Once again, in partnership with the University of the Aftermarket, we offer you a front row seat into the Leadership 2.0 experience thanks to participants in this year’s session. First up, Attila Hardy, area manager, company group stores, Auto-Wares Group of Companies.
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The second session of this year’s Leadership 2.0 class started Sunday evening with a reception and dinner attended by all participants and faculty, plus our keynote speaker, David McCartney, president – Southern Division Business Unit, CARQUEST/ Advance Auto Parts.
The evening began among some of the most beautiful automobiles in the world. Dinner was held at the Ingram Collection, which is one of the finest collections of Porsches in the country. It was great to see everyone again and reconnect. As I have told several people who have asked me about my Leadership 2.0 experience, if it consisted of just the first week back in August, it still would have been more than worth attending. Everyone is looking forward to a second week of learning, growing, sharing and networking. I am very excited to see how it will propel us in our careers and aid our growth into leaders and mentors in the auto care industry.
David McCartney shared his leadership experience, which started in 1985, as a part-time delivery driver at General Parts Inc. During his speech, he focused on how this industry is a people business; it is about people who help people. He also emphasized the importance of “raising your hand” to new opportunities so you can have continued exposure to different aspects of the business. He spoke of Temple Sloan Jr. [part of the CARQUEST founding family] and how Sloan stressed making learning part of everyone’s DNA. Sloan once told McCartney something that has always stuck with him: “You take care of people and the rest will take care of itself.” McCartney concluded his speech with some sound advice: build a team that operates as one trusting family. Become the best leader for your people by helping and teaching them while, in turn, learning from them.
I cannot wait to be involved in the morning roundtable discussions, participating in class discussions and seeing each group’s final project. This program has given me a unique perspective that I would not have been able to get anywhere else and has helped me prepare to make the move to the next level. The first session has already equipped me with some of the tools I will need to do so, and the second session will surely complete the job.
You can follow Hardy’s industry-oriented Twitter account @autopartsattila.
