People First! Building Cultures That Attract Today's Workforce

04/07/25 • 59 min

What if the secret to doubling your business revenue wasn't a marketing trick or sales technique, but simply putting your people first? That's exactly what Shari Pheasant discovered when she returned to help manage her auto repair shop, taking it from $1.6 million to $3.2 million in just three years through revolutionary people-first strategies.
In this fascinating conversation, NAPA Vice President Jason Rainey and A Master Mechanic/Horsepower Strategies CEO Shari Pheasant reveal the transformative power of creating cultures that truly engage today's workforce. Their insights challenge traditional leadership approaches and offer practical solutions for businesses struggling with employee retention and satisfaction.
The duo breaks down how predictive technology assessments have helped them understand team dynamics, revealing that most leaders unconsciously hire people just like themselves – creating dangerous blind spots. Instead, they advocate for building deliberately diverse teams where different thinking styles complement each other. As Rainey explains from his military background, successful leadership requires both "accomplishing the mission" and "troop welfare" – you can't achieve one without the other.
Particularly valuable is their discussion about authenticity in leadership. With 93 million millennials and younger workers in today's workforce, old command-and-control approaches simply don't work. Employees crave leaders who demonstrate vulnerability and emotional intelligence, who acknowledge mistakes and create psychologically safe environments. As Pheasant notes, "Employee happiness is the ultimate profit driver in your business."
Whether you're leading a small team or managing a large corporation, these strategies transcend industry boundaries. Their final insights will change how you approach team building, customer satisfaction, and personal leadership development. Don't miss their powerful closing thoughts on what truly makes a people-first culture sustainable for long-term success.
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To learn more about the Auto Care Association visit autocare.org.
To learn more about our show and suggest future topics and guests, visit autocare.org/podcast

Previous Episode

Gen Z's Evolving Relationship with Cars and Mobility

Two automotive industry experts with the same name – Mike Chung of MarketCast and Mike Chung of the AutoCare Association – explore the fascinating evolution of Gen Z's relationship with cars and mobility in a data-rich, candid conversation that challenges conventional automotive industry thinking.
The conversation dives deep into how the pandemic fundamentally altered the formative years of those now aged 18-26, creating a generation with dramatically different expectations about transportation, ownership, and mobility. Unlike previous generations who viewed cars as essential symbols of freedom, Gen Z navigates a world with unprecedented options – from rideshare apps to electric scooters – making traditional car ownership optional rather than mandatory.
Economic factors weigh heavily in this shift. We explore how supply chain disruptions, skyrocketing vehicle prices, and increased living costs have pushed car ownership down the priority list for many young consumers. Yet paradoxically, automotive content thrives in unexpected digital spaces. Gen Z consumers engage with car culture through novel channels, including watching live dealership negotiations on TikTok – content that previous generations would find mundane but that resonates deeply with digital natives.
The discussion provides valuable insights into evolving research methodologies. Traditional focus groups are giving way to online sessions where Gen Z participants feel more comfortable expressing authentic opinions. Social listening has become crucial for identifying micro-conversations that reveal emerging trends before they surface in formal research settings. For automotive brands targeting this demographic, success hinges on authenticity, distinction, and creating meaningful experiences rather than relying solely on traditional advertising approaches.
What emerges is a portrait of a generation that hasn't abandoned automotive enthusiasm but expresses it differently. For industry professionals, understanding these shifts isn't just academically interesting – it's essential for developing meaningful connections with the consumers who will shape automotive's future.

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Next Episode

Duncan Gillis, CEO, TERREPOWER (formerly BBB Industries)

From infantry officer to innovative CEO, Duncan Gillis' life story reads like a masterclass in determination and reinvention. In this riveting conversation The Driver's Seat host Behzad Rassuli, Duncan reveals how being told "you can't do that" has been the fuel that propelled his remarkable journey from military service to leading TERREPOWER's sustainable manufacturing revolution.
As a young man from a modest New England background, Duncan's educational path began with an ROTC scholarship that opened doors to Cornell University when his parents couldn't afford to send him to college. His military career took him through the grueling Ranger School and deployments across the globe before pivoting to business through prestigious roles at Procter & Gamble and McKinsey Consulting. But the professional trajectory is just one thread in this fascinating tapestry.
The conversation takes an unexpected turn when Duncan shares a profound personal revelation: at age 57, he discovered through DNA testing that the man who raised him wasn't his biological father. This discovery fundamentally altered his understanding of his own identity and ambition, coinciding with other major life events including learning to fly aircraft in his fifties – a childhood dream finally realized.
Today, as the driving force behind TERREPOWER, Duncan is transforming what was once simply "remanufacturing" into a broader vision of sustainable manufacturing. His team's innovative approach to repurposing materials others would discard isn't just environmentally responsible – it delivers superior products at competitive prices. His passionate defense of American manufacturing capabilities reveals a leader deeply committed to proving skeptics wrong, whether about his company's potential or the future of American industry.
Whether you're fascinated by leadership psychology, business innovation, or personal reinvention, Duncan's story offers invaluable insights on achieving what others declare impossible. Listen now to discover how one leader's boulder-sized chip on his shoulder became the foundation for extraordinary success.

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To learn more about the Auto Care Association visit autocare.org.
To learn more about our show and suggest future topics and guests, visit autocare.org/podcast

Auto Care ON AIR - People First! Building Cultures That Attract Today's Workforce

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:00.201

32 years , it's time to throw in the towel . No , it's not .

Speaker 200:00:03.520

That's , you're almost to 50 , right , our agreement was 50 years . We are committed for 50 years . Once we get to 50 , we can renegotiate . So when you're like 70 . Right , who's going to do that ? But ?

Speaker 300:00:13.146

it feels good .