Description

Host: Krishna Prasad

Guest: Angelin Mary, Vice President – Vehicle Software, Daimler Truck Innovation Center

Episode Summary:

In this insightful episode of the Full Stack Leadership Podcast, host Krishna Prasad engages in a rich and deeply reflective conversation with Angelin Mary, a seasoned R&D leader and currently the VP of Vehicle Compute Platform Software at Daimler Truck Innovation Center. From starting as a DRDO scientist to becoming a business- and technology-impact leader in the global automotive space, Angelin shares powerful stories of her growth, adaptability, and leadership courage. This episode touches on how leaders can navigate role transitions, learn across functions, handle vulnerability, and ultimately create meaningful business impact.

Key Leadership Insights:

• Transitions Build Depth: Moving from software architecture to program management and later to people leadership opened up new dimensions of influence and empathy.
• Influence Without Authority: Early roles taught her how to work across functions without direct control, a foundation for later senior roles.
• Preparation + Learning Mindset: Preparation, including learning new domains or functions deeply, helps leaders build credibility and effectiveness.
• Leadership is Personal: Emotional resilience and support systems, including family and mentors, play a vital role in leadership development.
• Adapt Coaching to Personalities: Leaders should coach by sharing experiences rather than offering prescriptions, recognizing diverse styles.
• Context-Aware Communication: Adjusting your message and detail depending on the audience's level is critical, especially when speaking to senior leaders.
• Vulnerability with Courage: True strength in leadership is being confident enough to admit what you don’t know and build trust through authenticity.
• Peer Learning is Gold: Unusual learning moments — like observing peer reviews — can offer powerful insights.
• Tough and Competent Leadership: The concept of "tough and competent" leadership, which extends beyond physical or mental toughness to encompass "steel trap accountability".
• Business Impact Requires Acumen: Understanding your dot in the larger business picture, and striving to contribute to both top- and bottom-line, is essential.

Quotable Knowledge Nuggets:

"This is your choice. You stepped out of your comfort zone — own it."

"You don’t have to solve it like me. Solve it like you — your style, your values."

"Find your dot in the business landscape and ask: What value do I add here?"

"Coaching is not giving advice. It’s offering your experience so others can choose what fits them."

"Being tough is about steel-trap accountability, not aggression."

"Focus on your goals. The noise is just a distraction."

Resources & Connect:

• Visit us at: https://www.pm-powerconsulting.com/full-stack-leadershipcast/

• Follow Full Stack Leadership Podcast on Spotify /Amazon musi / LinkedIn / YouTube for more such leadership journeys



• Connect with the host on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dr-krishna-prasad

• Connect with Angelin Mary on LinkedIn, :https://www.linkedin.com/in/angelinmary/

• Learn more about Daimler Truck Innovation Center: [Website]

Enjoyed this episode? Share your favorite quote and tag us! Let’s keep growing together.

#Leadershipcast #Full-StackLeadership

About our Guest:

Angelin Mary is the VP – Vehicle Compute Platform Software in Daimler Truck Innovation Center

Angelin is passionate about what she does and helps growing people and business that she is associated with. She believes in steel strap accountability with competence to get to her team’s goals. She is leading a global Cross-Functional department responsible for High-Performance Vehicle Compute Platforms for DTOS Architecture which is a crucial element in Daimler Truck’s Software Defined Vehicle (SDV) strategy. Before Daimler Truck, Angelin was Director Engineering in Honeywell Technology Solutions responsible for Building Management Systems. And prior to this, she was a Chief Engineer in Aptiv responsible for Systems Validation for a variety of Automotive functions ranging from ADAS to Infotainment to Communication Gateways. 

Angelin is a Graduate Computer Science Engineer and holds a Masters Degree in Software Systems from BITS Pilani. She is regularly featured in leading Auto-Tech magazines for her thought-leadership. She is also an active member of ‘Women in Tech’ forums.