Crossing borders in the auto industry
Last updated on August 26th, 2022
Hello! I’m Steve Goyet, Head of European Business Development at Acerta. I’m excited to be part of the team, and to share my experience working internationally in the auto industry
Buckle Up, we’re about to travel back in time to where I started.
About Me
I received my undergraduate and master’s degree in mechanical engineering from INSA Lyon, one of the leading engineering schools in France. In the course of my training as an engineer, I developed an appreciation for entrepreneurship and the work that goes into building and running a business. I was particularly interested in start-ups and accelerators, so I chose to pursue a master’s degree in entrepreneurial and small business operations at IAE Lyon.
Between my interests in mechanical engineering and business, the automotive industry was a natural next move. There are plenty of opportunities to network, and I’ve always enjoyed learning the ins and outs of how a project is manufactured. I also really appreciate the opportunity to meet with so many capable and determined people. I’ve always had a good experience with exchanging ideas and working with others in this industry.
Automotive Experience in North America & Europe
My first professional engineering experience came from working as an intern for an international automotive supplier. This wasn’t so different from many of my peers, except for a twist: I spent one year working in France and one working in the United States. It was a brand new continent, and I had to adapt to a new environment and a new culture. One thing I learned very quickly about automotive was that, no matter where you’re working, everyone is under the same pressures.
After that, I spent some time at a civil engineering start-up based in France. I enjoyed the experience, but it didn’t have the same feel as automotive-and it wasn’t an international role. I returned to the automotive space via another start-up a year later as International Partnership Manager. I was still working in France but focusing on expanding our footprint in Europe and in the US.
After that, I spent some time at a civil engineering start-up based in France. I enjoyed the experience, but it didn’t have the same feel as automotive-and it wasn’t an international role. I returned to the automotive space via another start-up a year later as International Partnership Manager. I was still working in France but focusing on expanding our footprint in Europe and in the US.
The biggest challenge you see working internationally is translation; I think Google has made a lot of us take the difficulties of translating technical content for granted. But communicating complex ideas like predictive analytics or the difference between statistical process control and machine learning is no simple task. Getting this information across requires people who speak the same language, whether that’s English, French or automotive!
My passion for working internationally comes from a need for personal growth. It started when I did an exchange year at the University of Leeds during my undergrad. That got me out of my comfort zone when it came to learning and improving my English. Once I reached the point where communicating with English speakers was less of a struggle and more of a pleasure, working internationally really appealed to me.
My passion for working internationally comes from a need for personal growth. It started when I did an exchange year at the University of Leeds during my undergrad. That got me out of my comfort zone when it came to learning and improving my English. Once I reached the point where communicating with English speakers was less of a struggle and more of a pleasure, working internationally really appealed to me.
(Not Just) Another Automotive Start-Up
When I made a connection with Acerta’s CEO, Greta Cutulenco, via a mutual acquaintance on LinkedIn, the timing couldn’t have been better. I was looking for a job in Europe focusing on international markets, and Greta was looking for someone to champion Acerta’s European business development.
What really convinced me was Acerta’s technical expertise. I’ve worked in the auto industry long enough to know what’s needed and I’ve been involved with enough start-ups to know when they can really deliver. Acerta checks both boxes, and that makes my job as a business developer much easier. I know that if I bring a project to our technical team, they’ll be able to handle it
The Auto Industry's Future
When most people think of automotive start-ups, they think of self-driving cars. Between the growth of the electric vehicle market and the potential of autonomous vehicles, it certainly is an exciting time to be working in the autmotive! But even as we move away from car ownership and toward a sharing economy, we still need to manufacture new vehicles.
The key differentiator going forward isn’t going to be which Ev battery offers the most range or which AV is the safest. Just look at the auto industry now: How much difference is there between the best and worst fuel efficiencies for vehicles in the same class? how much safer is one crossover compared to another? The fact is, quality will determine the winners and losers in the next generation of competition among automakers.
What makes an OEM or automotive supplier win out over their competitors – yesterday, today and tomorrow – is the quality of their products. That’s the need Acerta is addressing, and that’s why I’m happy to be a part of it.
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