Headline, Isabelle Havasy, Mechanical business management, Portrait of the automotive mechanic industry
PUTTING PEOPLE AT THE HEART OF GROWTH
(Article published in L’Automobile Mechanic magazine, December 2023)
By Isabelle Havasy
Vice President of Sales at Castrol—Wakefield, and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Automotive Industries Association of Canada (AIA Canada), Shannon Spano is an advocate for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in business.
“In my role with AIA Canada and through my time with Wakefield Canada, I have been exposed to many facets of the auto care sector. A broader vision and understanding of the unique perspectives, experiences and backgrounds within our sector guides how to support and build a sustainable future.” Ms. Spano believes that an organization’s success lies in valuing the individuals within it. Recognizing the strengths of each and every employee, and knowing how to capitalize on them, improves the company’s performance, and the benefits are felt throughout the industry.
Creating a “Listening and Learning Culture”
At the heart of this strategy to promote diversity, equity and inclusion, the creation of a “listening and learning culture” is essential, according to Ms. Spano. “I think it’s a very important element for the auto care sector; we’re dealing with macro changes and challenges, such as labour shortages, the growth of electric vehicles and the Right to Repair agenda. Continuing to attract and retain diverse and skilled people, tackling change through advocacy and building an inclusive community that values relationships will contribute to the evolution and prosperity of the auto care sector, ensuring its relevance and sustainability.”
Despite the challenges ahead, Ms. Spano remains positive. “I believe that change always creates opportunities. We need to continue to build a network and community of unique and valued stakeholders in this sector to ensure we’re well prepared for the future.
Personal Fulfillment
But to thrive, the industry must transform and adapt. “I believe that to attract new talent and develop leaders with diverse experiences, companies need to create a fair and inclusive work environment that fosters personal fulfillment,” says Spano. “A place where employees can rise to the occasion, connect to a vision and purpose and see a long-term future. A place where they can grow, while remaining true to who they are, their aspirations and their dreams.”
Reflecting on the core values of high performing teams, Ms. Spano adds that leaders play a key role. She stresses the importance of providing them with adequate training. “We need to ensure that they are well equipped and continuing to develop, in particular by offering them a wide range of training to broaden perspectives, stimulate mindsets’s growth, enhance and adapt their leadership style and approach and uncover unconscious biases I believe that humble, relatable and authentic leadership styles are essential qualities today that drive success and gain deeper loyalty.”
Various Levels of Leadership
She explains that leadership comes into play at various levels which shouldn’t be overlooked or underestimated. “Leading from the middle of organizations is where the magic happens as they have the best finger on the pulse for the needs, values, views and pain points of customers and the front-line people,” As a result, a company that favours and promotes multi-level empowered leadership will have a greater impact on the industry as a whole, concludes Ms. Spano.
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