Taking Your Time : Leadership , People , and Flexibility with Isuzu UTE ’ s Rod Caldwell
WORDS BY ANTONINA JOSON
“ Don ’ t go too far too fast .”
Rod Caldwell , Executive General Manager of Isuzu UTE , advised as we sat down for an online interview . It was a sunny Thursday afternoon , where we spent an hour conversing through our respective computers . Even with the work-fromhome arrangement , Rod sported his Isuzu UTE shirt and even his Isuzu UTE virtual background . While others might choose to stay in comfy cotton t-shirts , Rod still chose to represent his organisation proudly .
Though Rod advised us to take our time —“ It ’ s a common thing in a business like ours .”— he ’ s mentioned how much has changed over the years since he ’ s started . Managing business in the automotive and fleet industry is no easy undertaking . Trends , changes , and industry developments keep companies like Isuzu UTE on their toes . “ Things have changed so much . So many changes , you don ’ t want to be left behind .”
Not only that , the pandemic and advancements in technology have pushed businesses into new realms . This tells us that keeping up with the times is essential for companies .
“ We had a lot of interruptions in our business ,” Rod recalled . Manufacturer issues , supply chain disruptions , and more pushed Isuzu UTE into being as flexible as they could be . Adjusting to interruptions requires an equally adaptive team of people and most importantly , a leader to see them through these shifts in adversity .
Though these changes are notable , the cadence in Rod ’ s voice informed me that it was par for the course in running a company . Rod notes that he and most of his board came from a time where training and personal development “ weren ’ t a thing .” Despite this , the General Manager didn ’ t let things of the past close his mind to learning new things and improving himself as a professional and company leader .
30 ISSUE 50 DECEMBER 2024 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU