Sign up for The Automotive Leaders Letter

Watch the full video on YouTube - click here

Welcome to the first episode of Season 5 of the Automotive Leaders Podcast. In this season opener, Jan Griffiths interviews Michael Colleran, Senior Vice President and Corporate Officer at Nissan North America. Michael started his professional journey as a US Marine Corps Captain and later worked at General Motors and Saab before joining Nissan. This diverse experience gives him a unique perspective on the shifts in the auto industry.

The conversation starts with a study from Great Place to Work, revealing that 77 percent of Nissan’s employees deem it a great place to work. Mike shares what factors contribute to this recognition, exploring the essential elements that shape Nissan’s exceptional workplace culture.

Michael highlights the changing dynamics of customer interactions, emphasizing the shift from transactional to experiential relationships. Essential leadership qualities, accountability, and the significance of setting examples within leadership teams are discussed, and challenging norms by acknowledging past success behaviors may not ensure future achievements. These perspectives not only give a glimpse into how leadership operates at Nissan but also offer valuable lessons for adapting to the ever-changing world of the automotive industry.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• Nissan's journey and transformation.
• The necessity for behavioral and cultural changes to drive success.
• Adapting to changing customer expectations from transactional to experiential.
• Evolving dynamics of leadership in the automotive industry.
• Balancing innovation with a strong sense of accountability in leadership.
• The influential role of leadership teams in setting positive examples.

Featured: Michael Colleran

What he does: Michael is Corporate Vice President at Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., and Senior Vice President for all sales and marketing activities for the Nissan and INFINITI brands in the US. A former Captain in the United States Marine Corps, Michael brings a dynamic blend of strategic vision and operational excellence to the automotive industry.

On leadership: “When leaders replicate good behaviors, people will follow. They want to follow; they want that example out there... Leaders can get out there, set an example, and use their experience.”

Mentioned in this episode:

• Podcast interview with Navy SEALs: 
• Episode with Clint Bruce - Former Navy Special Warfare Officer
• Episode with Nick Norris - Former Navy SEAL
• Book Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willink
• Podcast