As 2025 wraps up, the Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast looks back on its journey and shares thoughts about what’s next. Hosts Jan Griffiths, Jim Liegghio, and Terry Onica take a moment to celebrate the podcast’s impact, highlighting 15,000 downloads in over 20 countries, and look forward to their 100th episode in 2026, a milestone only a few podcasts achieve.
Jim encourages listeners to revisit past episodes to hear how industry leaders think, solve problems, and approach supply chain challenges. Terry shares her retirement from QAD after 23 years, celebrating a career spent promoting supply chain excellence and promising to continue contributing to projects she loves.
Jan confirms the podcast isn’t going anywhere. In 2026, it will return with a refreshed format and new energy. For now, listeners can check out past episodes, dive deeper into the content on the website, and follow along as the hosts continue sharing conversations that shape the automotive supply chain.
Featured on this episode:
Name: Jan Griffiths
Title: President and Founder, Gravitas Detroit
About: Jan is the architect of cultural change in the automotive industry. As the President & Founder of Gravitas Detroit, Jan brings a wealth of expertise and a passion for transforming company cultures. Additionally, she is the host of the Automotive Leaders Podcast, where she shares insightful conversations with industry visionaries. Jan is also the author of AutoCulture 2.0, a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional leadership model prevalent in the automotive world. With her extensive experience and commitment to fostering positive change, Jan is at the forefront of revolutionizing the automotive landscape.
Connect: LinkedIn
Name: James “Jim” Liegghio
Title: Manager, Customer Experience & Engagement, Automotive Industry Action Group (AIAG)
About: Jim is a seasoned supply chain leader with over 25 years of experience, particularly in the automotive sector. His expertise spans a wide range of areas, from hands-on plant-level material and production control to high-level corporate logistics roles at major OEMs like FCA. He has navigated the complexities of international logistics, trade compliance, and cross-functional collaboration, gaining a global perspective that enhances his approach to supply chain management. He excels at working across departments to achieve strategic goals, with a strong focus on optimizing operations and fostering relationships. His work isn’t just about logistics; it’s about cultivating a culture of continuous improvement, community, and diversity. Throughout his career, Jim has remained committed to lifelong learning, driven by a genuine curiosity and a passion for leadership.
Connect: LinkedIn
Name: Terry Onica
Title: Director, Automotive at QAD
About: For two decades, Terry has been the automotive vertical director of this provider of manufacturing Enterprise Resource Planning software and supply chain solutions. Her career began in the supply chain in the late 1980s when she led a team to implement Electronic Data Interchange for all the Ford assembly and component plants.
Connect: LinkedIn
Mentioned in this episode:
- Check out every episode of the Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast here.
[Transcript]
[00:00:00] Jan Griffiths: This is the Auto Supply Chain Prophets podcast, and we are on a mission to bring you the latest insights and thought leaders leading the charge on supply chain transformation in our beloved automotive industry. This podcast is powered by QAD and AIAG. I'm Jan Griffiths, your host and producer. Let's meet your co-hosts.
[00:00:27] Jim Liegghio: I'm Jim Liegghio from AIAG.
[00:00:29] Terry Onica: I'm Terry Onica from QAD. Let's dive in.
[00:00:36] Jan Griffiths: And here we are, another episode of the Auto Supply Chain Prophets Podcast. It is the last episode with the three hosts, as you know it. And as I look back on the podcast from day one, we have stayed true to our mission.
We are on a mission to provide you leaders in the order supply chain with conversations, informations that will spark something within you to help you improve your supply chain and your operations, and more importantly, prepare for the future. And we have stayed true to that mission. And I am thrilled that we are coming up to our 100th episode.
In 2026, we will release a 100th episode, and only 7% of podcasts actually make it. Why, you might ask? Well, because it is a lot of work, and you better be in it. Your heart, mind and soul needs to be in it, and it truly has to be mission driven. And of course, you have to have an amazing audience, where that content truly resonates.
So, thank you to our wonderful audience for all of your feedback. Over 15,000 downloads in 2025. Over 20 countries. So, wherever you are listening, we appreciate you. Jim, Your thoughts on closing out.
[00:01:58] James Liegghio: Jan, I want to thank you and Terry for being amazing co-hosts throughout this year and championing and bringing in some of these fantastic guests we've had. I would encourage the listeners to go back through our catalog, listen to some of these episode that we've had over the course of the year. Sage advice, fantastic advice. There's some great nuggets out there.
So I would, number one, encourage our audience to go back and check out our back catalog. I wanna say also that AIAG is not going anywhere, we're still here. We're not gonna be on the mic next year, but we're still around and we're still here to collaborate and join us and engage in the future of your supply chain endeavors. We're here, AIAG.org at all points. We have a great staff of 50 employees out here, and that's it. We're not saying goodbye. We're saying we'll see you next year.
[00:02:38] Jan Griffiths: Terry?
[00:02:40] Terry Onica: Jim, I thank you and the AIAG, it's been a great year. It's been so much fun. But one of the things that I really wanna talk about is this podcast, go back, listen to prior episodes. We get so many leaders on here, and even if you're young in your career, to hear what's on their mind, how they deal with problems, what's important to them, I think, is so critical for your career. And learn to be more like them. All of our guests on here are just truly amazing people. They're passionate about what they do, and it really comes out in their episodes. So, I'd say that's the biggest thing for me is take time to listen to these amazing leaders that we've had on the show.
[00:03:20] Jan Griffiths: Yes. And let's not forget, Jim, we know that Terry has announced her retirement. And for those of us in the audience who may not know that, Terry is retiring the end of 2025, and she will be so deeply, deeply missed. The impact that you have had, Terry, on this industry, on the people at all levels, on your colleagues at QAD. You are walking out of the industry with an incredibly strong legacy that you can be proud of, don't you think so, Jim?
[00:03:56] James Liegghio: Agree 110% Jan. She's a consummate professional. While she won't be full-time with QAD next year, we we're not gonna let her get too far in terms of being an AIAG volunteer and me as a running buddy for sure. But no, Terry deserves all the accolades, all the respect that she's been getting these last few weeks that her retirement has made its way out there. Terry, we wish you all the best. And like I said, as an AIAG volunteer and emeritus, you're not getting too far, so don't worry.
[00:04:21] Terry Onica: Yes, for sure. I'll be back doing some part-time work in the industry and working on projects that I love. And I really have to thank QAD for a wonderful 23 years. I got the opportunity to preach supply chain all over the world, was always encouraged by my management at the top to do what I do. And it's just been a great career and I hope many others will be able to have the same experience in your career. Just get out there and try to make a difference every day and you'll have a wonderful run at it.
[00:04:55] Jan Griffiths: That's it. Yes, absolutely. Now, the podcast is not going away. Oh no. We are rebranding, reforming, reformatting, and we will be back in 2026. More details to follow. So, to our beloved audience, happy, happy New Year, and let's make 2026 the best one ever.
We love to hear from our listeners, reach out to any one of us, our contact information is in the show notes. And if you want to dive deeper into our content, check out our website at autosupplychainprophets.com.
