1 00:00:00,760 --> 00:00:04,160 Speaker 1: But my absolutely favorite part, and this says a lot 2 00:00:04,200 --> 00:00:08,560 Speaker 1: about me, is when you're sitting at that light and 3 00:00:08,720 --> 00:00:15,120 Speaker 1: you push that pedal grade it is gone, like it 4 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:21,840 Speaker 1: is absolutely fair, and it's like that feeling is great. 5 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:24,160 Speaker 1: And then and then you get that like not only 6 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:26,800 Speaker 1: the vehicle's just gone, you're not waiting to accelerate, you 7 00:00:26,800 --> 00:00:33,040 Speaker 1: don't have to worry about it, but it's silent. It's quiet. Now, 8 00:00:33,040 --> 00:00:37,479 Speaker 1: why do I love that? Because I love music? Right, 9 00:00:37,800 --> 00:00:39,640 Speaker 1: Like I don't want to to turn out my music 10 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:42,360 Speaker 1: just because I'm on the highway. I'm Will Lucas and 11 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:45,479 Speaker 1: this is black tag green money tell them. Agruti is 12 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: the chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at General Motors 13 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,159 Speaker 1: and it spent more than twenty year years to the company, 14 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: having started as an engineer. Today, she's focused on weaving 15 00:00:55,240 --> 00:00:58,320 Speaker 1: the EI into the very fabric of the company, working 16 00:00:58,320 --> 00:01:01,880 Speaker 1: in partnership with internal and external leaders to champion the 17 00:01:01,920 --> 00:01:06,040 Speaker 1: broad and diverse war force they have. On this episode, 18 00:01:06,040 --> 00:01:09,720 Speaker 1: recorded at two is afro Tech conference in Austin, Texas, 19 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:13,520 Speaker 1: tell Us speaks with Blacky's co founder and CEO Jeff 20 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: Nelson about corporate commitment to d e I Electric vehicles 21 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:19,920 Speaker 1: and why black people should care about the future. Ev 22 00:01:20,360 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: I'm really excited about this. We are talking about electric 23 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:28,720 Speaker 1: cars and why black people should care and and and 24 00:01:29,040 --> 00:01:32,400 Speaker 1: uh teba, it's a pleasure to have you here. How 25 00:01:32,440 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 1: are you? I'm great? I am. I can't even say 26 00:01:35,240 --> 00:01:36,880 Speaker 1: how happy I am to be here with all of 27 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: you in Austin, but more specifically here atro tech. That 28 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:44,720 Speaker 1: that's wonderful and so I want to dive right into it. 29 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:50,920 Speaker 1: So you are the chiefs Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer 30 00:01:51,320 --> 00:01:55,000 Speaker 1: at General Motors. Okay, now that's my day job. That's 31 00:01:55,040 --> 00:01:58,240 Speaker 1: your day job. Right. GM is a car company, So 32 00:01:58,280 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: I'm curious. We're gonna talk about why black people should 33 00:02:02,080 --> 00:02:04,160 Speaker 1: care about electric vehicles, but first let's talk about why 34 00:02:04,160 --> 00:02:07,800 Speaker 1: GM cares about diversity, right? Why is that important to 35 00:02:07,880 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: a car company like GM? Yeah, it's critically important to 36 00:02:11,240 --> 00:02:15,280 Speaker 1: GM for a whole lot of reasons, but I'll say, 37 00:02:15,320 --> 00:02:19,640 Speaker 1: you know, most fundamentally, because we care about the future. 38 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:25,000 Speaker 1: We care about the future, and there is no real 39 00:02:25,639 --> 00:02:30,360 Speaker 1: substantial future that engages the public if it doesn't include 40 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:35,800 Speaker 1: diverse groups. And and we recognize that, not just because 41 00:02:35,840 --> 00:02:38,880 Speaker 1: we're trying to sell to customers. But we're working to 42 00:02:38,919 --> 00:02:41,760 Speaker 1: create a future that's more sustainable, a future where people 43 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:45,760 Speaker 1: have more access to the things that they need. And 44 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:47,799 Speaker 1: in order for us to do that well, we need 45 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,359 Speaker 1: to have diverse team members that can help us think 46 00:02:50,360 --> 00:02:54,640 Speaker 1: about it. We need to be engaged in communities that 47 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,680 Speaker 1: are extremely diverse so they can help us think about 48 00:02:57,720 --> 00:02:59,280 Speaker 1: how to do this well. You know, how do we 49 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,839 Speaker 1: create a more animal future where people matter and we're 50 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: helping them have better outcomes? And so that's that's what 51 00:03:05,720 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: we care about. That's so important, and I think we 52 00:03:07,680 --> 00:03:10,480 Speaker 1: should just give GM around of applause for taking that stance, 53 00:03:10,840 --> 00:03:14,600 Speaker 1: because not enough companies may talk about it, but they 54 00:03:14,600 --> 00:03:17,360 Speaker 1: don't necessarily put the action into it. And GM has 55 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:21,080 Speaker 1: shown their commitment by hiring you bringing you here to 56 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:25,040 Speaker 1: afro Tech, So we're excited about that. And you know, 57 00:03:25,080 --> 00:03:28,239 Speaker 1: what you've touched on is something that is important to 58 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:30,760 Speaker 1: why we do afro tech. What we find is that 59 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:35,040 Speaker 1: often black people are creators but not owners, right, And 60 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:37,160 Speaker 1: so as we think about these new industries that are 61 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:40,840 Speaker 1: being created, these new verticals that are emerging, it's important 62 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,360 Speaker 1: for black people to be there at the forefront so 63 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,320 Speaker 1: that we can be creators and owners going forward. So 64 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:49,960 Speaker 1: you talked about why this is important to GM. How 65 00:03:49,960 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: does your work on a day to day basis contribute 66 00:03:52,720 --> 00:03:56,400 Speaker 1: to that vision of hy GM wants to have diverse 67 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,640 Speaker 1: people uh and and inclusive workforce. What are you doing 68 00:03:59,640 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: on a day today to contribute to that? Yeah, so 69 00:04:03,360 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: my days are busy that there's a lot going on. 70 00:04:07,080 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: You know, we aspire to be what we say, the 71 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,160 Speaker 1: most inclusive company in the world. Now, we don't want 72 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:13,840 Speaker 1: to be alone. We want other companies to truly be 73 00:04:13,960 --> 00:04:16,960 Speaker 1: on this mission as well. Um, but what we're really 74 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:20,279 Speaker 1: doing first and foremost is is we're focusing on us, 75 00:04:20,320 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: who we are, what our intent is, how we're living 76 00:04:24,440 --> 00:04:27,400 Speaker 1: every single day. And so I hope our team at 77 00:04:27,440 --> 00:04:32,560 Speaker 1: GM literally practice inclusion and we coach our team members 78 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 1: on inclusion and and I support my team as they're 79 00:04:35,560 --> 00:04:38,120 Speaker 1: doing that, and I build partnerships with leaders across the 80 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:41,800 Speaker 1: company so that we can have really coaching conversations about 81 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:45,640 Speaker 1: you know, are we including the ideas of our diverse 82 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: team members and how are we doing it and how 83 00:04:49,480 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: can we get better at it? Because it's not good 84 00:04:52,920 --> 00:04:55,400 Speaker 1: enough for me and my role to to just have 85 00:04:55,520 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: people their representation is price of entry. It's baseline, but 86 00:05:00,839 --> 00:05:03,600 Speaker 1: that's not what it's about. Really, what it's about is 87 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:07,960 Speaker 1: having those ideas heard, you know, allowing our diverse community 88 00:05:08,080 --> 00:05:12,279 Speaker 1: to innovate together and not only the expecting it. So 89 00:05:12,640 --> 00:05:14,640 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of time on you know, hey, 90 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:17,440 Speaker 1: you as leaders. You know, in my role, I'm focused 91 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: on the leadership team and how do you create environments 92 00:05:20,760 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: where we're expecting people to innovate together, and we're expecting 93 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:27,440 Speaker 1: people to collaborate together, and where we realize when we 94 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,799 Speaker 1: may have great ideas being left on the table because 95 00:05:29,800 --> 00:05:32,440 Speaker 1: we're not being as exclusive as we could be, you know, 96 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: that's really it. And then helping them understand, you know, 97 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:38,640 Speaker 1: we are a business and so and I believe in 98 00:05:38,680 --> 00:05:42,880 Speaker 1: this business that we're in and we need to kill it, right, 99 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:46,080 Speaker 1: we need to kill it. And so what does that mean. 100 00:05:46,320 --> 00:05:49,600 Speaker 1: That means that we have to rise to the occasion 101 00:05:50,000 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: of hearing things that maybe we haven't heard before, and 102 00:05:53,440 --> 00:05:57,440 Speaker 1: we have to let those voices come through, right. So 103 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,960 Speaker 1: I spent a lot of time with helping leaders under 104 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:04,640 Speaker 1: stand how to connect diversity, equity and inclusion work that 105 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: we're doing too great business outcomes. I love that, and 106 00:06:09,440 --> 00:06:13,120 Speaker 1: it's so important that you say that, And I hope 107 00:06:13,200 --> 00:06:17,160 Speaker 1: all companies and not even companies, but but those that 108 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:19,720 Speaker 1: work at companies, even if you're not an official at 109 00:06:19,720 --> 00:06:22,600 Speaker 1: the company, if you're an employee, that's so important. Diversity, 110 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: equity and inclusion isn't charity, right, it's not. It's not 111 00:06:27,000 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: just that, it's not corporate philanthropy. Now, it is essential 112 00:06:31,200 --> 00:06:33,920 Speaker 1: to being a successful business. Yes, if you're not doing it, 113 00:06:34,640 --> 00:06:37,440 Speaker 1: you're not going to be successful as successful as you 114 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,159 Speaker 1: could be, you know. And a lot of times I remember, 115 00:06:40,480 --> 00:06:43,920 Speaker 1: you know, when you know hit and I actually came 116 00:06:43,920 --> 00:06:46,480 Speaker 1: into my role soon after that. But I've been working 117 00:06:46,520 --> 00:06:48,919 Speaker 1: on diversity inclusion for years from where I was in 118 00:06:48,960 --> 00:06:53,200 Speaker 1: the business and when when we started, you know, having 119 00:06:53,200 --> 00:06:56,000 Speaker 1: a different kind of conversation, people said, well, what's wrong 120 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:59,119 Speaker 1: with us, what's wrong with us? What are we doing wrong? 121 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: Well I could entertain that question and and talk about that, 122 00:07:03,720 --> 00:07:07,640 Speaker 1: but it's really about what opportunity are we missing? Yes, 123 00:07:07,880 --> 00:07:10,120 Speaker 1: that's really what it's about. And people don't realize it's 124 00:07:10,120 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: hard to see what's not there, you know. And so 125 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: as we work on diversity equal inclusion, what we're doing 126 00:07:16,600 --> 00:07:19,120 Speaker 1: is we're creating a future that is, you know, more 127 00:07:19,160 --> 00:07:22,120 Speaker 1: substantial for the people in the company and for the 128 00:07:22,160 --> 00:07:25,640 Speaker 1: communities outside of the company than it otherwise would have been. Absolutely, 129 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:29,520 Speaker 1: And and so when we think about what GM is 130 00:07:29,520 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: trying to do with electric vehicles, Uh, there are many 131 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:37,280 Speaker 1: reasons for consumers to think about electric cars, but one 132 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: at the top of the list is the environment. Right. 133 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: The the environment is in dire straits, and it's op 134 00:07:43,320 --> 00:07:46,640 Speaker 1: precious resource and it's limited. But as we think about 135 00:07:46,640 --> 00:07:49,400 Speaker 1: black people, right, and I say this as we have 136 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:51,760 Speaker 1: just had an election that we're we're still you know, 137 00:07:51,840 --> 00:07:53,960 Speaker 1: waiting to to figure out exactly what the meaning of 138 00:07:54,000 --> 00:07:59,680 Speaker 1: it is. But throughout history and unfortunately, uh, throughout the 139 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: last a few years, Uh, it seems like it's been 140 00:08:02,480 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: more pronounced than ever. But black people are are sort 141 00:08:06,040 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: of always wondering what is the future home for us? Right? Um? 142 00:08:11,040 --> 00:08:16,920 Speaker 1: And there are a lot of issues voting rights, economic quality, 143 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:20,840 Speaker 1: social justice that are probably at the top of black 144 00:08:20,880 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: people's minds when they think about, well, the future, what 145 00:08:24,040 --> 00:08:26,440 Speaker 1: we're worried about, what the government should be doing, what 146 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,160 Speaker 1: companies should be focused on. So, can you talk about 147 00:08:29,200 --> 00:08:31,480 Speaker 1: why black people should care about the environment, Why is 148 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 1: that an important issue for black people to take seriously 149 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:38,040 Speaker 1: and to really think about how they can contribute and 150 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:42,240 Speaker 1: make positive change. There are a lot of reasons, but 151 00:08:42,280 --> 00:08:44,080 Speaker 1: I'll start with one of the things you didn't mention 152 00:08:44,160 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: in your list, which is healthy. Okay, health, our health, 153 00:08:52,160 --> 00:08:57,160 Speaker 1: our longevity, our ability to raise children that are in 154 00:08:57,200 --> 00:09:00,800 Speaker 1: an environment that is more positive of them than the 155 00:09:00,840 --> 00:09:06,960 Speaker 1: ones we were raised in, particularly where we tend to live. Right, 156 00:09:07,040 --> 00:09:11,880 Speaker 1: we know that our communities and other socio economically disadvantaged 157 00:09:11,880 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: communities are the ones that are most disadvantage when it 158 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:17,320 Speaker 1: comes to the state of climate and the state of 159 00:09:17,320 --> 00:09:20,840 Speaker 1: the environment. Like there's there's no way that we can 160 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:25,680 Speaker 1: deny that. And at GM, we're working towards this vision 161 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:30,400 Speaker 1: of zero crashes, zero missions, and zero congestion, and that 162 00:09:30,520 --> 00:09:35,120 Speaker 1: center one zero emissions is one that is tied to 163 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 1: the health of people. And so when you look at 164 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: the Black community, you know we have a long way 165 00:09:41,760 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: to go. We know that our social determinants are not 166 00:09:45,760 --> 00:09:49,959 Speaker 1: leading us towards having healthier lives, and so um when 167 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: you focus on the environment, when you focus on climate, 168 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: it takes one of those social determinants of health and 169 00:09:55,960 --> 00:10:01,800 Speaker 1: it moves us moves it into our favor. Okay, so 170 00:10:02,040 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: it's it's it's really critically important for our community for 171 00:10:05,440 --> 00:10:10,679 Speaker 1: that reason. Um, I could listen anymore, but well, I 172 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,600 Speaker 1: think what you're saying is resume. I mean I heard 173 00:10:12,640 --> 00:10:15,240 Speaker 1: people you know, we're going to church. Now you know 174 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 1: you're you're, you're you're really ministering too. I think what 175 00:10:18,760 --> 00:10:22,360 Speaker 1: we need to hear write the environment and thinking about 176 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,200 Speaker 1: electric vehicles in many ways, Yes, it's an economic issue, 177 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:28,440 Speaker 1: but it's also a health issue. It's about our lives, 178 00:10:28,840 --> 00:10:32,720 Speaker 1: is right. And you know, as we said earlier, as 179 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,600 Speaker 1: the world is changing, as the world is shifting, for 180 00:10:35,679 --> 00:10:40,400 Speaker 1: too long, black people, women, other marginalized groups have been afterthoughts, 181 00:10:40,600 --> 00:10:43,079 Speaker 1: and so it's important. And again I applaud GM, and 182 00:10:43,080 --> 00:10:44,719 Speaker 1: I applaud you for the work that you do for 183 00:10:44,840 --> 00:10:47,720 Speaker 1: making sure that we're in the conversation earlier that that's 184 00:10:47,760 --> 00:10:50,679 Speaker 1: that that is important. And and so GM is clearly 185 00:10:50,760 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: up to the task of doing the work that's necessary 186 00:10:53,720 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: to produce products and vehicles that are going to move 187 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:01,319 Speaker 1: us to the kind of future that's going to prolong 188 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:06,120 Speaker 1: the environment, that is going to allow black people to 189 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:09,800 Speaker 1: live healthier lives. Um and and and and just looking 190 00:11:09,840 --> 00:11:13,679 Speaker 1: at some of the numbers, right the Biden administration his 191 00:11:13,840 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 1: pleasure to reduce US greenhouse gas emissions by at least 192 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 1: fifty Now, I don't know if you all like me, 193 00:11:20,720 --> 00:11:23,040 Speaker 1: but sometimes you hear and you think, oh, that's a 194 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 1: long way away, but you're like, oh, it's two. That's 195 00:11:26,080 --> 00:11:30,400 Speaker 1: like next week's tomorrow. Um. And then the goal further 196 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:33,520 Speaker 1: is to get to net zero emissions, by which you've 197 00:11:33,520 --> 00:11:36,000 Speaker 1: already spoken about how GM is focused on that. So 198 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: GM is clearly up to the task. But you can 199 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:42,679 Speaker 1: make the vehicles, and I think you know your previous 200 00:11:42,720 --> 00:11:44,720 Speaker 1: answer sort of made this case, but would love for 201 00:11:44,760 --> 00:11:48,200 Speaker 1: you to to to underscore a bit more. How do 202 00:11:48,280 --> 00:11:52,680 Speaker 1: you get people to buy them? Especially when electric vehicles 203 00:11:52,720 --> 00:11:55,040 Speaker 1: are on average more expensive. So if we've got black 204 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:59,760 Speaker 1: people in particular, who are already economically disadvantaged, we've got 205 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,520 Speaker 1: a recession either in it or it's on the horizon. 206 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: How do you get people to say, Okay, I get 207 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:06,800 Speaker 1: what you're saying about health outcomes, Like get what you're 208 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,200 Speaker 1: saying about the environment, but I can't afford it. How 209 00:12:09,200 --> 00:12:10,679 Speaker 1: do how do we think about that? And how is 210 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: GM thinking about that? Yeah? Absolutely, and there's a lot 211 00:12:13,400 --> 00:12:14,839 Speaker 1: of things. It's like, even if I can afford it, 212 00:12:14,840 --> 00:12:16,880 Speaker 1: why should I spend my money on that? Yes, if 213 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:18,800 Speaker 1: we're keeping it real, you know, there are a lot 214 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:22,199 Speaker 1: of things we can choose to spend our money on. UM. 215 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:26,640 Speaker 1: So it's it's it's a pretty complex puzzle. UM. But 216 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:28,839 Speaker 1: when you think about our community, one of the things 217 00:12:28,880 --> 00:12:32,640 Speaker 1: that we're absolutely focused on for all communities that once 218 00:12:32,679 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 1: again positively impacts the black community is creating products that 219 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,400 Speaker 1: are available at all different price points. Okay, so we've 220 00:12:39,440 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: had some electric vehicles out UM for years. Most you know, 221 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 1: most recently might think about the Chevy Bolt and things 222 00:12:46,679 --> 00:12:48,720 Speaker 1: like that, and they're smaller vehicles and you look at 223 00:12:48,720 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: that size versus that price, and you say, no, I'm 224 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:53,840 Speaker 1: not really interested in that, right, I'm just you know, 225 00:12:53,960 --> 00:12:57,720 Speaker 1: keeping it real, we have to increase those product offerings, 226 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: and so we're doing that. So we started on a 227 00:13:02,160 --> 00:13:04,400 Speaker 1: on a more expensive front because we had to allow 228 00:13:04,440 --> 00:13:08,079 Speaker 1: the technology to improve. And this is afrotech. We understand 229 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:10,920 Speaker 1: that over time, as you develop and innovate on technology, 230 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:13,760 Speaker 1: the cost of that technology comes down, and so that's 231 00:13:13,760 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: what we've been doing. So we started with you know, 232 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,120 Speaker 1: some more expensive vehicle sets. But we just announced, um, 233 00:13:19,160 --> 00:13:20,520 Speaker 1: a couple of months ago, that we're gonna have a 234 00:13:20,600 --> 00:13:23,439 Speaker 1: Chevy Blazer coming out. It's gonna be at a price 235 00:13:23,520 --> 00:13:26,319 Speaker 1: point electric Blazer, because the Blaze is already out there. 236 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:30,480 Speaker 1: They're fantastic. Um, but that's gonna be a thirty I'm sorry, 237 00:13:30,559 --> 00:13:32,080 Speaker 1: Chevy equal not as many to be a thirty thou 238 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,000 Speaker 1: dollar price point, right, Chevy Blazer is gonna be slightly 239 00:13:35,000 --> 00:13:38,760 Speaker 1: more around. But now you have a vehicle that's gonna 240 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,000 Speaker 1: be sized for a family, that's that's gonna allow you 241 00:13:42,040 --> 00:13:43,840 Speaker 1: to get around, that's going to be at a price 242 00:13:43,920 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: point that's that's very reasonable. And so that's one thing 243 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:49,320 Speaker 1: we do. But then there are other things we have 244 00:13:49,360 --> 00:13:51,760 Speaker 1: to consider. You know, you have the vehicle, how are 245 00:13:51,800 --> 00:13:56,599 Speaker 1: you going to charge it? And for our community, um, 246 00:13:56,679 --> 00:13:59,760 Speaker 1: you know who often lives in urban centers, right, not 247 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:03,400 Speaker 1: often in suburbs. You've got things to think about, Right, Okay, 248 00:14:03,400 --> 00:14:05,360 Speaker 1: we've got how many people in this apartment building and 249 00:14:05,360 --> 00:14:08,760 Speaker 1: how many charging stations? You know, this is this is 250 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,200 Speaker 1: a big deal and um, and so we're we're innovating 251 00:14:12,200 --> 00:14:13,680 Speaker 1: in that area in a lot of different ways, and 252 00:14:13,679 --> 00:14:17,800 Speaker 1: we're partnering with with several different organizations, both for profit 253 00:14:17,880 --> 00:14:23,000 Speaker 1: and nonprofit, and particularly nonprofits that are focused on the 254 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:29,160 Speaker 1: Black community and for other underrepresented communities. We actually created UM. 255 00:14:29,200 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: We actually have UM an Equitable Climate Action Framework that 256 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,440 Speaker 1: we put together that's underpinned by a fifty million dollar 257 00:14:36,120 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: UM fifty million dollar fund, Equitable Climate Fund, where we're 258 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: partnering with UM organizations in the Black community that can 259 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:48,960 Speaker 1: help us think through how do you do this? Well? Right, 260 00:14:49,320 --> 00:14:52,280 Speaker 1: you know, we understand, we know a lot like technically, 261 00:14:52,320 --> 00:14:54,160 Speaker 1: like you said, we're up to the task to getting 262 00:14:54,160 --> 00:14:56,720 Speaker 1: these vehicles out. We're up to the task to creating 263 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,560 Speaker 1: charging infrastructure that makes sense with different levels of charging 264 00:14:59,600 --> 00:15:03,080 Speaker 1: and all of that. But the real question is what 265 00:15:03,120 --> 00:15:05,680 Speaker 1: do people really need that are in the city that 266 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:08,640 Speaker 1: want to own an electric vehicle? And how do we 267 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:11,520 Speaker 1: deliver it in a way that they'll understand what we're 268 00:15:11,520 --> 00:15:13,400 Speaker 1: doing and why we're doing it and it's gonna work 269 00:15:13,440 --> 00:15:16,960 Speaker 1: for them. And we can't get all those answers by ourselves. 270 00:15:17,000 --> 00:15:19,720 Speaker 1: That's that is a gym. That is that is truly 271 00:15:19,760 --> 00:15:22,600 Speaker 1: a gym that you just drop, yeah, please please please 272 00:15:22,600 --> 00:15:26,360 Speaker 1: please flap for that, because what you're talking about is 273 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,520 Speaker 1: the total experience of ownership. That's exactly right, right, And 274 00:15:30,920 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: you know, if companies just look at it as well, 275 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: let's make them affordable. Well you're you know, the m 276 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:38,760 Speaker 1: s r P. The price point can be affordable, but 277 00:15:38,960 --> 00:15:41,200 Speaker 1: if people can't live with it, if they can't charge it, 278 00:15:41,280 --> 00:15:44,320 Speaker 1: they can't sustain the ownership of the vehicle. And that 279 00:15:44,360 --> 00:15:46,440 Speaker 1: only comes when you've got diverse voices in the room. 280 00:15:46,440 --> 00:15:48,640 Speaker 1: And that when we've got to tell us at the 281 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,360 Speaker 1: table to sort of think about that and make sure 282 00:15:51,400 --> 00:15:54,800 Speaker 1: that all the leadership is aligned to building that stuff 283 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:58,040 Speaker 1: into the product experience up front. Yeah. Absolutely, And you know, 284 00:15:58,240 --> 00:15:59,760 Speaker 1: part of what we have to do with that, and 285 00:15:59,800 --> 00:16:02,160 Speaker 1: part some of the partnerships were forming, is we have 286 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:07,240 Speaker 1: to educate our community to really understand what's going on 287 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:09,720 Speaker 1: around them, right, because there's only so much you can 288 00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:13,160 Speaker 1: get off of Twitter and different you know platforms, you 289 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,400 Speaker 1: only get so much um But to truly understand what's 290 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:18,120 Speaker 1: going on and what are the things we need to 291 00:16:18,160 --> 00:16:20,280 Speaker 1: think about so we know what to raise our voice 292 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:24,400 Speaker 1: in is really important. So educating the black community is 293 00:16:24,440 --> 00:16:27,800 Speaker 1: critically important. And the other thing that we're committed to 294 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: is getting more people educated in the environment and climate 295 00:16:31,600 --> 00:16:35,800 Speaker 1: in you know, this future of electric vehicles, so that 296 00:16:35,880 --> 00:16:39,760 Speaker 1: they can be participating in policy tables right in in 297 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: local government forums and things like that with the knowledge 298 00:16:44,280 --> 00:16:48,080 Speaker 1: and the expertise, so that that diverse voice at the 299 00:16:48,120 --> 00:16:50,640 Speaker 1: table is actually affecting change. It's going to be to 300 00:16:50,720 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: benefit of diverse communities and particularly the black community. You know, 301 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:58,120 Speaker 1: I was pretty shocked. I um. I had started working 302 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: in sustainability space several years go before I moved into 303 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:04,679 Speaker 1: my current role, and you know, like spent you know, 304 00:17:04,720 --> 00:17:08,240 Speaker 1: several years at GM as as an engineer. Very few women, 305 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:10,640 Speaker 1: so I moved into sustainability or there are a lot 306 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,920 Speaker 1: more women, but there were no black people. I'm surprised, 307 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: right right. And so you think about that, and you 308 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:20,439 Speaker 1: think about the change that's going on in the world 309 00:17:20,840 --> 00:17:23,480 Speaker 1: and how the world is more focused on sustainability. Think 310 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:28,720 Speaker 1: about Paris Accord two one percent now, and we need 311 00:17:28,720 --> 00:17:30,960 Speaker 1: to have enough people in the room that are looking 312 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: at environmental justice and how do we create equitable futures 313 00:17:35,119 --> 00:17:37,520 Speaker 1: for the community. And so we're also committed to that. 314 00:17:38,080 --> 00:17:40,600 Speaker 1: So by show of hands, how many people in the 315 00:17:40,640 --> 00:17:44,320 Speaker 1: audience use an electric vehicle? Raise your hand. I'm just curious, 316 00:17:44,320 --> 00:17:47,159 Speaker 1: So we got a few hands up. But as you 317 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: can see, there's a huge opportunity to get more people 318 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,879 Speaker 1: to to get to get on the bandwagon, so to 319 00:17:53,880 --> 00:17:57,320 Speaker 1: speak about where the future is headed. I want you 320 00:17:57,400 --> 00:18:00,520 Speaker 1: to to put on your marketing sales had real quick right, 321 00:18:00,560 --> 00:18:03,080 Speaker 1: So we talked about how the environment is important and 322 00:18:03,119 --> 00:18:08,280 Speaker 1: how electric vehicles contribute too, you know, reducing the effects 323 00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: of climate change. But what are some other reasons that 324 00:18:10,600 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: you would tell people to think about as they are 325 00:18:12,720 --> 00:18:15,600 Speaker 1: considering purchasing an electric vehic? What are some of your 326 00:18:15,640 --> 00:18:19,040 Speaker 1: favorite features an electric Because I love my I I switched 327 00:18:19,080 --> 00:18:21,600 Speaker 1: over and you know, I'm a I'm a convert and 328 00:18:21,640 --> 00:18:24,239 Speaker 1: I would evangelize it, but I am curious. What are 329 00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:26,080 Speaker 1: your thoughts like, what are some of your favorite features 330 00:18:26,359 --> 00:18:29,960 Speaker 1: and your experience with evs. Yeah, they are fantastic. So 331 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:32,600 Speaker 1: if you first just think about you know, I don't 332 00:18:32,600 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: know how many of you have have have bought a 333 00:18:34,520 --> 00:18:37,000 Speaker 1: car recently or have family members by a car recently. 334 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:42,160 Speaker 1: But the technology inside the vehicle from a software perspective, 335 00:18:42,160 --> 00:18:45,919 Speaker 1: from an integration perspective, as is grown by leaps and 336 00:18:45,920 --> 00:18:48,679 Speaker 1: bound off time, and that is on steroids and electric 337 00:18:48,760 --> 00:18:53,760 Speaker 1: vehicle it's it's just fantastic. You know, you know what 338 00:18:53,800 --> 00:18:56,320 Speaker 1: you want is at your fingertips. It's much more user friendly, 339 00:18:56,600 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: user intuitive. It needs to be, but it makes the 340 00:19:01,200 --> 00:19:05,639 Speaker 1: experience really special. So you get in your car and 341 00:19:05,760 --> 00:19:09,840 Speaker 1: it and it feels different. But my absolutely favorite part, 342 00:19:10,080 --> 00:19:13,960 Speaker 1: and this says a lot about me, is when you're 343 00:19:14,040 --> 00:19:17,560 Speaker 1: sitting at that light and you push that pedals, great, 344 00:19:19,040 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 1: it is gone, like it is absolutely fantastic, and and 345 00:19:25,960 --> 00:19:29,520 Speaker 1: it's like that feeling is great. And then and then 346 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: you get that like, not only the vehicle's just gone, 347 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,200 Speaker 1: you're not waiting to accelerate, you don't have to worry 348 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:40,159 Speaker 1: about it, but it's silent. It's quiet. Now why do 349 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: I love that? Because I love music? Right, Like, I 350 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:46,520 Speaker 1: don't want to have to turn up my music just 351 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: because I'm on the highway, you know, I don't, I don't. 352 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:54,800 Speaker 1: I And so like that experience, the sound system experience, um, 353 00:19:54,840 --> 00:20:00,359 Speaker 1: along with just the pure dependability of that of that drive, 354 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:05,000 Speaker 1: that of that electric vehicle. It's just it's fun. I agree. 355 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:08,159 Speaker 1: I'm someone that typically doesn't like driving, but in an 356 00:20:08,359 --> 00:20:11,160 Speaker 1: in an electric vehicle, I'm like, let me just take 357 00:20:11,200 --> 00:20:13,800 Speaker 1: a random road just for the experience. I get what 358 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: you're saying. That's that's real. That's real. So if you 359 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:20,280 Speaker 1: all aren't convinced by by what it does for the environment, 360 00:20:20,560 --> 00:20:23,400 Speaker 1: if you like cars, if you like driving, I guarantee 361 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,160 Speaker 1: you an electric vehicle will be a much better experience 362 00:20:26,160 --> 00:20:28,680 Speaker 1: and you get to enjoy that drive more. You know 363 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:34,320 Speaker 1: how you lean back and fronton Ohio. So okay, you've real, 364 00:20:34,440 --> 00:20:38,280 Speaker 1: keep it real, and and but you can just enjoy 365 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: it more. That's fantastic. So I want to go back 366 00:20:42,960 --> 00:20:44,879 Speaker 1: to what you were talking about earlier, which is, you know, 367 00:20:44,920 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: what we talked about, the total experience of ownership and 368 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:52,119 Speaker 1: how you know, GM is working with public and private 369 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:55,520 Speaker 1: entities to think about how we can do you know, 370 00:20:55,560 --> 00:20:57,720 Speaker 1: do more to build it more charging stations and urban 371 00:20:57,720 --> 00:21:00,520 Speaker 1: epicenters and among other things. I want talk about the 372 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,199 Speaker 1: role of the government, right the the federal government in 373 00:21:03,200 --> 00:21:06,680 Speaker 1: additions to state and local government. So um, in this 374 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:10,760 Speaker 1: past Congress or this current Congress, the Infrastructure Investment in 375 00:21:10,840 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: Jobs Acts, the Jobs Act was passed, which allocates a 376 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,160 Speaker 1: lot of federal dollars to do a lot of needed 377 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:23,920 Speaker 1: infrastructure improvements, and some of those are specifically allocated for 378 00:21:24,119 --> 00:21:28,320 Speaker 1: the environment. From your perspective, in the perspective of GM, 379 00:21:28,480 --> 00:21:31,119 Speaker 1: is that enough or does more need to be done 380 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,440 Speaker 1: at the level of the federal government but also state 381 00:21:33,520 --> 00:21:36,040 Speaker 1: local governments. Yeah, yeah, I'm glad you. I'm really glad 382 00:21:36,040 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: you asked that question, particularly about the state and local governments. UM. 383 00:21:39,400 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: In order for this to work well, right, and I'm 384 00:21:42,560 --> 00:21:44,399 Speaker 1: not going to pretend GM is the only company on 385 00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,280 Speaker 1: this journey, right. The whole industry is on this journey, UM, 386 00:21:48,320 --> 00:21:52,520 Speaker 1: and therefore communities are on this journey. UM. In order 387 00:21:52,560 --> 00:21:56,280 Speaker 1: for this to work well, we need really strong intent 388 00:21:56,760 --> 00:21:59,240 Speaker 1: from a local level, from a state level, and from 389 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:05,320 Speaker 1: the federal level. So current administration, current Congress has given 390 00:22:05,359 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: a great kick start to the work that needs to 391 00:22:08,280 --> 00:22:11,080 Speaker 1: be done. Seven and a half billion dollars on charging infrastructure. 392 00:22:11,119 --> 00:22:14,040 Speaker 1: That is more than a little bit, okay, but it's 393 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:18,479 Speaker 1: going to take more than that, and so we need 394 00:22:18,600 --> 00:22:22,640 Speaker 1: Congress UM to continue to look at how are we 395 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,920 Speaker 1: growing in this transition to electric vehicles and what more 396 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:28,320 Speaker 1: can they do? And not only that, you know, and 397 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:32,040 Speaker 1: we we work very well UM at the federal level 398 00:22:32,080 --> 00:22:35,320 Speaker 1: with many different agencies, with with the UM, with the 399 00:22:35,320 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: e p A, with the d OE, etcetera, etcetera. UM, 400 00:22:38,640 --> 00:22:41,879 Speaker 1: who are who are supporting who can give more support 401 00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,800 Speaker 1: now through acts like UM the Infrastructure Act as well 402 00:22:45,840 --> 00:22:48,879 Speaker 1: as the tax credits that we have recently. But but 403 00:22:48,960 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: we need those organizations to work well together, you know. UM. 404 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:56,480 Speaker 1: So just like at companies, companies deal with silos, you 405 00:22:56,480 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: have a little bit of that at the government level, 406 00:22:58,160 --> 00:23:00,239 Speaker 1: and so we need them to work well together as 407 00:23:00,280 --> 00:23:04,359 Speaker 1: they you know, work on you know, their ideation of 408 00:23:04,440 --> 00:23:08,360 Speaker 1: what the future looks like. Okay, So that's important at 409 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:11,160 Speaker 1: the federal level UM as well as you know, looking 410 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:15,080 Speaker 1: at potentially more UM legislation in the future. But then 411 00:23:15,080 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: when you look at it from a local and state level, 412 00:23:18,520 --> 00:23:23,560 Speaker 1: states particularly can be extremely influential in this direction. And 413 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:26,760 Speaker 1: states have to decide, you know, what kind of state 414 00:23:26,800 --> 00:23:30,480 Speaker 1: do they want to be, okay, and what kind of 415 00:23:30,600 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: environment do they want to create for the citizens of 416 00:23:35,520 --> 00:23:39,600 Speaker 1: that state. And so you know, states that you know, 417 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:41,480 Speaker 1: really think hard about this. You know, we know the 418 00:23:41,480 --> 00:23:46,760 Speaker 1: state of California is way in and you know, typically 419 00:23:46,760 --> 00:23:49,600 Speaker 1: what goes on in California will tend to spread to 420 00:23:49,680 --> 00:23:52,960 Speaker 1: other states in the nation. UM. And and California has 421 00:23:53,000 --> 00:23:54,359 Speaker 1: put a lot of deep thought in this for a 422 00:23:54,359 --> 00:23:57,360 Speaker 1: long time, and so we need other states to continue 423 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:00,280 Speaker 1: to grow their skill and their awareness and their ability, 424 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:02,639 Speaker 1: and so we work with them at the state level 425 00:24:02,920 --> 00:24:06,800 Speaker 1: to understand what their priorities are. How does that merge 426 00:24:06,840 --> 00:24:08,880 Speaker 1: with what we need to have happened to take care 427 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,360 Speaker 1: of people in the community as we deploy electric vehicles, 428 00:24:12,680 --> 00:24:14,800 Speaker 1: you know, how do we take state priorities and stack 429 00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:18,280 Speaker 1: them so that you know, they're going to be aligned 430 00:24:18,280 --> 00:24:21,679 Speaker 1: with a more sustainable future. But still states need to 431 00:24:21,680 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: manage their budgets and things like that. But states need 432 00:24:24,560 --> 00:24:27,720 Speaker 1: to you know, really jump in and figure out, Okay, 433 00:24:28,600 --> 00:24:31,239 Speaker 1: how do we want to form our mark on the 434 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:34,439 Speaker 1: future of the of electric vehicles and therefore in the 435 00:24:34,480 --> 00:24:37,320 Speaker 1: future of people. And then from a local perspective, the 436 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:40,199 Speaker 1: role that the local government can play is really helping 437 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:46,080 Speaker 1: states understand, um, what's most important for those constituents like 438 00:24:46,160 --> 00:24:50,680 Speaker 1: they have to help states think and um. And that's 439 00:24:50,720 --> 00:24:54,880 Speaker 1: why we partner many times with local organizations because those 440 00:24:54,880 --> 00:24:58,360 Speaker 1: local organizations are tied into the local government. And as 441 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:02,760 Speaker 1: we educate people and as we create technical solutions with 442 00:25:02,880 --> 00:25:08,639 Speaker 1: smaller for profit and nonprofit you know, local organizations, states 443 00:25:08,680 --> 00:25:12,080 Speaker 1: get informed and can make better decisions about the community. 444 00:25:12,119 --> 00:25:15,800 Speaker 1: So it's it's multi tiered, but everyone has more work 445 00:25:15,840 --> 00:25:19,800 Speaker 1: to do here, right. That includes companies, and it includes governments, 446 00:25:19,880 --> 00:25:22,919 Speaker 1: and it includes community organizations. I really just want everybody 447 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:24,359 Speaker 1: to give that a round of applause because that was 448 00:25:24,400 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: a master class. I really, I honestly believe that this 449 00:25:28,520 --> 00:25:32,080 Speaker 1: talk gets to be required viewing for every elected official 450 00:25:32,400 --> 00:25:34,840 Speaker 1: at every level of government, because you clearly just broke 451 00:25:34,920 --> 00:25:39,000 Speaker 1: down how we need to be thinking as a as 452 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 1: a nation, but also as we go state local about 453 00:25:42,960 --> 00:25:46,359 Speaker 1: this problem. And you bring so much passion and energy 454 00:25:46,400 --> 00:25:49,240 Speaker 1: to this and not only to this issue, but to 455 00:25:49,600 --> 00:25:52,560 Speaker 1: the cause of of what GM is committed to and 456 00:25:52,880 --> 00:25:57,040 Speaker 1: hiring a diverse workforce and and building great cars. Right. 457 00:25:57,040 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: So I want to kind of wrap things up by 458 00:25:59,359 --> 00:26:02,679 Speaker 1: talking about your professional journey. So you've been at GM 459 00:26:02,800 --> 00:26:08,520 Speaker 1: for over twenty eight years while just a little bit right, yeah, um, 460 00:26:08,560 --> 00:26:12,280 Speaker 1: and you started out as an engineer. So I'm curious, 461 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:14,840 Speaker 1: and this is really a personal question for me because 462 00:26:15,520 --> 00:26:18,200 Speaker 1: I started off an engineering and now being sea level 463 00:26:18,240 --> 00:26:20,640 Speaker 1: in the company, I'm curious, do you miss the day 464 00:26:20,680 --> 00:26:22,720 Speaker 1: to day work of being an engineer, sort of having 465 00:26:22,760 --> 00:26:24,720 Speaker 1: your hands in the mix and getting your hands dirty 466 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:29,040 Speaker 1: and building, yes, a lot. Do you try to meddle 467 00:26:29,040 --> 00:26:34,919 Speaker 1: a little bit of yes, absolutely, I don't feel bad. Yeah, 468 00:26:35,000 --> 00:26:37,479 Speaker 1: yeah it is. It's really funny, you know. And some 469 00:26:37,520 --> 00:26:40,640 Speaker 1: people know this, but most people don't. So I get 470 00:26:40,680 --> 00:26:44,360 Speaker 1: to visit facilities all over the country and all over 471 00:26:44,400 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 1: the world. Um, And I'm electrical engineer. You know a 472 00:26:48,080 --> 00:26:51,480 Speaker 1: lot of you know, robot programming, coding, you know, machining, 473 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:56,639 Speaker 1: equipment design, build installation improvement, you know that kind of 474 00:26:56,680 --> 00:27:03,520 Speaker 1: stuff really, you know, fast moving problem solving constantly, you know, 475 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:06,439 Speaker 1: because most of my workers in manufacturing and manufacturing engineering, 476 00:27:06,640 --> 00:27:11,720 Speaker 1: and I love being dirty, right and um, but more importantly, 477 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:15,879 Speaker 1: I just love fixing things. And so I just love 478 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:18,159 Speaker 1: fixing things and solving problem and like working with a 479 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:20,800 Speaker 1: group when people are like, oh here we go again, right, 480 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,240 Speaker 1: and then solving that problem that you've been seeing over 481 00:27:23,280 --> 00:27:25,679 Speaker 1: and over again for the last several years, you know, 482 00:27:25,760 --> 00:27:29,439 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden, you know, nailed that, right. 483 00:27:29,480 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: It's such a great feeling. And so there will be 484 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,679 Speaker 1: many times that you know, I'll call a plant and 485 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:37,720 Speaker 1: I'll be like, hey, you know, I'm gonna come, you know, 486 00:27:37,840 --> 00:27:39,359 Speaker 1: visit you all were gonna talk a little bitout D 487 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: and I. How can I support you? And then I 488 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: just want to go walk the floor. And then they'll say, 489 00:27:44,920 --> 00:27:46,520 Speaker 1: we'll tell what we'll do a tour. I don't want 490 00:27:46,520 --> 00:27:49,960 Speaker 1: a tour. I want to just like y'all, don't have 491 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,920 Speaker 1: to do any preparation. I just want to go walk 492 00:27:52,960 --> 00:27:56,200 Speaker 1: the floor, talk to people, see how it's going. Right, 493 00:27:56,240 --> 00:28:00,719 Speaker 1: And then on a good day, somebody will say, you know, 494 00:28:00,840 --> 00:28:02,560 Speaker 1: I would say, how's it going. What's the biggest problem 495 00:28:02,600 --> 00:28:04,159 Speaker 1: you're working with? And I say, oh, we've been doing this, 496 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:05,479 Speaker 1: this and this, And then I get to just go 497 00:28:05,520 --> 00:28:07,359 Speaker 1: back and forth with it. Do you think about this? 498 00:28:07,400 --> 00:28:10,600 Speaker 1: Did you think about that? You know? And then you man, 499 00:28:11,080 --> 00:28:13,399 Speaker 1: that's the fix I need. This sounds like the perfect 500 00:28:13,440 --> 00:28:16,159 Speaker 1: job to be able to work on D and I. 501 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: But then also, you know, go in and getting the 502 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:21,399 Speaker 1: reeds sometimes yeah, yeah, or when i'm you know, talking 503 00:28:21,440 --> 00:28:23,400 Speaker 1: to the I T team, and I love it when 504 00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:27,920 Speaker 1: they call and they're working on bias and artificial intelligence, right, 505 00:28:27,960 --> 00:28:30,200 Speaker 1: and how do we make sure that in all the 506 00:28:30,240 --> 00:28:33,800 Speaker 1: software development we're doing we don't have bias in that? Oh? 507 00:28:33,960 --> 00:28:36,879 Speaker 1: I love that conversation, right, And I particularly love it 508 00:28:37,040 --> 00:28:39,360 Speaker 1: when some people on the phone don't know that I'm 509 00:28:39,400 --> 00:28:42,800 Speaker 1: a techie, right, and then and then I started diving 510 00:28:42,800 --> 00:28:46,080 Speaker 1: into the conversation. You catch them off. Guards're like, okay, 511 00:28:46,680 --> 00:28:48,440 Speaker 1: you know a little something, right, I thought you were 512 00:28:48,480 --> 00:28:53,120 Speaker 1: just a D and I person. Okay, that's fatastic. So um, 513 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:58,240 Speaker 1: let's yeah, let's apply for that. I love that, so 514 00:28:59,120 --> 00:29:03,680 Speaker 1: ym so Um, you've been there now almost thirty years ago. 515 00:29:04,040 --> 00:29:07,040 Speaker 1: Why did you decide to go there in the first place? Oh? Wow, 516 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:10,360 Speaker 1: that's a great question. And and the question I usually 517 00:29:10,360 --> 00:29:14,280 Speaker 1: get asked us why am I still there? Um? But 518 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:17,560 Speaker 1: I went in the first place. I was only planning 519 00:29:17,600 --> 00:29:24,920 Speaker 1: on being at GM for three years. Wow, right, So 520 00:29:25,160 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: I was. I went there because, Um, I had this plan. 521 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:32,720 Speaker 1: I was going to be designing devices, um to implant 522 00:29:32,760 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 1: in people to help with paralysis, right or hearing deficit. 523 00:29:37,520 --> 00:29:40,880 Speaker 1: And I had an undergrad I majored in electrical engineering 524 00:29:40,880 --> 00:29:43,880 Speaker 1: from my bachelor's and my masters and both I did UM. 525 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:47,120 Speaker 1: My minor was in biomedical engineering. So I had all 526 00:29:47,160 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 1: this research, great research based experience. But I was like, well, 527 00:29:51,560 --> 00:29:54,640 Speaker 1: if I'm going to design devices to go on people's bodies, 528 00:29:54,720 --> 00:29:57,640 Speaker 1: I need to know how controls really work. In real life, 529 00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,200 Speaker 1: you know, because fundamentally, you know, when you deal with tissue, 530 00:30:01,240 --> 00:30:02,680 Speaker 1: it's not any different than when you're dealing with a 531 00:30:02,760 --> 00:30:07,160 Speaker 1: cable other than the levels of energy. Right. So I 532 00:30:07,200 --> 00:30:09,600 Speaker 1: decided to go to work for that, and I came 533 00:30:09,640 --> 00:30:13,920 Speaker 1: to GM as my second job because I could get 534 00:30:14,000 --> 00:30:18,240 Speaker 1: really really great controls experience, right, you know, programmable logic 535 00:30:18,280 --> 00:30:21,840 Speaker 1: controllers and all different kinds of um you know, fluid 536 00:30:21,880 --> 00:30:25,600 Speaker 1: dynamics and things like that like in real life, because 537 00:30:25,600 --> 00:30:27,520 Speaker 1: I didn't have as much maker experience when I was 538 00:30:27,520 --> 00:30:31,440 Speaker 1: in undergrad and masters. So that's why I came. I 539 00:30:31,440 --> 00:30:32,760 Speaker 1: figured I'd be able to get that in a few 540 00:30:32,840 --> 00:30:37,840 Speaker 1: years and I move on. But I stayed for the reason. Yeah, 541 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, I mean it's just endless opportunity 542 00:30:40,600 --> 00:30:44,160 Speaker 1: to do different things. I've never been in a role. 543 00:30:44,800 --> 00:30:46,440 Speaker 1: I mean, I've had very few roles that I've been 544 00:30:46,480 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: in for more than a few years, you know, And 545 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,280 Speaker 1: so you know, solving different kinds of problems and different 546 00:30:52,480 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 1: parts of the business has just always kind of kept 547 00:30:54,880 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: me going and you know, kept me lit. I love it. 548 00:30:59,160 --> 00:31:02,560 Speaker 1: I love it. Yeah, and so and so we're here 549 00:31:02,560 --> 00:31:05,239 Speaker 1: at that rotech. There are so many people here who 550 00:31:05,320 --> 00:31:08,120 Speaker 1: are looking to connect with companies to get a job 551 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: or to make a career pivot into tech. So can 552 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:14,760 Speaker 1: you leave us with us some advice on what can 553 00:31:14,840 --> 00:31:18,280 Speaker 1: this generation that typically doesn't stay at a company for 554 00:31:18,280 --> 00:31:21,480 Speaker 1: for years that they're really like, I'm going to be 555 00:31:21,480 --> 00:31:24,560 Speaker 1: there for three months? And what can this generation do 556 00:31:25,120 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: to stand out to a company like g And how 557 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: can you know, we think about this generation think about 558 00:31:30,640 --> 00:31:32,840 Speaker 1: how to position themselves to get these jobs that are 559 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,080 Speaker 1: going to impact the future. Yeah, I think you know, 560 00:31:36,120 --> 00:31:40,440 Speaker 1: it's interesting, particularly when you talk to tech people. You know, 561 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:42,360 Speaker 1: it's one thing if you talk to a person that 562 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:45,320 Speaker 1: considers and stuff. A business person Okay, so a business 563 00:31:45,320 --> 00:31:48,480 Speaker 1: person is kind of thinking about the whole business and 564 00:31:48,560 --> 00:31:51,080 Speaker 1: all the different levels that you push and pull to 565 00:31:51,160 --> 00:31:54,000 Speaker 1: make a business work, make a business profitable, make a business, 566 00:31:54,120 --> 00:31:57,320 Speaker 1: make people happy, whatever. And then and then tech people 567 00:31:57,360 --> 00:31:59,760 Speaker 1: are um and business people are on a spectrum to 568 00:32:00,000 --> 00:32:03,520 Speaker 1: the tech people learn a big spectrum. And many tech 569 00:32:03,560 --> 00:32:06,240 Speaker 1: people are really focused on a particular type of tech 570 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,200 Speaker 1: right and they want to drill into that and they 571 00:32:09,200 --> 00:32:11,640 Speaker 1: want to be amazing at that, which there's nothing wrong 572 00:32:11,680 --> 00:32:15,480 Speaker 1: with that. But what I encourage all tech people to 573 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:19,160 Speaker 1: do is to lift your head up and get to 574 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: know the business. And and no matter where you show up, 575 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,320 Speaker 1: you need to bloom where you're planted. You know, you 576 00:32:27,320 --> 00:32:30,719 Speaker 1: show up in whatever job and whatever location. Blooming doesn't 577 00:32:30,760 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: just mean solving that technical problem. You know. The way 578 00:32:33,600 --> 00:32:36,480 Speaker 1: I've been successful is by understanding why is this a 579 00:32:36,520 --> 00:32:38,200 Speaker 1: problem I even need to solve in the first place? 580 00:32:39,560 --> 00:32:42,240 Speaker 1: Why hasn't the problem been solved in the past. Has 581 00:32:42,280 --> 00:32:45,320 Speaker 1: it been lack of investment? Has it been the way 582 00:32:45,400 --> 00:32:48,280 Speaker 1: you know, lack of belief in people. Has it has 583 00:32:48,320 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: it been you know, we fixed it, but that wasn't 584 00:32:50,280 --> 00:32:53,320 Speaker 1: really to fix you know? Has it been decisions made 585 00:32:53,320 --> 00:32:56,960 Speaker 1: by leadership teams that marginalize your ability to actually solve 586 00:32:57,000 --> 00:33:01,280 Speaker 1: the problem, like like why are we here in this moment? 587 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:04,440 Speaker 1: And when you when you dig into that, you know, 588 00:33:04,520 --> 00:33:07,400 Speaker 1: even if you're in an innovative space, you know, why 589 00:33:07,560 --> 00:33:09,920 Speaker 1: is it that we're not able to have the breakthroughs 590 00:33:09,920 --> 00:33:11,840 Speaker 1: that we're looking for? Often you have to look at 591 00:33:11,840 --> 00:33:15,640 Speaker 1: the whole context. And tech people that look at the 592 00:33:15,680 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: whole context and build relationships that help them understand the 593 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:23,600 Speaker 1: business are the most valuable because there's always give and take. 594 00:33:23,920 --> 00:33:26,560 Speaker 1: You don't always get what you want, you know, but 595 00:33:26,680 --> 00:33:29,239 Speaker 1: you have to understand if you're not getting what you 596 00:33:29,320 --> 00:33:33,160 Speaker 1: think is best, why is that? And then who do 597 00:33:33,280 --> 00:33:35,640 Speaker 1: I need to partner with to either go in a 598 00:33:35,640 --> 00:33:41,080 Speaker 1: different direction right or yes? And what's going on? You know? 599 00:33:41,240 --> 00:33:44,080 Speaker 1: I think it's so critical that you do that regardless 600 00:33:44,120 --> 00:33:47,400 Speaker 1: of where you are, you know, so don't be completely 601 00:33:47,400 --> 00:33:52,400 Speaker 1: heads down, you know, be aware and and and make 602 00:33:52,400 --> 00:33:56,080 Speaker 1: your technical decisions with as much of the bigger picture 603 00:33:56,080 --> 00:33:58,680 Speaker 1: in mind as you can tell. But thank you so much. 604 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:02,840 Speaker 1: I I I enjoyed this conversation. I feel like this 605 00:34:03,000 --> 00:34:05,280 Speaker 1: entire conversation was just a bunch of Mike drops. Thank 606 00:34:05,320 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: you so much for being with us. Thank you all 607 00:34:07,880 --> 00:34:10,000 Speaker 1: for being here in attendance. And uh, I hope you 608 00:34:10,040 --> 00:34:25,719 Speaker 1: all learn as much as I did. Black Tech, Green 609 00:34:25,719 --> 00:34:28,600 Speaker 1: Moneys and production to Blackvity, Afro Tech on the Black 610 00:34:28,600 --> 00:34:31,680 Speaker 1: Effect podcast Network and I Hired Media is produced by 611 00:34:31,760 --> 00:34:35,840 Speaker 1: Morgan Davon and me Well Lucas, with additional production support 612 00:34:35,880 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 1: by Sarah Rogan and Rose McLucas. Special thank you to 613 00:34:39,560 --> 00:34:42,640 Speaker 1: Mike and Davis van Ness ROUNDO learn more about my 614 00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:44,520 Speaker 1: guests and other tech this stuff. This is the innovators 615 00:34:44,520 --> 00:34:47,839 Speaker 1: at afro tech dot com, joining Black Tech, Green Money 616 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:52,000 Speaker 1: keep us a five star rating on iTunes Get Your Money, 617 00:34:53,120 --> 00:35:00,439 Speaker 1: Piece of Love two