What happens when hard work, humility, and a love of cars collide?
Toyota Motor North America’s Senior VP of Automotive Operations, Andrew Gilleland, joins Jason Stein to share his remarkable rise from teaching skiing in Colorado to becoming one of Toyota’s top leaders.
In this episode of Full Throttle, Andrew reveals how a random encounter on a chairlift launched his career — and why the mindset of “be great every day” still guides him today. He explains what makes Toyota different: a 50-to-100-year outlook, authentic relationships with dealers, and a culture grounded in accountability, Kaizen, and long-term trust.
In this conversation:
• How a ski-lift conversation led to 30+ years at Toyota
• Imposter syndrome, early struggles & a relentless work ethic
• Toyota’s long-game philosophy: “We get paid on decades”
• The dealer network that refuses to be fooled
• Why you learn more from losing than winning
Andrew’s story is a masterclass in perseverance, culture, and the business of cars.