{"version":"1.0.0","segments":[{"startTime":4.738,"endTime":7.64,"body":"Welcome to Reimagine Mobility Podcast"},{"startTime":4.738,"endTime":7.64,"body":"series."},{"startTime":7.707,"endTime":9.175,"body":"I'm here with Jen Fulton."},{"startTime":9.175,"endTime":11.911,"body":"She's the AVL MTI CFO."},{"startTime":12.045,"endTime":16.316,"body":"So our first non engineer,"},{"startTime":12.045,"endTime":16.316,"body":"I think, on the podcast series."},{"startTime":16.75,"endTime":19.252,"body":"So welcome. Thanks for your time here."},{"startTime":19.252,"endTime":22.455,"body":"You've been in the automotive space"},{"startTime":19.252,"endTime":22.455,"body":"a while back."},{"startTime":22.889,"endTime":24.124,"body":"Yeah. You left."},{"startTime":24.124,"endTime":24.724,"body":"Mm hmm."},{"startTime":24.724,"endTime":25.759,"body":"When you came back?"},{"startTime":25.759,"endTime":27.794,"body":"Yes. Why? Automotive?"},{"startTime":28.995,"endTime":30.663,"body":"I love this industry."},{"startTime":30.663,"endTime":32.932,"body":"I love this company."},{"startTime":32.966,"endTime":36.469,"body":"So that was a big piece of it."},{"startTime":36.469,"endTime":38.204,"body":"Being able to be"},{"startTime":38.204,"endTime":41.241,"body":"a part of something"},{"startTime":38.204,"endTime":41.241,"body":"exciting and innovative."},{"startTime":41.274,"endTime":41.941,"body":"I mean, I."},{"startTime":41.941,"endTime":46.012,"body":"I can count numbers for anybody,"},{"startTime":41.941,"endTime":46.012,"body":"but I can't necessarily"},{"startTime":46.579,"endTime":50.183,"body":"change"},{"startTime":46.579,"endTime":50.183,"body":"the way the world works in every industry."},{"startTime":50.817,"endTime":53.153,"body":"So that is very appealing to me."},{"startTime":53.153,"endTime":55.488,"body":"So I was excited to come back"},{"startTime":53.153,"endTime":55.488,"body":"and be part of it."},{"startTime":55.488,"endTime":57.757,"body":"So you’re part of the finance side?"},{"startTime":57.757,"endTime":58.958,"body":"Yes, very good."},{"startTime":60.927,"endTime":62.929,"body":"So what kind of"},{"startTime":62.929,"endTime":67.867,"body":"trends do you see in your space,"},{"startTime":62.929,"endTime":67.867,"body":"in finance,"},{"startTime":68.368,"endTime":71.337,"body":"in mobility that you may not have seen"},{"startTime":68.368,"endTime":71.337,"body":"in the other industries"},{"startTime":71.337,"endTime":72.138,"body":"that you've worked in?"},{"startTime":72.138,"endTime":76.142,"body":"So maybe contrast that a little bit"},{"startTime":72.138,"endTime":76.142,"body":"or give a perspective."},{"startTime":76.276,"endTime":79.179,"body":"There's always asked, as an engineer,"},{"startTime":76.276,"endTime":79.179,"body":"what do you see in five years happening"},{"startTime":79.179,"endTime":82.549,"body":"with stimulation"},{"startTime":79.179,"endTime":82.549,"body":"and with batteries with engines"},{"startTime":82.615,"endTime":85.351,"body":"ADAS, autonomous."},{"startTime":85.819,"endTime":87.42,"body":"Never had again a finance person."},{"startTime":87.42,"endTime":89.456,"body":"So what do you see in five years?"},{"startTime":89.456,"endTime":92.859,"body":"What some of the what some of the trends"},{"startTime":89.456,"endTime":92.859,"body":"you've seen over the last five years"},{"startTime":93.927,"endTime":97.063,"body":"and maybe what do you see in the future?"},{"startTime":97.564,"endTime":98.965,"body":"Well, I mean, obviously"},{"startTime":98.965,"endTime":102.068,"body":"the last five years are odd, right,"},{"startTime":98.965,"endTime":102.068,"body":"because we've had COVID in there."},{"startTime":102.068,"endTime":104.137,"body":"So we've we've seen a shutdown."},{"startTime":104.437,"endTime":107.74,"body":"I'm a little concerned"},{"startTime":104.437,"endTime":107.74,"body":"about what I see coming."},{"startTime":107.74,"endTime":112.145,"body":"And then in the near term, just in general"},{"startTime":107.74,"endTime":112.145,"body":"from an economic standpoint."},{"startTime":112.846,"endTime":116.583,"body":"But those downturns in some ways"},{"startTime":116.583,"endTime":119.185,"body":"are opportunities for our business,"},{"startTime":119.953,"endTime":122.288,"body":"as is the Big Three."},{"startTime":122.522,"endTime":125.125,"body":"And other companies like those start to"},{"startTime":126.593,"endTime":128.394,"body":"constrain what they're doing."},{"startTime":128.394,"endTime":133.5,"body":"It opens more opportunity for businesses"},{"startTime":128.394,"endTime":133.5,"body":"like ours to hop in and help them."},{"startTime":133.8,"endTime":138.505,"body":"So sometimes the bad can be good"},{"startTime":133.8,"endTime":138.505,"body":"in our space."},{"startTime":140.106,"endTime":143.843,"body":"And restraints"},{"startTime":140.106,"endTime":143.843,"body":"also force innovation, right?"},{"startTime":144.043,"endTime":145.712,"body":"You have to be more efficient."},{"startTime":145.712,"endTime":147.68,"body":"You have to be better"},{"startTime":145.712,"endTime":147.68,"body":"at what you're doing."},{"startTime":147.68,"endTime":150.416,"body":"You have to provide new product,"},{"startTime":147.68,"endTime":150.416,"body":"new technology."},{"startTime":151.351,"endTime":154.754,"body":"The world is always hungry"},{"startTime":151.351,"endTime":154.754,"body":"for new technology at that point."},{"startTime":154.787,"endTime":159.959,"body":"So what we do, I think, is so special for"},{"startTime":160.26,"endTime":163.463,"body":"what's going on right now in the economy."},{"startTime":163.796,"endTime":166.699,"body":"So five years"},{"startTime":166.699,"endTime":169.035,"body":"from now,"},{"startTime":166.699,"endTime":169.035,"body":"I don't exactly know where will be."},{"startTime":169.869,"endTime":172.305,"body":"We'll probably be doing things"},{"startTime":169.869,"endTime":172.305,"body":"we haven't even thought of yet,"},{"startTime":172.305,"endTime":175.175,"body":"which is again,"},{"startTime":172.305,"endTime":175.175,"body":"what's so exciting about our industry."},{"startTime":175.241,"endTime":177.644,"body":"Will still need money."},{"startTime":175.241,"endTime":177.644,"body":"We will still need money."},{"startTime":177.644,"endTime":180.246,"body":"We still need you to give us, of course."},{"startTime":180.713,"endTime":181.614,"body":"Always money."},{"startTime":183.149,"endTime":184.817,"body":"You know, I think"},{"startTime":184.817,"endTime":188.354,"body":"working capital is a big thing"},{"startTime":184.817,"endTime":188.354,"body":"from a financial perspective,"},{"startTime":188.354,"endTime":191.724,"body":"so we always have to be careful"},{"startTime":191.724,"endTime":194.894,"body":"about how we're bringing money in."},{"startTime":195.094,"endTime":197.297,"body":"Cash from a cash perspective,"},{"startTime":197.931,"endTime":201.301,"body":"not being overly leveraged."},{"startTime":201.301,"endTime":203.069,"body":"We need to be financially strong."},{"startTime":203.069,"endTime":205.972,"body":"I think everything that just happened"},{"startTime":203.069,"endTime":205.972,"body":"with Silicon Valley Bank"},{"startTime":206.339,"endTime":210.476,"body":"has made a lot of customers and suppliers"},{"startTime":206.339,"endTime":210.476,"body":"very nervous."},{"startTime":211.044,"endTime":214.28,"body":"So we're going to have that to overcome."},{"startTime":214.28,"endTime":219.719,"body":"But it will remain important"},{"startTime":214.28,"endTime":219.719,"body":"that we are financially strong"},{"startTime":219.719,"endTime":224.691,"body":"so that our customers and our suppliers"},{"startTime":219.719,"endTime":224.691,"body":"rely on us and that's where I come in"},{"startTime":224.724,"endTime":225.992,"body":"making sure that we're there."},{"startTime":225.992,"endTime":227.827,"body":"We're doing those things."},{"startTime":227.827,"endTime":230.43,"body":"So let's say ten years ago"},{"startTime":227.827,"endTime":230.43,"body":"when you were with us"},{"startTime":230.43,"endTime":234.0,"body":"the first time, right before you left"},{"startTime":230.43,"endTime":234.0,"body":"and now come back, which we're glad for,"},{"startTime":236.102,"endTime":237.07,"body":"it was pretty much"},{"startTime":237.07,"endTime":241.407,"body":"maybe"},{"startTime":237.07,"endTime":241.407,"body":"one, maybe two is really pushing forward"},{"startTime":241.407,"endTime":244.21,"body":"the industry,"},{"startTime":241.407,"endTime":244.21,"body":"at least within evil, right at that point."},{"startTime":244.711,"endTime":249.349,"body":"Today, we have four or five,"},{"startTime":244.711,"endTime":249.349,"body":"what I would call megatrends."},{"startTime":249.349,"endTime":251.951,"body":"And then there's"},{"startTime":249.349,"endTime":251.951,"body":"maybe two major megatrends,"},{"startTime":251.951,"endTime":254.721,"body":"which is really electrification and ADAS."},{"startTime":256.055,"endTime":258.925,"body":"How much more challenging"},{"startTime":256.055,"endTime":258.925,"body":"is that for finance to now?"},{"startTime":258.958,"endTime":261.794,"body":"Again,"},{"startTime":258.958,"endTime":261.794,"body":"you mentioned development, innovation."},{"startTime":262.262,"endTime":265.465,"body":"Ten years ago, again, two or three areas"},{"startTime":262.262,"endTime":265.465,"body":"today."},{"startTime":266.032,"endTime":268.067,"body":"Double is not maybe triple those."},{"startTime":268.801,"endTime":271.971,"body":"What's the challenge on you two"},{"startTime":268.801,"endTime":271.971,"body":"to make the decisions"},{"startTime":271.971,"endTime":276.943,"body":"to bring your input in on deciding"},{"startTime":271.971,"endTime":276.943,"body":"where do we put our precious dollars?"},{"startTime":277.677,"endTime":280.313,"body":"Well, I don't understand"},{"startTime":277.677,"endTime":280.313,"body":"half of what you guys say."},{"startTime":280.446,"endTime":282.715,"body":"So I have that homework."},{"startTime":283.916,"endTime":286.486,"body":"We have a lot of acronyms and AVL and so."},{"startTime":286.786,"endTime":287.787,"body":"The industry has a lot of."},{"startTime":287.787,"endTime":289.622,"body":"The industry has alot of acronyms."},{"startTime":289.622,"endTime":293.66,"body":"And so, you know, coming back"},{"startTime":289.622,"endTime":293.66,"body":"fresh, I, I have a big hill to climb"},{"startTime":293.66,"endTime":295.295,"body":"to understand everything that's going on."},{"startTime":295.295,"endTime":300.266,"body":"But at the end of the day,"},{"startTime":295.295,"endTime":300.266,"body":"my job, in my view, is to help"},{"startTime":300.633,"endTime":303.569,"body":"remove the speed bumps,"},{"startTime":300.633,"endTime":303.569,"body":"remove the obstacles."},{"startTime":304.304,"endTime":306.572,"body":"I have to be able to rely on"},{"startTime":306.572,"endTime":310.143,"body":"you and our vice president of engineering"},{"startTime":310.143,"endTime":313.613,"body":"to tell me and our CTO to say,"},{"startTime":310.143,"endTime":313.613,"body":"this is the direction we need to go."},{"startTime":313.613,"endTime":316.449,"body":"This is what the industry is doing,"},{"startTime":313.613,"endTime":316.449,"body":"this is why it's important."},{"startTime":316.716,"endTime":319.018,"body":"And then I need to help"},{"startTime":316.716,"endTime":319.018,"body":"find a way to make that happen,"},{"startTime":319.619,"endTime":322.188,"body":"hopefully with as little capital"},{"startTime":319.619,"endTime":322.188,"body":"investment as possible."},{"startTime":323.256,"endTime":324.157,"body":"Sure."},{"startTime":324.39,"endTime":326.192,"body":"Always. Always."},{"startTime":326.492,"endTime":329.529,"body":"So that sort of ties into my next question"},{"startTime":326.492,"endTime":329.529,"body":"that was kind of wondered,"},{"startTime":329.529,"endTime":330.73,"body":"I want to hear your perspective."},{"startTime":330.73,"endTime":335.201,"body":"How does finance and mobility technology"},{"startTime":330.73,"endTime":335.201,"body":"mesh together?"},{"startTime":336.402,"endTime":340.34,"body":"Well, clearly, we need financing,"},{"startTime":336.402,"endTime":340.34,"body":"trying to develop new technologies."},{"startTime":340.34,"endTime":343.543,"body":"Then we use that technology"},{"startTime":340.34,"endTime":343.543,"body":"that we develop"},{"startTime":344.11,"endTime":348.114,"body":"to then, you know, license"},{"startTime":344.11,"endTime":348.114,"body":"or sell or reuse in development"},{"startTime":348.114,"endTime":351.851,"body":"for products that then brings money"},{"startTime":348.114,"endTime":351.851,"body":"and that sort of closes the circle."},{"startTime":351.851,"endTime":353.82,"body":"But how does it mesh?"},{"startTime":353.82,"endTime":355.321,"body":"How do people mesh?"},{"startTime":355.321,"endTime":359.258,"body":"Is it now we have engineers on one side"},{"startTime":355.321,"endTime":359.258,"body":"and you have the finance"},{"startTime":359.258,"endTime":363.062,"body":"guys on the other side, and that's the big"},{"startTime":359.258,"endTime":363.062,"body":"divide or no, that work really well."},{"startTime":363.262,"endTime":364.43,"body":"How do you see it?"},{"startTime":364.43,"endTime":367.333,"body":"At our company,"},{"startTime":364.43,"endTime":367.333,"body":"they work very well together."},{"startTime":367.8,"endTime":369.936,"body":"I've been very fortunate since I came back"},{"startTime":369.936,"endTime":371.838,"body":"because I was not in this position before."},{"startTime":371.838,"endTime":374.04,"body":"So my perspective was very different."},{"startTime":375.641,"endTime":376.075,"body":"Not that"},{"startTime":376.075,"endTime":379.412,"body":"it didn't exist, but"},{"startTime":376.075,"endTime":379.412,"body":"I maybe did not know that it existed. But"},{"startTime":380.413,"endTime":384.217,"body":"I work hand in hand"},{"startTime":380.413,"endTime":384.217,"body":"with our engineering department,"},{"startTime":385.718,"endTime":389.155,"body":"the Vice President of Engineering, and I"},{"startTime":385.718,"endTime":389.155,"body":"probably talk at least three times a day."},{"startTime":389.789,"endTime":392.959,"body":"So we're"},{"startTime":389.789,"endTime":392.959,"body":"always collaborating on everything"},{"startTime":393.025,"endTime":397.096,"body":"from whether we're increasing headcount"},{"startTime":393.025,"endTime":397.096,"body":"and where that makes sense"},{"startTime":397.096,"endTime":400.233,"body":"and why it makes sense"},{"startTime":397.096,"endTime":400.233,"body":"and how I'm going to help him"},{"startTime":400.7,"endTime":403.403,"body":"be able to do what he needs to do."},{"startTime":403.736,"endTime":406.406,"body":"We usually don't go down a path"},{"startTime":406.406,"endTime":410.443,"body":"without that, and then that ties in"},{"startTime":406.406,"endTime":410.443,"body":"to our project management too."},{"startTime":410.443,"endTime":411.911,"body":"Because we're a project based business,"},{"startTime":411.911,"endTime":416.349,"body":"we have more than 200 projects"},{"startTime":411.911,"endTime":416.349,"body":"going on at any given moment at MTI."},{"startTime":416.382,"endTime":422.088,"body":"So it's, you know,"},{"startTime":416.382,"endTime":422.088,"body":"we don't sell widgets, we sell projects."},{"startTime":422.889,"endTime":426.692,"body":"So the management of our projects,"},{"startTime":422.889,"endTime":426.692,"body":"making sure that we're executing"},{"startTime":426.692,"endTime":430.163,"body":"those projects is where program management"},{"startTime":426.692,"endTime":430.163,"body":"and engineering partner"},{"startTime":430.163,"endTime":431.697,"body":"and I'm always involved in those."},{"startTime":431.697,"endTime":435.668,"body":"We make sure that the three of us"},{"startTime":431.697,"endTime":435.668,"body":"are aligned on what's best"},{"startTime":435.668,"endTime":438.938,"body":"from a financial perspective,"},{"startTime":435.668,"endTime":438.938,"body":"what's best from a project perspective"},{"startTime":439.472,"endTime":442.375,"body":"and what's best for our teams"},{"startTime":439.472,"endTime":442.375,"body":"before we make moves on things."},{"startTime":442.608,"endTime":445.711,"body":"And that I think has been hugely helpful."},{"startTime":446.345,"endTime":451.918,"body":"The time that we invest on making sure"},{"startTime":446.345,"endTime":451.918,"body":"we're aligned pays off in the long run"},{"startTime":451.918,"endTime":455.254,"body":"because instead of later"},{"startTime":451.918,"endTime":455.254,"body":"fighting each other over"},{"startTime":455.288,"endTime":458.758,"body":"why this decision was made"},{"startTime":455.288,"endTime":458.758,"body":"or why things are happening that way,"},{"startTime":458.758,"endTime":461.561,"body":"we're really working"},{"startTime":458.758,"endTime":461.561,"body":"very cohesively as a team,"},{"startTime":461.961,"endTime":464.73,"body":"so they enable me"},{"startTime":465.698,"endTime":467.967,"body":"to, by giving me the information,"},{"startTime":467.967,"endTime":471.237,"body":"by talking to me before things happen,"},{"startTime":467.967,"endTime":471.237,"body":"rather than after."},{"startTime":472.104,"endTime":475.942,"body":"Not begging for forgiveness,"},{"startTime":472.104,"endTime":475.942,"body":"but actually coming and working,"},{"startTime":475.942,"endTime":479.545,"body":"collaborating collaboratively rather"},{"startTime":475.942,"endTime":479.545,"body":"than even asking for permission."},{"startTime":479.545,"endTime":481.247,"body":"It's this is the goal."},{"startTime":481.247,"endTime":482.949,"body":"This is what we're trying to do."},{"startTime":482.949,"endTime":485.051,"body":"How are the three of us"},{"startTime":482.949,"endTime":485.051,"body":"going to make it happen?"},{"startTime":486.452,"endTime":487.52,"body":"And then we run it all by you."},{"startTime":487.52,"endTime":490.556,"body":"So it sounds like we're doing something"},{"startTime":487.52,"endTime":490.556,"body":"right."},{"startTime":490.59,"endTime":491.324,"body":"It's good we get on."},{"startTime":491.324,"endTime":494.76,"body":"The same page and then we make sure"},{"startTime":491.324,"endTime":494.76,"body":"that we're going in the direction"},{"startTime":495.094,"endTime":495.728,"body":"you want to go."},{"startTime":495.728,"endTime":500.433,"body":"But it's certainly made things"},{"startTime":495.728,"endTime":500.433,"body":"so much easier and so much more enjoyable"},{"startTime":500.433,"endTime":502.001,"body":"that we're all working"},{"startTime":500.433,"endTime":502.001,"body":"so closely together."},{"startTime":502.001,"endTime":504.504,"body":"One team, one team, one Direction,"},{"startTime":502.001,"endTime":504.504,"body":"that's for sure."},{"startTime":504.737,"endTime":509.475,"body":"So you're talking obviously in finance"},{"startTime":504.737,"endTime":509.475,"body":"and in the technology side,"},{"startTime":509.475,"endTime":512.712,"body":"I was asked the guests or many times"},{"startTime":509.475,"endTime":512.712,"body":"I ask them,"},{"startTime":512.812,"endTime":515.214,"body":"how do you educate yourself"},{"startTime":512.812,"endTime":515.214,"body":"about new trends?"},{"startTime":515.214,"endTime":516.682,"body":"How do you keep up to date?"},{"startTime":516.682,"endTime":518.751,"body":"I mean, we're not constantly"},{"startTime":516.682,"endTime":518.751,"body":"going back to school,"},{"startTime":519.051,"endTime":521.32,"body":"but we all kind of"},{"startTime":519.051,"endTime":521.32,"body":"have our own ways of how we do it."},{"startTime":521.32,"endTime":525.958,"body":"You know, even we were watching"},{"startTime":521.32,"endTime":525.958,"body":"our podcasts or we're reading books,"},{"startTime":526.325,"endTime":529.862,"body":"or we may take an online"},{"startTime":526.325,"endTime":529.862,"body":"course or whatever."},{"startTime":530.329,"endTime":532.231,"body":"How do you do that on the finance side?"},{"startTime":532.231,"endTime":534.901,"body":"And are you also doing something"},{"startTime":532.231,"endTime":534.901,"body":"on the technology side?"},{"startTime":534.901,"endTime":537.436,"body":"Because here's"},{"startTime":534.901,"endTime":537.436,"body":"another three letter acronym."},{"startTime":537.436,"endTime":539.672,"body":"I have no idea what it is,"},{"startTime":537.436,"endTime":539.672,"body":"but they constantly say it."},{"startTime":540.039,"endTime":543.342,"body":"I want to be smarter about it"},{"startTime":540.039,"endTime":543.342,"body":"because I need to feel like"},{"startTime":543.342,"endTime":546.512,"body":"I need to better understand"},{"startTime":543.342,"endTime":546.512,"body":"what they're asking me for money"},{"startTime":546.512,"endTime":549.682,"body":"for so that I actually know"},{"startTime":546.512,"endTime":549.682,"body":"what it's going to and all that."},{"startTime":549.682,"endTime":551.35,"body":"So tell me a little bit about that."},{"startTime":551.35,"endTime":553.986,"body":"So I should do more of that, admittedly."},{"startTime":553.986,"endTime":557.456,"body":"But when things come up,"},{"startTime":553.986,"endTime":557.456,"body":"when we have issues with customers"},{"startTime":557.456,"endTime":561.26,"body":"that come up in the media,"},{"startTime":557.456,"endTime":561.26,"body":"I will go and do research."},{"startTime":561.861,"endTime":564.564,"body":"When I hear an acronym that I don't know,"},{"startTime":564.597,"endTime":567.633,"body":"I Googled my best friend"},{"startTime":564.597,"endTime":567.633,"body":"when those things happen."},{"startTime":568.2,"endTime":570.836,"body":"And again, because I have that"},{"startTime":568.2,"endTime":570.836,"body":"collaborative relationship,"},{"startTime":570.836,"endTime":576.242,"body":"I can also ask a lot of questions"},{"startTime":570.836,"endTime":576.242,"body":"from the people around me, which is great."},{"startTime":577.076,"endTime":579.812,"body":"And then from my perspective"},{"startTime":577.076,"endTime":579.812,"body":"on our finance side,"},{"startTime":581.414,"endTime":584.283,"body":"I have"},{"startTime":581.414,"endTime":584.283,"body":"to do 30 hours a year of continuing on."},{"startTime":584.283,"endTime":588.321,"body":"So I get to do lots of online courses"},{"startTime":584.283,"endTime":588.321,"body":"and lots of research on things going on."},{"startTime":588.321,"endTime":593.492,"body":"So know when when we start really buckling"},{"startTime":588.321,"endTime":593.492,"body":"down our focus on working capital."},{"startTime":593.492,"endTime":596.596,"body":"I can go watch a couple working capital"},{"startTime":597.63,"endTime":601.434,"body":"classes that, you know,"},{"startTime":597.63,"endTime":601.434,"body":"I can pick little pieces out of and say,"},{"startTime":601.434,"endTime":604.437,"body":"okay, that's something easy"},{"startTime":601.434,"endTime":604.437,"body":"that I can do to help manage this."},{"startTime":604.704,"endTime":607.974,"body":"The other thing, even in my industry,"},{"startTime":604.704,"endTime":607.974,"body":"is just the constant"},{"startTime":609.709,"endTime":612.211,"body":"improvement of software."},{"startTime":612.211,"endTime":614.647,"body":"So tools,"},{"startTime":614.647,"endTime":618.351,"body":"I, of course live in Microsoft Excel"},{"startTime":614.647,"endTime":618.351,"body":"and that is a tool"},{"startTime":618.351,"endTime":622.188,"body":"that is ever changing, ever growing,"},{"startTime":618.351,"endTime":622.188,"body":"and you have to"},{"startTime":622.188,"endTime":625.291,"body":"stay up to date on those things"},{"startTime":622.188,"endTime":625.291,"body":"so that you can start being better."},{"startTime":625.291,"endTime":628.894,"body":"So I've spent a lot of time"},{"startTime":625.291,"endTime":628.894,"body":"in the last month"},{"startTime":628.894,"endTime":631.964,"body":"doing some deep diving on Power query,"},{"startTime":631.964,"endTime":635.134,"body":"which is going to change my entire world,"},{"startTime":631.964,"endTime":635.134,"body":"I'm sure."},{"startTime":635.134,"endTime":635.935,"body":"Sure."},{"startTime":636.002,"endTime":638.871,"body":"And and that's a byproduct of"},{"startTime":636.002,"endTime":638.871,"body":"maybe I'll rolling out some Power"},{"startTime":638.871,"endTime":643.142,"body":"BI information, which was something"},{"startTime":638.871,"endTime":643.142,"body":"I wasn't familiar with."},{"startTime":643.142,"endTime":649.382,"body":"So Power BI more database"},{"startTime":643.142,"endTime":649.382,"body":"driven power query, more Excel driven."},{"startTime":650.816,"endTime":652.952,"body":"Now I get to bore you with things"},{"startTime":650.816,"endTime":652.952,"body":"you don't care about."},{"startTime":652.952,"endTime":655.454,"body":"Nobody wants to. Talk about it,"},{"startTime":655.755,"endTime":659.925,"body":"but it's all about really kind of built"},{"startTime":655.755,"endTime":659.925,"body":"in automation of things that you're doing"},{"startTime":659.925,"endTime":660.459,"body":"and being able"},{"startTime":660.459,"endTime":664.096,"body":"to pull from large database"},{"startTime":660.459,"endTime":664.096,"body":"pools down to just the data that you want."},{"startTime":664.397,"endTime":667.566,"body":"And so for my department,"},{"startTime":664.397,"endTime":667.566,"body":"if we can get to a space"},{"startTime":667.566,"endTime":670.803,"body":"where we are doing something once"},{"startTime":671.17,"endTime":676.142,"body":"and basically creating macros"},{"startTime":671.17,"endTime":676.142,"body":"in the system to do it repetitive,"},{"startTime":676.509,"endTime":681.58,"body":"then the things that only take an hour"},{"startTime":676.509,"endTime":681.58,"body":"or a week become only 5 minutes a week,"},{"startTime":681.58,"endTime":683.516,"body":"and then we can gain those efficiencies"},{"startTime":683.516,"endTime":685.584,"body":"and spend our time doing things"},{"startTime":683.516,"endTime":685.584,"body":"that are more valuable."},{"startTime":685.851,"endTime":687.553,"body":"Yeah,"},{"startTime":685.851,"endTime":687.553,"body":"I think you just nerded out a little."},{"startTime":687.553,"endTime":690.423,"body":"I do. Sorry. This is awesome."},{"startTime":692.258,"endTime":694.66,"body":"So maybe next question then is"},{"startTime":694.66,"endTime":698.364,"body":"and not not ALV specific,"},{"startTime":694.66,"endTime":698.364,"body":"but industry specific"},{"startTime":698.497,"endTime":702.168,"body":"as it relates to you,"},{"startTime":698.497,"endTime":702.168,"body":"if there could be one or two things"},{"startTime":702.168,"endTime":706.772,"body":"that you wish you could change things"},{"startTime":702.168,"endTime":706.772,"body":"as foreign exchange"},{"startTime":706.772,"endTime":709.341,"body":"stable for six months"},{"startTime":706.772,"endTime":709.341,"body":"instead of up and down"},{"startTime":710.81,"endTime":713.312,"body":"customers paying on time,"},{"startTime":714.48,"endTime":716.515,"body":"the same terms and conditions."},{"startTime":717.717,"endTime":720.386,"body":"I don't know from a finance side"},{"startTime":717.717,"endTime":720.386,"body":"what what would it be?"},{"startTime":720.386,"endTime":723.489,"body":"What would some of these be again,"},{"startTime":720.386,"endTime":723.489,"body":"independent of of of maybe I'll just"},{"startTime":723.489,"endTime":726.525,"body":"generally in your profession. So"},{"startTime":726.525,"endTime":731.13,"body":"first and foremost,"},{"startTime":726.525,"endTime":731.13,"body":"I think one big thing that's difficult is"},{"startTime":731.363,"endTime":734.4,"body":"we don't really have"},{"startTime":736.368,"endTime":737.97,"body":"we don't really have"},{"startTime":737.97,"endTime":741.974,"body":"like a credit report"},{"startTime":737.97,"endTime":741.974,"body":"for like you do for an individual."},{"startTime":741.974,"endTime":742.308,"body":"Right."},{"startTime":742.308,"endTime":747.379,"body":"So and there's Dun \u0026 Bradstreet"},{"startTime":742.308,"endTime":747.379,"body":"is, is a big resource, which is great"},{"startTime":748.247,"endTime":751.317,"body":"but it's not the same as you know"},{"startTime":751.35,"endTime":754.854,"body":"I run a credit report on you you can't"},{"startTime":751.35,"endTime":754.854,"body":"hide from your social Security number."},{"startTime":754.854,"endTime":755.421,"body":"Right?"},{"startTime":755.421,"endTime":758.624,"body":"We don't really have that in the industry."},{"startTime":759.658,"endTime":762.128,"body":"So that makes"},{"startTime":762.128,"endTime":765.664,"body":"it hard in these times"},{"startTime":762.128,"endTime":765.664,"body":"because things are changing fast."},{"startTime":765.931,"endTime":769.201,"body":"People go from being completely fine"},{"startTime":765.931,"endTime":769.201,"body":"to not being fine."},{"startTime":769.201,"endTime":774.206,"body":"And unless it's reported through D"},{"startTime":769.201,"endTime":774.206,"body":"and B, you don't necessarily see it."},{"startTime":774.206,"endTime":778.778,"body":"So it makes it challenging,"},{"startTime":774.206,"endTime":778.778,"body":"especially in our industry,"},{"startTime":778.778,"endTime":782.281,"body":"where you're trying to support startups,"},{"startTime":782.281,"endTime":786.752,"body":"you're"},{"startTime":782.281,"endTime":786.752,"body":"trying to move with slightly riskier,"},{"startTime":786.752,"endTime":790.489,"body":"innovative companies, which is something"},{"startTime":786.752,"endTime":790.489,"body":"we absolutely need to do,"},{"startTime":790.489,"endTime":792.992,"body":"but at the same time"},{"startTime":790.489,"endTime":792.992,"body":"we need to protect against risk."},{"startTime":792.992,"endTime":797.596,"body":"So it's really important"},{"startTime":792.992,"endTime":797.596,"body":"that we're working together from finance"},{"startTime":797.596,"endTime":801.534,"body":"to the sales side to make sure that we're"},{"startTime":797.596,"endTime":801.534,"body":"using our contracts to protect us"},{"startTime":801.767,"endTime":804.904,"body":"so that we can do some things"},{"startTime":801.767,"endTime":804.904,"body":"that are a little bit riskier"},{"startTime":805.738,"endTime":809.842,"body":"without risking our financial stability."},{"startTime":809.842,"endTime":814.18,"body":"So to me,"},{"startTime":809.842,"endTime":814.18,"body":"that would probably be first and foremost."},{"startTime":814.713,"endTime":819.919,"body":"Absolutely Not necessarily AVL specific,"},{"startTime":814.713,"endTime":819.919,"body":"but people that work on a global level,"},{"startTime":819.919,"endTime":825.024,"body":"the exchange rate has been a huge factor"},{"startTime":819.919,"endTime":825.024,"body":"in the last year, year and a half."},{"startTime":826.091,"endTime":830.095,"body":"So certainly if I could wave a magic wand"},{"startTime":826.091,"endTime":830.095,"body":"and say it's going to be this rate"},{"startTime":830.095,"endTime":832.264,"body":"and that's where it's going to stay"},{"startTime":830.095,"endTime":832.264,"body":"and I'm going to know"},{"startTime":832.264,"endTime":835.1,"body":"what's going on with that,"},{"startTime":832.264,"endTime":835.1,"body":"that would be good."},{"startTime":836.335,"endTime":838.404,"body":"And right now, I think"},{"startTime":838.404,"endTime":841.14,"body":"banking feels a little unstable."},{"startTime":841.14,"endTime":845.044,"body":"I don't know that it is as unstable"},{"startTime":841.14,"endTime":845.044,"body":"as it feels like"},{"startTime":845.044,"endTime":848.147,"body":"right in this moment"},{"startTime":845.044,"endTime":848.147,"body":"because it's it's fresh,"},{"startTime":849.415,"endTime":851.35,"body":"but certainly a little more confidence"},{"startTime":851.35,"endTime":854.22,"body":"in that area would be nice to"},{"startTime":855.254,"endTime":857.89,"body":"you know, it is"},{"startTime":857.89,"endTime":862.161,"body":"our industry here is difficult payment"},{"startTime":857.89,"endTime":862.161,"body":"terms are difficult."},{"startTime":862.161,"endTime":866.265,"body":"So we in turn have to make payment terms"},{"startTime":862.161,"endTime":866.265,"body":"difficult for our suppliers."},{"startTime":867.132,"endTime":869.501,"body":"But I think industrywide, if we could"},{"startTime":869.768,"endTime":872.972,"body":"all sort of recognize that"},{"startTime":872.972,"endTime":877.042,"body":"we cannot take on all the risk"},{"startTime":872.972,"endTime":877.042,"body":"for some of the bigger guys and that,"},{"startTime":877.042,"endTime":877.309,"body":"you know,"},{"startTime":877.309,"endTime":878.577,"body":"we need to all make sure"},{"startTime":878.577,"endTime":881.013,"body":"that we're that we're covered"},{"startTime":878.577,"endTime":881.013,"body":"and that we're doing the right things."},{"startTime":881.881,"endTime":884.083,"body":"That would be great for us. Okay."},{"startTime":884.116,"endTime":886.252,"body":"And great for our industry. Sure."},{"startTime":886.252,"endTime":889.755,"body":"The final question"},{"startTime":886.252,"endTime":889.755,"body":"challenging you a little bit on that."},{"startTime":890.823,"endTime":893.359,"body":"Why should"},{"startTime":890.823,"endTime":893.359,"body":"someone choose finance over engineering?"},{"startTime":893.359,"endTime":895.494,"body":"And you can't say"},{"startTime":893.359,"endTime":895.494,"body":"they should go into engineering?"},{"startTime":895.494,"endTime":897.062,"body":"That's not going to count."},{"startTime":897.062,"endTime":901.634,"body":"I know we're a heavy technology based"},{"startTime":897.062,"endTime":901.634,"body":"company, but finance is as important."},{"startTime":902.701,"endTime":904.203,"body":"Well, I guess,"},{"startTime":904.27,"endTime":907.239,"body":"you know, there's the old saying"},{"startTime":904.27,"endTime":907.239,"body":"that you need chiefs and you need Indians"},{"startTime":907.239,"endTime":909.508,"body":"and you can't have more of one"},{"startTime":907.239,"endTime":909.508,"body":"than the other."},{"startTime":911.043,"endTime":912.378,"body":"It's the same."},{"startTime":912.378,"endTime":914.613,"body":"Some some people are."},{"startTime":914.613,"endTime":917.383,"body":"They think that way"},{"startTime":917.383,"endTime":918.517,"body":"and are"},{"startTime":919.084,"endTime":921.253,"body":"able to do the engineering side of it."},{"startTime":921.253,"endTime":922.888,"body":"For me,"},{"startTime":923.355,"endTime":926.025,"body":"the numbers are where it's out for me,"},{"startTime":926.025,"endTime":928.027,"body":"that's where my head goes."},{"startTime":929.428,"endTime":930.729,"body":"And the strategy behind that."},{"startTime":930.729,"endTime":932.731,"body":"So for me,"},{"startTime":932.932,"endTime":935.467,"body":"finance has been a great way to enable"},{"startTime":935.467,"endTime":938.704,"body":"an industry that I think is amazing,"},{"startTime":939.305,"endTime":942.174,"body":"but that I'm not necessarily"},{"startTime":939.305,"endTime":942.174,"body":"skilled to be part of. So"},{"startTime":943.442,"endTime":944.209,"body":"I came from"},{"startTime":944.209,"endTime":947.646,"body":"a background of project accounting."},{"startTime":947.98,"endTime":951.583,"body":"So this industry ended up being perfect"},{"startTime":947.98,"endTime":951.583,"body":"for me."},{"startTime":953.485,"endTime":954.687,"body":"Project accounting becomes"},{"startTime":954.687,"endTime":957.89,"body":"a little niche in that"},{"startTime":954.687,"endTime":957.89,"body":"not everyone knows how to do it."},{"startTime":957.89,"endTime":960.526,"body":"Not every company needs it."},{"startTime":960.592,"endTime":961.927,"body":"We're not manufacturing."},{"startTime":961.927,"endTime":963.062,"body":"That's not what we do."},{"startTime":963.062,"endTime":966.231,"body":"It's a different mindset"},{"startTime":963.062,"endTime":966.231,"body":"to address project accounting."},{"startTime":966.498,"endTime":970.602,"body":"So for me,"},{"startTime":966.498,"endTime":970.602,"body":"this was a great industry to be part of."},{"startTime":970.602,"endTime":975.975,"body":"Even though we support companies that do"},{"startTime":970.602,"endTime":975.975,"body":"manufacture, that's not what we do here."},{"startTime":976.208,"endTime":980.646,"body":"So this industry has allowed me to use"},{"startTime":976.208,"endTime":980.646,"body":"my background in project accounting,"},{"startTime":981.347,"endTime":983.716,"body":"which I've always enjoyed."},{"startTime":983.716,"endTime":985.351,"body":"We do custom projects."},{"startTime":985.351,"endTime":986.852,"body":"So again,"},{"startTime":987.353,"endTime":990.856,"body":"we're not a job shop where you're getting"},{"startTime":987.353,"endTime":990.856,"body":"the same thing over and over again."},{"startTime":990.856,"endTime":992.291,"body":"Everything's different."},{"startTime":992.291,"endTime":995.461,"body":"There's always new challenges,"},{"startTime":992.291,"endTime":995.461,"body":"there's always new teams to work"},{"startTime":995.461,"endTime":998.33,"body":"with, there's always new technologies,"},{"startTime":995.461,"endTime":998.33,"body":"there's always a new acronym."},{"startTime":998.63,"endTime":1000.499,"body":"So there's always something new to do."},{"startTime":1000.499,"endTime":1004.436,"body":"So, you know,"},{"startTime":1000.499,"endTime":1004.436,"body":"I think if if you lean towards"},{"startTime":1005.404,"endTime":1008.24,"body":"numbers, then maybe finance makes sense."},{"startTime":1008.307,"endTime":1012.711,"body":"If you lean towards the strategy"},{"startTime":1008.307,"endTime":1012.711,"body":"of helping other people do what they know"},{"startTime":1012.711,"endTime":1018.317,"body":"how to do best, and you are able"},{"startTime":1012.711,"endTime":1018.317,"body":"to stay in the lane of trying to help them"},{"startTime":1018.317,"endTime":1021.82,"body":"and be happy about their successes,"},{"startTime":1018.317,"endTime":1021.82,"body":"then this could be a perfect field. Go."},{"startTime":1022.087,"endTime":1024.256,"body":"I got one more question"},{"startTime":1022.087,"endTime":1024.256,"body":"now that you mentioned that."},{"startTime":1024.256,"endTime":1026.759,"body":"So sorry, this wasn't a well,"},{"startTime":1024.256,"endTime":1026.759,"body":"this is not going to be the last."},{"startTime":1028.027,"endTime":1029.228,"body":"So an engineer, right."},{"startTime":1029.228,"endTime":1035.3,"body":"Oftentimes gets very much satisfaction"},{"startTime":1029.228,"endTime":1035.3,"body":"and joy out of being able to say,"},{"startTime":1035.3,"endTime":1036.268,"body":"I have this vision"},{"startTime":1036.268,"endTime":1040.272,"body":"of making this into this"},{"startTime":1036.268,"endTime":1040.272,"body":"or making this turn or making this move,"},{"startTime":1040.572,"endTime":1043.909,"body":"make it light"},{"startTime":1040.572,"endTime":1043.909,"body":"or fast or cheap or whatever."},{"startTime":1043.909,"endTime":1045.31,"body":"What is it on the finance side?"},{"startTime":1045.31,"endTime":1047.746,"body":"At the end of the day,"},{"startTime":1045.31,"endTime":1047.746,"body":"it's like we made money here."},{"startTime":1047.746,"endTime":1049.982,"body":"This is kind of"},{"startTime":1047.746,"endTime":1049.982,"body":"what I get. The thing is it"},{"startTime":1051.35,"endTime":1054.286,"body":"you being able to enable the engineers"},{"startTime":1054.286,"endTime":1058.023,"body":"to do so more as a"},{"startTime":1054.286,"endTime":1058.023,"body":"as a supporting role versus the lead role?"},{"startTime":1058.023,"endTime":1059.491,"body":"What is it for you?"},{"startTime":1059.491,"endTime":1060.726,"body":"That is exactly it."},{"startTime":1060.726,"endTime":1063.862,"body":"So when you say, you know,"},{"startTime":1060.726,"endTime":1063.862,"body":"I wanted to make this"},{"startTime":1063.862,"endTime":1066.999,"body":"and I made this,"},{"startTime":1063.862,"endTime":1066.999,"body":"I think he got to make that."},{"startTime":1067.566,"endTime":1068.6,"body":"Yes. So, you know."},{"startTime":1068.6,"endTime":1071.236,"body":"That's that's completely becuase of me,"},{"startTime":1068.6,"endTime":1071.236,"body":"I know"},{"startTime":1072.471,"endTime":1073.539,"body":"it's exactly that."},{"startTime":1073.539,"endTime":1074.44,"body":"You know,"},{"startTime":1075.908,"endTime":1078.21,"body":"I, I can't do that."},{"startTime":1078.21,"endTime":1081.413,"body":"I don't have the skill set"},{"startTime":1078.21,"endTime":1081.413,"body":"to do that thing."},{"startTime":1081.68,"endTime":1085.317,"body":"But I get joy out of knowing that I help"},{"startTime":1081.68,"endTime":1085.317,"body":"someone get to"},{"startTime":1085.317,"endTime":1089.154,"body":"where they were trying to get to that,"},{"startTime":1085.317,"endTime":1089.154,"body":"that I was given"},{"startTime":1090.189,"endTime":1092.524,"body":"the the authority and the room"},{"startTime":1092.858,"endTime":1096.929,"body":"to make my decisions that then helped them"},{"startTime":1092.858,"endTime":1096.929,"body":"do what they were trying to deliver."},{"startTime":1097.196,"endTime":1101.667,"body":"And I think we do a good job here"},{"startTime":1097.196,"endTime":1101.667,"body":"of feeling like a team."},{"startTime":1101.667,"endTime":1105.904,"body":"So we all sort of succeed together"},{"startTime":1101.667,"endTime":1105.904,"body":"and we root each other on"},{"startTime":1105.904,"endTime":1109.141,"body":"and it is I think there's a"},{"startTime":1110.342,"endTime":1112.277,"body":"I've seen the mentality in"},{"startTime":1112.277,"endTime":1116.115,"body":"accounting that we're the no guy."},{"startTime":1116.181,"endTime":1119.785,"body":"We just say no and the default is no."},{"startTime":1120.052,"endTime":1122.821,"body":"And I have tried to approach this job"},{"startTime":1120.052,"endTime":1122.821,"body":"in an opposite"},{"startTime":1123.722,"endTime":1127.092,"body":"perspective, which does not mean"},{"startTime":1123.722,"endTime":1127.092,"body":"that the answer's always yes."},{"startTime":1127.092,"endTime":1129.928,"body":"But let's figure out"},{"startTime":1127.092,"endTime":1129.928,"body":"if we can get to a yes,"},{"startTime":1130.229,"endTime":1133.265,"body":"how we can get to a yes"},{"startTime":1130.229,"endTime":1133.265,"body":"when we can get to a yes,"},{"startTime":1133.265,"endTime":1135.968,"body":"because it might not be now,"},{"startTime":1133.265,"endTime":1135.968,"body":"but it might be someday."},{"startTime":1135.968,"endTime":1139.571,"body":"But what what are the things"},{"startTime":1135.968,"endTime":1139.571,"body":"that we need to do to get there?"},{"startTime":1140.172,"endTime":1143.442,"body":"So for me, it's been exciting to be able"},{"startTime":1143.442,"endTime":1146.211,"body":"to approach the role from more of a"},{"startTime":1147.045,"endTime":1151.25,"body":"can do attitude than a"},{"startTime":1147.045,"endTime":1151.25,"body":"will not do approach."},{"startTime":1151.25,"endTime":1154.086,"body":"And it seems to be working. Yes."},{"startTime":1154.92,"endTime":1155.587,"body":"Very much."},{"startTime":1155.587,"endTime":1156.255,"body":"Thank you."},{"startTime":1156.255,"endTime":1160.459,"body":"Thanks, Jen, for your time"},{"startTime":1156.255,"endTime":1160.459,"body":"and thanks for tuning in imaginable."},{"startTime":1161.426,"endTime":1163.829,"body":"Thanks for listening to Reimagine"},{"startTime":1161.426,"endTime":1163.829,"body":"Mobility Podcast."},{"startTime":1163.862,"endTime":1166.498,"body":"If you like this episode,"},{"startTime":1163.862,"endTime":1166.498,"body":"please subscribe and tell a friend."}]}