This year’s Leadership 2.0 class, which began last August, reconvenes this week at Northwood University’s campus in Midland, Michigan. The second session continues through March 16. All this week, we are bringing you exclusive blog posts from a range of aftermarket professional participating in this week’s Leadership 2.0 program, hosted by the University of the Aftermarket at Northwood University.
Leadership 2.0 is a post-graduate style leadership and business skills education program designed to promote the development of the next generation of aftermarket leaders. In addition to the two week-long classroom segments – which feature lectures, roundtable discussions, networking sessions and team research and problem-solving activities – participants work off-site to develop and present team research projects covering key industry challenges. Featured presenters include leading aftermarket executives and faculty from Northwood University’s DeVos Graduate School of Management. (Click here for more info on Leadership 2.0.)
Today, we hear from Joseph Lee, regional sales manager, Eastern Auto Parts Warehouse.
The second full day of Leadership 2.0 started with the enthusiasm and energy that’s become the norm for this terrific group. University of the Aftermarket Director Brian Cruickshank began class with another aftermarket roundtable discussion. He facilitated a conversation about the hiring struggles many service centers are experiencing, along with the tactics new car dealers are using to lure away and retain talent. A number of independent shop owners offered their own testimonials, while the rest of the class provided helpful feedback and suggestions for them.
Next, Dr. Frank Morgan followed-up with an important presentation on business ethics. He focused on how critical ethical leadership is in any industry, using the recent Volkswagen “Dieselgate” case to illustrate this. The entire class broke down the case to determine what went wrong and why, how the company’s leadership affected the case, and finally, what the class thought could have been done differently to prevent something like this from happening again. Dr. Morgan then presented a quiz containing various ethical dilemmas for the class to consider both individually and within their groups. He concluded his discussion by asking the class, “What are your values? Ask yourself: Am I living them, and do they match my organization’s?”
The second half of class began with the pleasure of a wonderful guest speaker, Bill Long, president of AASA. Mr. Long was kind enough to bring additional insight into the looming steel tariffs and AASA’s position on them. His discussion also covered the AASA’s continued lobbying efforts on behalf of the aftermarket, as well as additional pending legislation that could impact the industry.
Dr. Morgan returned to present another case study, this time focusing on a struggling tire chain at an impasse. The groups in the class came up with strategies and solutions to change the course of the business in question, with a wide variety of answers being offered.
Class wrapped up with an outstanding team-building exercise that took the class to PNC Arena in Raleigh. There, we were witness to a wild NHL contest between the hometown Hurricanes and the Boston Bruins. There was no shortage of fireworks and excitement, which was fitting for this particular class.
Click here to read Blog 1 from Tenneco’s Debra Kennedy.
Click here to read Blog 2 from SMP’s Cindy Ford.
