"There Is Only One Reliable Advocate You Will Always Have — Yourself." How Harley-Davidson's Head of Motorcycle Strategy Ashwini Built Her Career Without a Long-Term Sponsor
About this episode
Ashwini discusses her experiences with self-advocacy and navigating a male-dominated industry without a long-term sponsor.
She Told Her Director "Your Actions Don't Support That Opinion." He Apologized. Harley-Davidson's Ashwini on Self-Advocacy, Disrespect, and Owning Your Career She had a new director who made every interaction feel disrespectful — no matter the topic, no matter how well she was performing. It wasn't the work. It was the treatment. She hit her limit, went to her manager, and said: "There are only two paths. I have a crucial conversation with the director, or we go different directions." The meeting was scheduled. She opened by asking the director directly what he thought of her work. He praised her for two minutes. Then she said: "Your actions don't support that opinion. I don't feel respected when we interact. I don't feel wanted in this department." He was taken aback. He apologized. They reset. She went into that meeting prepared to lose her job if she had to — and she walked out with a relationship she could actually work in. Ashwini holds a bachelor's and master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan. She spent over 20 years in automotive before moving to the motorcycle industry, where she is now Head of Motorcycle Development Strategy and Operations at…
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