David Richardson’s Post

Opportunity

Our third Core Value is 'Never Settle'. We thrive on perpetually innovating, constantly seeking ways to improve, and never shying away from asking the essential questions. Why? Because we're determined to push limits and redefine industry standards For us, 'Never Settle' means finding fresh ways to make the automotive world better, safer, and more sustainable. We're not satisfied with the status quo but intent on living a culture of continuous improvement. Just because we've always done something a certain way doesn't mean we can't challenge and change it! When I first started at Magna, my manager told me that most people stop 1-2 questions short of success, and that really stuck with me. Learning how to ask the right questions is foundational to success, and exemplifies this value of 'Never Settle'. Dig in and dig deep, don't just accept what's on the surface level If you share our passion for making things better, for never accepting 'good enough,' then we should talk. Join us on our journey to redefine the future of automotive manufacturing, and let's make some incredible things happen together! #WeAreMagna #NeverSettle #ForwardForAll

Can you help me find my style of program manager role in 2024?   Different program managers have different styles, just like car models. There's no such thing as a better style, just different approaches. Ferrari – WOW! Looks amazing, super fancy! Great for making an impression. They are meant for one thing: paved roads or a smooth track. They need all obstacles removed and things can break rather easily. Ford 150 - Rugged right? Nice for when you have a lot of stuff to do, can carry heavy work loads, and manage a variety of contexts. Unfortunately, it’s most comfortable for the driver and passenger, who I hope is the manager. May not be comfortable for the other stakeholders. Often comes with a snowplow in front. Mercedes G class: This program manager is reliable and fearless in the face of difficult projects, when you know a direction but not what you need to get you there. Open road, no roads, sand dunes, mountains, bush, jungle…whatever. Completely dependable even though the ride can be a bit bumpy.  Not meant for the trips-to-the-grocery-store projects though: they need adventure! (This is me - I’m looking for work. I need a role with adventure!) Honda Accord - wonderfully reliable, consistent. Can do long projects, or economize sequential work on product life cycles. Best when you generally know where you are going, and you need someone to get you there in an organized way. Doesn’t really like going off road and isn’t particularly snazzy but WOW are these are the bread-and-butter program manager models! If you have one of these, keep them!

TALENT TIP! We asked our Product Specialist's what the most UNDERRATED part of being a Product Specialist was! Are there any other questions you have about being a P+ Automotive Product Specialist? #productspecialist #automotive #pplusproud

Opportunity

Exciting news from Michelin and GE! 📰The innovation in airless tires for passenger cars is set to revolutionize the automotive industry, with mass production slated for 2024. 🚗 As an aspiring product manager, this development underscores the importance of staying ahead in technology trends. Here's what I learnt from this breakthrough: 1. 🔍Market Awareness: Embracing cutting-edge technologies like airless tires demonstrates the significance of market awareness. As a product manager, staying attuned to industry shifts is crucial for steering product development in the right direction. 2.🤝Cross Collaboration : The collaboration between Michelin and General Motors exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships. Nurturing collaborations fosters innovation and accelerates the delivery of groundbreaking products—a valuable lesson for any product manager aspiring to drive impactful projects. 3. ⏳Timeline Management: The timeline for mass production by 2024 emphasizes the importance of effective project management. Balancing speed with precision is a key skill for product managers, ensuring timely delivery without compromising quality. 4. 👥User-Centric Design: Airless tires address common pain points for car owners, showcasing the impact of user-centric design. Prioritizing features that enhance user experience is integral to successful product management, aligning products with customer needs and expectations. The 🌎future of technology is indeed exhilarating, and as a product manager, I am inspired by these insights to continually refine my approach and contribute to shaping the future of innovative products. 🌐💡 #productmanagement #innovation #technology #trending

It's been over 6 months, since I returned to the product management domain, and it's been an incredibly rewarding experience. During this time, I've had the opportunity to learn & deliver a few new products, which has been both exciting and fulfilling. Key learnings: 🔵 Solve underlying problems, not just write feature specs 🔵 Conduct opportunity assessments before implementing features 🔵 Understand customer needs through data, not just customer feedback Thank you for your guidance and support Yatin Sethi Sunil Subramanian Sevket Arslan Lisa Hammarlund Snowden Armstrong Selin Sarac We aim to deliver more user-centric products over the next 6 months 🚀 Marty Cagan Volvo Cars #productmanagement #volvocars

They let me keep the badges and the gun in between my shoulders! 🎖️🔫 As all good things in life, the end has come, and I'm to announce my departure from Stellantis after six incredible and enriching years. My journey at Stellantis has been marked by numerous successes and challenges overcome thanks to an exceptional team. Among the highlights of my adventure, I am particularly proud of the following accomplishments: ✨ Continuous innovation: Implementation of the ADAS mini-view, an innovative feature that remains at the center of discussions, as well as developing head-up display solutions for DS Automobiles DS4 and Opel Astra and the iconic i-cockpits of Peugeot. 🏆 Leadership in design and technology: Development of advanced solutions for cluster and HUD zoning, integrating comprehensive design and software modules. 📈 Complex project management: Participation in the Opel Detox HMI initiatives and working on Stellantis' first centralized HMI architecture, with a strong focus on functional safety, achieving 40 SOP across various projects. 👨🏫 Mentorship and training: Guiding and developing future talents through internship programs and enriching training sessions. ⚡ Responsiveness and efficiency: Executing last-minute rescues to ensure multiple SOP compliance. 💡 Contribution to innovation: Filing 140 patents, reflecting a constant commitment to innovation and continuous improvement. 🚀 Successful launches: Leading infotainment modules to successful deployments in multiple projects. 🔋 Pioneer in electrification: Making significant contributions to the first wave of electric cluster HMI. 🎤 Representation and communication: Presenting the Stellantis group at conferences and participating in the press presentation of the 308. For the near future, I will focus on our baby 'Atlas' and will be in paternity leave 👶, and I hope to squeeze in a Digital Boost in parallel. Following this, I will pursue further executive education in Paris with a focus on deeptech and innovation 🎓. Stellantis' generosity has permitted me for the first time in years to take a leap of faith and do what 'I want' instead of the usual 'needs to be done,' and I'm very excited for the upcoming adventure. I want to thank Régis for this wonderful "Stellantis Pillar" t-shirt 👕. Régis, you are the true pillar of our team, recognized for your technical expertise indeed but you are truly an expert in everything. (As this shirt demonstrates and don't even get me started with the pastries 🍰). A big thank you also to the talented designers behind this t-shirt (too good of Ergo to be true). Régis Lantin Chloé Alleau Valentin Cazin Laurent Guillou

To new adventures! 🚀 After almost 30 years at Volvo Cars, I’ve decided to leave. I feel excited and ready to explore new ventures and opportunities! 💙 I am thankful for: - A fantastic environment to develop my curiosity, and in recent years a passion for digitalisation. - All the experience I have accumulated - from business and product development to leadership team and board work. - All the changes I have been able to implement, products I have created, and work processes I have developed. - The wonderful people I have met and worked alongside, including experts, and partners I have collaborated with. 🎯 I am especially proud of: - Approaching digitalisation with a holistic perspective that involves not just technology but also a mindset to make a difference. - Transitioning from traditional IT to digitalisation, delivering more with a reduced budget, and drastically increasing development speed. - Besides pushing boundaries in the internal challenges and opportunities, I’ve at the same time navigated complex partnerships. Working with up to 10 contributors at a time without falling into the trap of traditional outsourcing has taught me the delicate art of balancing collaboration and leadership. - Emphasizing the importance of grounding in reality, and developing process-supporting products for internal users with small, innovation-driven teams that have been recognized by Apple globally. - Developing new ways of working with flexible and simple methods to bring in cutting-edge expertise exactly when needed. ⭐️ What happens now? - I’m going independent - but not alone! I'm constantly in awe of the brilliant, kind, and dedicated people I've had the pleasure to work alongside, and it will be exciting to see how I can create value for more together with others! - I'll be looking to collaborate on initiatives that really moves the needle, bringing together the best in the field to create something greater than the sum of its parts. - I will do what I do best, and focus on digitalisation - all the way from strategy to practical implementation. - The holistic perspective stays with me, by focusing on how to achieve more with less one can bring about change without overcomplicating. - I've already begun working with a few clients and am open to new opportunities that come my way. The picture is from the launch of the XC90 in 2014. "Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now." (Bob Dylan)

Product management and driving a racecar may seem like completely different activities, but there are some interesting parallels between the two: Speed and Agility: Both require quick decision-making and adaptability. In product management, you need to respond swiftly to market changes and customer feedback. Similarly, a racecar driver must make split-second decisions to navigate through the track and adjust to changing conditions. Focus on Performance: Just as a racecar driver aims to maximize the performance of their vehicle, a product manager strives to optimize the performance of their product. Both roles involve fine-tuning various elements to achieve the best results. Team Collaboration: Both racing and product management are team sports. A racecar driver relies on their team of mechanics, engineers, and strategists to ensure the car is in optimal condition and to develop race strategies. Similarly, a product manager collaborates with cross-functional teams including engineers, designers, marketers, and salespeople to bring a product to market successfully.