just lifted me up . I think every immigrant goes through defining moments of their acculturation , and I ’ m filled with gratitude for the optimism and generosity of spirit that this country represents ,” he said .
He met his best friend at the university , an American who had studied Indian culture and fell in love with the country . “ What ’ s the probability of bumping into someone like that ?” said Padmanabhan . “ He ’ s more Indian and I ’ m more American .”
His friend ’ s family took him in as one of their own . “ I became their fifth brown son ,” he said . “ They loved me . Those are things that shaped my experience .”
One of his professors was working on a research project within General Motors and Padmanabhan worked as his assistant . “ I made friends at GM , and halfway through my PhD , they offered me a job ,” he said .
He moved to Detroit and got engaged to his now-wife Jan , who insisted he finish his PhD before they married . He drove back and forth from Detroit to Pittsburgh , working and completing his degree . He and Jan , also an engineer , continued to work at GM where he had a variety of roles .
Eventually , GM opened plants outside of the United States and lean manufacturing - first championed by Toyota - was introduced in those plants . “ The question always was , you can do this in non-unionized other countries , but would it work with the UAW ?” he said . He headed up one of the teams charged with finding out the answer to that question .
“ The best part - and it ’ s still true here - it was less about technology and more about engaging the team members on the floor to even want to try ; for them to even give it a shot , for them to say , ‘ okay , we ’ ll work with you if you work with us ,’” he said . “ I worked there for five years ; it was brilliant to watch it come to life .”
From there , he was offered a position with Chrysler to set up the lean manufacturing process there . After five years , Mercedes hired him , and he and his family - which now
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Salute 2020