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Season 4 - Ep. 10 | Driving Transformation with Volvo Cars President and CEO Jim Rowan
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Season 4 - Ep. 10 | Driving Transformation with Volvo Cars President and CEO Jim Rowan
When it comes to technology and transformation, the automotive industry is at the forefront of change. Government regulations, changing consumer demands, new technology and climate change have forced auto manufacturers to evolve their approach.
In today’s episode of Redefiners, Clarke and Hoda talk with Jim Rowan, President and CEO of Volvo Cars, about his career “shift” from consumer electronics to the automotive industry. Jim talks about Volvo’s ambitious goal of going fully electric by 2030, the intersection of design, collaboration and innovation, leading through disruption, and the power of curiosity and hard work to accelerate learning and solve big problems.
We'll also hear from Tristan Jervis, a Managing Director in our London office, who will outline what it takes to cultivate a tech-first culture—and how it can boost your organization’s resilience to face what’s next.
Jim Rowan
President and CEO of Volvo Cars
Jim Rowan became the chief executive at Volvo Cars in March 2022, and since then has been on a mission to ensure the company leads the way in protecting people and the planet through next-generation mobility. His ambition is to make Volvo Cars the brand of choice throughout customers’ lives. Under Jim, the company will continue to deliver mobility that doesn’t just protect you, your loved ones and the environment, but that also gives you enjoyment, convenience and complete peace of mind.
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For me, curiosity is the accelerator towards learning. How do you keep that curiosity in young people? How do we teach them in a way that keeps them engaged?”Jim Rowan,
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Four things you’ll learn from this episode
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Innovation might look like a linear process, but in reality, it’s messy and involves a lot of discussion and debate. But often, the more robust the debate, the greater the end product.
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Role model curiosity. Encourage it in others and you will develop a culture of continuous learning.
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Technology can—and should be—used for the greater good, as well as for greater profits.
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There are eight C’s of progress: Commitment, collaboration, communication, compassion, continuous learning, courage, consistency, and confidence.
In this 37-minute episode, we will cover:
(2.58) How Jim moved from being a mechanical engineer to leadership roles in iconic consumer design companies.
(6.25) What it was like to be COO of Blackberry during a tremendous period of growth.
(7.37) The parallels between how quickly the future phone moved to the smartphone, to what’s happening in the automotive industry with software, connectivity, and data.
(14.31) What LiDAR is, and how this technology is being used to improve safety for consumers.
(19.57) Volvo Cars’ ambitions to be fully electric by 2030, and climate-neutral by 2040.
(27.23) Why Jim is on a crusade to get younger, digital natives around the decision-making table.
A closer look at some of the topics discussed in this episode:
- Inflation Reduction Act | U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Volvo plans to be fully electric by 2030 (volvocars.com)
If you enjoyed this episode, you might also like these Redefiners episodes:
- The Necessity of Change with President and CEO of Wells Fargo Charlie Scharf
- In the Fast Lane: A Conversation with FIA CEO Natalie Robyn
- Leadership Lounge: How to nail your first year as CEO
- Leadership Reimagined: Transformation Tips from Jim Hagemann Snabe