THE BUSINESS CHIEF INTERVIEW
I BELIEVE THERE IS NO ONE WAY TO BECOME A CEO
making the business profitable . The company has been recognised as a Certified Great Place To Work in six locations . Plus , two new factories have been built and , Schaeffler recently acquired Indian B2B e-commerce platform Koovers .
In that time , the automotive industry has also undergone a transformation . Schaeffler increasingly finds itself producing powertrains for electric vehicles , exploring hydrogen technology , leveraging Industry 4.0 , and developing the digital marketplace .
Sustainability is clearly central to the business , including a pledge to reach net zero by 2040 . Many projects are underway to procure clean energy , develop green products and to use green materials .
“ We also supply products in our industrial space for wind applications and hydrogen stacks ,” says Shepard . “ Once a year , we have a Green Makes A Difference day where we stop all operations and discuss ideas to improve our environment .”
Of course , there are challenges , and any CEO worth their salt has to overcome those to succeed . Shepard describes his own path to the top job as non-linear , working his way up through the ranks – a route that he believes makes him better equipped to understand and deal with these challenges .
“ I believe there is no one way to become a CEO , as it depends on experience , your network , and sometimes being in the right place at the right time ,” he says .
26 December 2023