BROAD EXECUTIVE MBA

In The Driver's Seat

- Elizabeth Krear, Class of 2013
Global Planning: Program Director for Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Electrified Truck Architecture at Stellantis, Auburn Hills, MI

Elizabeth Krear is a driven leader, responsible for some of Stellantis’ most important and profitable vehicles, including the Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, and Jeep Gladiator. Recently promoted to the role of Program Planning Director for the Wagoneer, Grand Wagoneer and Electrified Truck Architecture, Krear had her foot on the ambition pedal even before she started her professional career.

“When I was in high school, my dad asked me what I wanted to do after college,” Krear smiles. “I said, ‘Dad, I want to be a businesswoman.’ I was very firm … I wanted to be a businesswoman. And so, he said, ‘Great, then go get your engineering degree.’ He's an engineer, my brother's an engineer, and so I went and got two engineering degrees, undergraduate and master’s in mechanical engineering. Upon joining the company, Chrysler at the time, I quickly realized, I did not want to just do engineering on a part or a system, I wanted to be a part of the bigger picture.” 

Bold. Brilliant. BOSS.

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That bigger picture, as Krear puts it, meant running a vehicle program from start to finish — she wanted the whole fleet.

“I wanted to work with the team, not only from an engineering perspective, but also from the industrialization aspect of bringing a vehicle to market,” she explains. “I wanted to be involved in the entire process. I made sure that throughout my career, I took on assignments so that I was learning and growing. I checked all the technical and vehicle development boxes, as well as global roles in quality and program management, working towards the ultimate goal of Chief Engineer of a vehicle line.”

Krear reached her goal of Chief Engineer of the Ram 1500 in 2013, and then again in 2017 as the Chief Engineer of the Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Gladiator. Non-coincidentally, 2013 was also the year she graduated from Broad’s Executive MBA program.

“I observed other leaders in the company and a lot of them had gone through the Michigan State MBA program. I said to myself at the time, and eventually to my boss, that I wanted to do that program someday. A few years later, it was offered to me, and I jumped at the chance.”

More than just reaching her professional goals, Krear says she also took away a bigger perspective of business from the EMBA program.

“What I really took away from the program was a global perspective of business,” she says. “Engineering is one element, and you can make a career of it, but it’s just one part of the competitive automotive industry. The MBA helped me to really understand all the elements it takes for a company to be successful. You can have the best engineers and the best technologies, but you also need financial controls, marketing and business planning, quality, and an organizational structure that is efficient. The MBA gives you a whole set of tools to make business decisions to not only delight our customers with innovations and technology, but also deliver margin and profitability in a very competitive market.”

Although getting her MBA was something Krear was excited for, she admits it was a very challenging time in her life and carving out the time could be difficult.  

“At the time I started the program, my children were in middle school, my husband had his own business, and I had taken on a senior manager role,” she says. “I had to figure out how I was going to make it work with all of the competing objectives that I had between family life and professional life. I had to integrate business, being a mom, being a wife, and getting my EMBA into one. Sometimes, there were school projects that I integrated into my work and vice-versa. Some nights, family time meant sitting at the kitchen table studying with the kids.”

Krear mentions she used that kitchen table as a vehicle of integration during those busy times.

“I ordered like 800 jawbreakers, and I put them in a big bowl in the center of the kitchen table — it was a way to entice my kids to come study with me,” Krear explains. “Throughout those 18 months with the MBA program, my kids saw me at that table, and joined me to study or chat about school. I was a consistent example for good study habits at a time in their life when they were just getting ready to start high school. I truly believe those study habits and that discipline carried them through high school and college and contributed to the responsible young adults they are today — who are also both MSU business grads by the way. Go Green!”

Krear’s ability to rise to the occasion and integrate her responsibilities has helped her adopt a “let’s do it” mentality that she’s used time and time again, even before getting her EMBA.

“Years ago, a mentor of mine came to me and said, ‘Elizabeth, there's this position but it means you have to relocate to Austria, and you'll be there for two years, and I need to know by tomorrow.’ So, I went home and talked it over with my husband, we looked at each other, smiled and said, ‘let's just do it.’ Similarly, this happened again with the MBA program. One day my boss came to me and said the company had one more spot to fill in the EMBA program, it was mine if I wanted it, but I needed to commit by the next day. My feeling is when an opportunity comes your way, you take it, and when you do, never look back. If you want it, do it and don’t overthink it. Make the most of the surprises that life throws your way.”

In addition to her experience working in Austria, Krear also has global experience working in Mexico, and has gained a respect and appreciation for diversity and knowledge of international regulatory requirements. She is an active board member on Stellantis Women’s Alliance Business Resource Group and Chair of the Community Committee and in 2020 she received the “100 Leading Women in North American Automotive Industry” recognition by Automotive News.

“I feel like a businesswoman,” she says. “I’m an engineer, but I’m also a businesswoman. My entire career is sort of a metaphor for being in the driver’s seat and taking control of the next big thing. Now, more than ever, I’m going to be using that MBA. I’m very excited about steering into that business planning role.”