In this episode, we explore the importance of customer-centricity in the automotive supplier industry with Melanie Schuttenberg, Vice President of Business Development Europe and Managing Director Germany at Flex Automotive. Melanie shares insights and advice from her career on building strong customer relationships, anticipating changing customer needs, fostering a customer-centric mindset across all teams—not just sales—and leading teams towards success in the automotive supplier industry. Melanie has been working within the automotive industry for nearly 20 years. She has progressed through roles of increasing responsibility, gaining experience at leading global organisations such as TRW, Magna, and most recently Flex, which she joined in 2015. She is also an Advisory Board Member at TAJCO, a leading supplier of premium exterior trim solutions for the global automotive industry.
Micha Goebig is the founder and CEO of GO BIG Coaching &Communications, executive coach and strategist. Micha is a multi-certified coach, bilingual keynote speaker and published author. She serves on the Forbes Coaches Council, the Advisory Board of Wonder Women Tech, and the speaker team of TEDxSeattle. She also collaborates frequently with Women Automotive Network where she interviews female leaders and emcees online and in-person events. Drawing on more than two decades of expertise within the sector, Micha has run hundreds of workshops, primarily on topics of cultural fluency and the empowerment of women in male-dominated work environments. She is known for her signature coaching program, in which participants learn to build consistent confidence, greater visibility, and effective self-advocating strategies. Join us in this enlightening episode where we delve into how women can enhance their leadership skills and discover empowerment through solidarity. Anna and Micha also discuss the differences between coaching and mentoring, and share tips on how to maximize the benefits of your sessions. Tune in to discover more.
Maria is a Senior Executive with over 15 years of experience leading high-performing teams in product, technology, UX design, and data science/analytics. Currently a Senior Vice President of Software Product Management at Stellantis, a global automotive company known for producing car brands such as Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Citroën, Fiat, Jeep®, Maserati, among others. Maria focuses on building the future of Mobility Tech within the organisation. Maria’s team oversees off- and onboard software experiences, collaborating with a 2000+ strong engineering team. Prior to her current role, during her 8 years with Amazon, Maria served as Head of Product/CPO for Amazon Regional Tools, Amazon Fashion, and most recently, Amazon International Expansions. She successfully built high-performing, multi-layered, multi-functional teams (50+) across various locations, comprising Product managers, engineers, designers, business developers, and analysts. After her tenure at Amazon, she joined Kiwi.com as a VP of Product, contributing to the disruption of the online travel booking industry. Maria has built her career on a profound understanding of how technology and innovative products can transform the lives of customers and enterprises. She is passionate about people development, personal growth, diversity, and inclusion. As an Amazon bar raiser, Maria interviewed hundreds of candidates and played a pivotal role in establishing improved processes for hiring and cultivating PM talent.
Rachael Haywood is a seasoned R&D Executive and Consultant, who brings a wealth of experience in leading Life Science and Healthcare transformation. Her career journey includes significant roles such as Strategy & Operational Excellence at Abbott, Chief of Staff & Head of R&D Operations at Bayer, and Head of R&D Huntsman and various leadership positions in companies like Reckitt Benckiser and Kimberly Clark. She holds a Ph.D. in Polymer Chemistry from Lancaster University and a Change Management Certification from Hult Ashridge and Strategic Growth from Columbia Business School. Join us in this insightful episode as we delve into the multifaceted journey of leadership with Rachael, who shares her experiences transitioning from academia to the corporate world. From the evolution of leadership styles, balancing empathy with action-oriented approaches, to the lessons learned from influential mentors, we explore the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, discussing impactful projects, training strategies, and the role of senior managers in fostering an inclusive workplace culture. Tune in to discover the keys to effective leadership in today's dynamic environment.
Explore the fascinating leadership journey of Sophie Barlow, the Director of Business Development and Mergers & Acquisitions at Chart Industries, Inc. In this episode of Ways Women Lead, Sophie shares her experiences as an employee with a minority background and offers valuable advice on navigating the workplace as a minority employee, progressing to desired positions. She also discusses how organisations can create environments that foster Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and highlights her significant role in advancing DEI efforts within her organisations.