up as General Manager of the BMW importer in Dubai. Along the way he gained experience in Alphabet, BMW's leasing and fleet management business. He worked in strategy development in BMW Financial Services covering Australasia the Middle East and North Africa. He was a Regional Manager for BMW Financial Services covering the Middle East and North Africa, he spent time in the cars side of the business as Area Manager Sales for the U.A.E. before becoming Managing Director of BMW Finance in the U.A.E.
In this conversation he shares very openly about his career journey and the many lessons he has learned along the way. We talk about the importance of effective interdependent relationships, the importance of developing a network, job moves that are an investment in your career, three key components to be mindful of when attempting any transition, hiring people who fit the spirit of what you are trying to achieve and what it's like when you get yourself into a situation that you feel you know absolutely nothing about.
Always, Osman talks authentically about what was going on for him at the time, what he was thinking, what he was struggling with and how he found his way through. The last but one chapter is all about the exciting new business that he is leading at contactcars.com which is right at the cutting edge of digitising the acquisition and ownership experience for used car customers in Egypt.
I'm very proud to share all of Osman's experience with you and to give you the opportunity to listen to his story, share it with your colleagues, friends and mentors and learn from everything he has done so far.
To help you navigate the content we've separated it into chapters which work on Apple Podcasts and certain other streaming platforms.
I loved having this conversation with Osman and I hope you enjoy listening to his story as much as I did. At the end, I'll share what resonated with me and ask you to let me know what resonated with you. Why not follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror where you can comment on the specific episodes that you have enjoyed.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 8 March 2021
Born and raised in rural Scotland, Jonny’s natural entrepreneurial spirit was evident from an early age, starting a car washing business in his neighbourhood at just 14 years old. While study marketing at the University of Stirling, Jonny had a number of business ventures, including buying and selling used cars to generate supplementary income.
At the age of 20, Jonny joined the highly competitive BMW Graduate programme. Following a number of promotions, Jonny was made General Manager of Digital and Innovation within BMW Financial Services at the age of 28, the youngest among his peers to reach this level of seniority.
In this role he led the team that delivered the BMW Innovation Lab, an award-winning corporate accelerator and the first of its kind within the industry. He subsequently spearheaded the BMW Intrapreneur lab, an internal innovation programme aimed at fostering a culture of innovation within the business.
Having made considerable waves during his 14 years with BMW, in 2018 Jonny was headhunted at the age of 32 to become UK Chief Executive of PayByPhone UK, one of the fastest-growing digital payment platforms in the UK, wholly owned by Volkswagen Financial Services AG. He has since delivered 30% year-on-year growth in a dynamic and constantly evolving industry.
Recognised in 2020 as “One of the UK’s top ten business gamechangers”, Jonny has been featured in publications such as HuffPost, The Economist and the Scotsman. He has shared his insight and experience with a wide range of well-recognised brands, including Barclays, Disney, Asset Finance International and Baillie Gifford.
Twitter: @JonnyCombe
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jonny-combe-47b28236
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 5 March 2021
Paul is the Regional Director for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Asia Pacific with overall responsibility for the performance of the Rolls Royce business across 15 markets excluding China.
Prior to living and working in Asia, he was responsible for BMW's Baltic region, that's Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, based out of Stockholm in Sweden. Originally from the UK, Paul began his career with BMW UK where he enjoyed success in a number of roles, including product marketing, sales and financial services.
Paul has gained significant broad experience in the commercial side of automotive with roles in marketing, sales, and financial services in the premium and super luxury segments across UK, Eastern Europe and Asia Pacific.
I'm grateful to him for this conversation in which we discuss his career journey and the many lessons he has learned along the way, but also openly talk about some of the methods that he and his wife Mary use for proactively designing their life.
I hope that by listening to our conversation and maybe discussing it with your colleagues, friends and mentors, you will also be able to learn valuable lessons from Paul's experiences.
We have recently started breaking these long form podcasts into chapters, a bit like an audio book, to help you to get the most from all the material. The chapter functionality works on certain podcast streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts.
I'm excited to share this conversation with you, it contains some powerful leadership and life lessons. At the end, I'll share with you some insights that I observed from Paul's journey and I'll be interested to know what resonates with you.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 3 March 2021
Dan Balmer's current role is President, Aston Martin Lagonda, UK Middle East and Africa
I am excited and proud to share Dan's career journey so far with you. Dan's story is wonderful in so many ways. He is one of those very lucky people who knew what he wanted to do from an early age and so with that focus and through hard work he has been able to pursue his entire career in the automotive world.
That has meant that he has covered an incredible amount of ground, both in terms of the roles and brands he's been involved in (Rover, Land Rover, BMW, MINI, Rolls Royce and Aston Martin) but also geographically. The extent of his experience is amplified by its depth and breadth. He has been involved at a granular level in vehicle design engineering and at a senior strategic level with global responsibility for marketing and regional responsibility for sales.
You will quickly, I'm sure, get the sense that he is passionate about our industry. He demonstrates humility. His confidence is genuine, built on years of being exposed to so many fascinating situations that have taught him so much. I hope that by listening to our conversation and maybe discussing with your colleagues and mentors, you will also be able to learn valuable lessons from Dan's experiences.
We have recently started breaking these long form podcasts into chapters, a bit like an audio book, to help you to get the most from all the material. The chapter functionality works on certain podcast streaming platforms, including Apple Podcasts.
Our conversation was recorded in one sitting on Sunday 28 February 2021. In it, Dan shares behind the scenes insights on a range of high profile topics related to the automotive industry like the development of the BMW MINI, the marriage and split of BMW and Rover, the launch of the Rolls Royce Phantom from when it was just known as "Project Rolls Royce" to conquering the west coast and the Far East, rebuilding the Aston Martin brand right up to the latest James Bond film and their brand new Formula one team. At the same time, Dan lets us into his thinking behind the decisions that have ultimately resulted in his amazing career and the impact that has had on his family along the way.
It is an extraordinary privilege to be able to share Dan's story with you. I hope you find it as fascinating and uplifting as I have.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit Aquilae Academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 28 February 2021
Karen describes herself as semi retired now but she still helps to develop and assess aspiring Heads of Business for Jaguar Land Rover in the UK. Her career journey has taken in some of the most famous names in UK automotive retailing and also seen her transition to the manufacturer side with roles at Fiat, Rover, Toyota and Mercedes Benz.
In this introduction, I am deliberately trying to avoid revealing any spoilers. I'll just say that Karen's is a wonderful story (at times a romp!) featuring some great brands and personalities from the UK motor industry. At the same time, it's a fascinating case study that demonstrates how knowing your strengths and leveraging them over time can enable you to have an ever increasing positive impact on the businesses and people you work with and a very fulfilling career.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 26 February 2021
Karima graduated as a Computer Scientist and began her career at Electronic Data Systems working with GM Financial. Later roles have included Client Services Director at White Clarke Group, Chief Information Officer at Mercedes Benz UK and a stint in Daimler AG in Stuttgart before setting up her own consultancy, Auto Novo in 2015.
In this episode of Career-view Mirror we look back on Karima's career journey from convincing her parents in the 1990s that a computer science degree was a viable option to recently joining Volvo Financial Services UK as IT & Operations Director.
On the way we talk about how she has succeeded in male dominated environments, chosen or been blessed with some great managers and mentors and been continuously energised by working in a job she loves.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 29 January 2021
Alan Crookes has 40 years experience in the banking and financial services industry and he recently retired after 26 years at BMW Group Financial Services. During that time, he held the roles of COO, CFO and CEO for BMW Financial Services Australia before most notably in 2005, being promoted to CEO of BMW Group Financial Services Asia Pacific region.
In that role, he guided the development of a significant number of its current and future global leaders. He oversaw the acquisition and integration of companies in Malaysia and Hong Kong, and the establishment of new entities including Russia, India, and China. He led the successful introduction of insourcing Japan's back office operations into Australia, despite the industry trend or norm for outsourcing, and all the while he delivered consistent yearly profitability growth and growth at the regional portfolio outstandings from 5 billion euros to 24 billion euros as at the end of 2016.
In addition to leading the fastest growing region in the world, Alan played a significant role in the Management Committee at global headquarters in Munich, contributing to the overall success of BMW Group Financial Services worldwide.
Regarded as a visionary, innovative and authentic business leader, Alan has a strong focus on people and empowering leadership. In this episode of Career-view Mirror, we'll talk about some of the lessons from his journey, from having to retake his final year of high school to opening up for BMW Financial Services the markets of Russia, India, and China, which would become BMW's largest market.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 23 December 2020
Leopold's motto is passionate pursuit of the extraordinary and unrivalled. He's a Senior Director at Carvana in California. He spent five years at Tesla as Senior Director of Financial Services and Insurance in both California and the Asia Pacific region and he has over 12 years experience with BMW Group in multiple roles across the globe.
In this episode of Career-view Mirror we talk about Leopold's career journey so far, to learn from his significant experience in treasury, automotive financial services, electric vehicles and disrupting automotive business models. Along the way he also shares with us a little about what it's been like moving his family around the world.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Your feedback helps us grow.
For details of our forthcoming guests follow us:
Instagram @careerviewmirror
Twitter @cvmpodcast
Episode recorded on 4 December 2020
Nina Englert grew up in Mamaroneck just outside New York City. As a teenager she would visit the BMW dealership in Park Avenue. Fast forward 30 years and she is now responsible for three of BMW's factory owned stores in Hanover, Bremen and Göttingen. Along the way she has lived and worked in Munich, New Jersey and Auckland where she became the first female President of a National Sales Company (NSC) in BMW history.
In this conversation we talk about starting her career as an apprentice at BMW, succeeding as a female in a male dominated industry, working internationally, meeting the challenges of Covid 19 as an automotive retailer and what a wonderful place New Zealand is.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review. Your feedback helps us grow.
Episode recorded on 6 November 2020
Annie Wechter is an inspirational woman who you might say "grew up" career-wise at Tesla. She joined the company in 2012 straight from university and spent the first seven years of her professional life furthering Tesla's mission in California and Europe.
In this conversation we talk about what she learned in those seven years, and how those lessons inform her approach to life and work now. We discuss the impact of aligning your work with your personal purpose, finding flow in the work you do, travelling, meditation, her volunteer work in Brazil's largest favela and how Annie came to launch her mission-driven bikini brand.
Annie is now Head of Partnerships and Business Development at Arrival Fintech, a role she took up since we recorded this episode.
This episode of Career-view Mirror is brought to you by the Aquilae Academy. At the Academy we turn professional development into a team sport. We bring together small groups of leaders of comparable seniority from non-competing organisations to learn new concepts and grow together. They share experiences and challenges, support each other and hold each other accountable.
For more information visit www.aquilae.co.uk/aquilae-academy
If you enjoyed this podcast please take a moment to leave a review. Your feedback helps us grow.
References:
Instagram: @pipocaswim and @awechter
www.pipocabrazil.com
The Second Mountain, David Brooks, Penguin
Episode recorded on 16 October 2020
Career-view Mirror is a brand new podcast offering career lessons from the experiences of senior leaders and rising stars in the exciting global automotive industry.
We'll be having candid conversations, reflecting on their journeys to help you with yours.
Our host, Andy Follows, is both a passionate developer of people and an experienced developer of businesses in the automotive finance industry, internationally.
Follow us on Instagram @careerviewmirror or twitter @cvmpodcast for more information about our guests and how you can get involved.
Coming soon to all major streaming platforms.