The Auto Ethnographer is a journey into the world’s cultures as told through the lived experiences of people who have crossed borders, navigated unfamiliar norms, and built careers in places far from home. Hosted by global executive and cultural storyteller John Jörn Stech, the show blends personal narrative, cross‑cultural insight, and thoughtful conversation to illuminate how humans adapt, thrive, and sometimes stumble when cultures meet.
John brings a rare perspective: over thirty years working for Mercedes‑Benz, Chrysler Corp (now Stellantis), Volvo Cars, and VinFast, across five continents. His career has taken him from the United States to Germany, Egypt, Russia, Vietnam, and now Thailand -each move reshaping how he understands identity, communication, leadership, and belonging.
While the podcast’s origins were rooted in the global automotive world, its lens has widened. Today, The Auto Ethnographer explores culture first—with guests from business, the arts, education, mobility, technology, and beyond. Automotive voices will still appear, but now as part of a broader tapestry of international experience rather than the sole focus.
What You’ll Hear
- Conversations with expats, repats, and locals who bridge cultures in their work and daily lives
- Stories of adaptation, misunderstanding, humor, and growth
- Insights into how cultural norms shape communication, leadership, trust, and collaboration
- Reflections on identity, belonging, and the emotional realities of living abroad
- Occasional deep dives into the automotive world—through a cultural, not technical, lens
Why “Auto Ethnography”?
Drawing inspiration from the academic method of autoethnography, the show uses personal experience as a window into broader cultural truths. John and his guests explore how assumptions, traditions, values, and emotions shape human behavior, and how those forces play out in workplaces, communities, and cross‑border relationships.
Who This Podcast Is For
The Auto Ethnographer is for anyone fascinated by:
- Global cultures and how people navigate them
- International careers and cross‑cultural leadership
- The human side of globalization
- Stories that reveal how culture shapes success, conflict, and connection
Whether you’re a seasoned global professional, a newcomer preparing for your first international assignment, or simply someone who loves learning how people live and work around the world, this podcast offers insight, empathy, and a few laughs along the way.
About John
Throughout his career, John has worked with thousands of people from dozens of cultures, leading teams, launching brands, and building bridges across borders. His life has been a continuous experiment in cultural adaptation, one he now shares with listeners through candid storytelling and thoughtful dialogue.
The Auto Ethnographer brings those experiences to you: one culture, one conversation, one story at a time.
All content for The Auto Ethnographer with John Stech is the property of John Stech and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
The Auto Ethnographer is a journey into the world’s cultures as told through the lived experiences of people who have crossed borders, navigated unfamiliar norms, and built careers in places far from home. Hosted by global executive and cultural storyteller John Jörn Stech, the show blends personal narrative, cross‑cultural insight, and thoughtful conversation to illuminate how humans adapt, thrive, and sometimes stumble when cultures meet.
John brings a rare perspective: over thirty years working for Mercedes‑Benz, Chrysler Corp (now Stellantis), Volvo Cars, and VinFast, across five continents. His career has taken him from the United States to Germany, Egypt, Russia, Vietnam, and now Thailand -each move reshaping how he understands identity, communication, leadership, and belonging.
While the podcast’s origins were rooted in the global automotive world, its lens has widened. Today, The Auto Ethnographer explores culture first—with guests from business, the arts, education, mobility, technology, and beyond. Automotive voices will still appear, but now as part of a broader tapestry of international experience rather than the sole focus.
What You’ll Hear
- Conversations with expats, repats, and locals who bridge cultures in their work and daily lives
- Stories of adaptation, misunderstanding, humor, and growth
- Insights into how cultural norms shape communication, leadership, trust, and collaboration
- Reflections on identity, belonging, and the emotional realities of living abroad
- Occasional deep dives into the automotive world—through a cultural, not technical, lens
Why “Auto Ethnography”?
Drawing inspiration from the academic method of autoethnography, the show uses personal experience as a window into broader cultural truths. John and his guests explore how assumptions, traditions, values, and emotions shape human behavior, and how those forces play out in workplaces, communities, and cross‑border relationships.
Who This Podcast Is For
The Auto Ethnographer is for anyone fascinated by:
- Global cultures and how people navigate them
- International careers and cross‑cultural leadership
- The human side of globalization
- Stories that reveal how culture shapes success, conflict, and connection
Whether you’re a seasoned global professional, a newcomer preparing for your first international assignment, or simply someone who loves learning how people live and work around the world, this podcast offers insight, empathy, and a few laughs along the way.
About John
Throughout his career, John has worked with thousands of people from dozens of cultures, leading teams, launching brands, and building bridges across borders. His life has been a continuous experiment in cultural adaptation, one he now shares with listeners through candid storytelling and thoughtful dialogue.
The Auto Ethnographer brings those experiences to you: one culture, one conversation, one story at a time.
EP 28: Tim Bravo - leading Lamborghini's Communications by leveraging his multicultural heritage
The Auto Ethnographer with John Stech
48 minutes
4 months ago
EP 28: Tim Bravo - leading Lamborghini's Communications by leveraging his multicultural heritage
Tim Bravo, Director of Communications at Automobili Lamborghini, joins John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer, to discuss how his mixed German-Spanish heritage boosted his career opportunities. Tim has worked with an enviable list of automotive brands from SEAT to Porsche to Bugatti and, ultimately, to Lamborghini.
He was born in Germany but he moved with his family to Barcelona at an early age. Although his father is of Spanish descent, Spanish was not spoken in the household. Tim took things into his own hands and learned both Spanish and Catalan on the streets of Barcelona through his friends even as he attended a German school.
Sixteen years after having returned to Germany to finish his primary school education and university, fate brought him back to Barcelona. A fortuitous connection to the SEAT Communications Department led to a job offer and several years working with the iconic Spanish brand owned by the Volkswagen Group.
Fate took another twist that brought Tim to Porsche's communications group in the brand's Stuttgart home. But soon thereafter, the company leveraged Tim's communications expertise and language skills in Porsche Cars Latin America, based in Miami. From here he would manage brand communications across South and Central America plus the Caribbean.
Still in the Volkswagen Group's orbit, Tim's next stop was in France with the super-premium Bugatti brand which then led directly to Sant' Agata, Italy and his current role with Lamborghini.
Through all of this Tim approached life with humility and authenticity, never diverging from his own upbringing and persona. He views life and fate in a clear, open-eyed manner, always knowing that curveballs will be thrown. And he is ready for them.
In this podcast Tim shares the story of his upbringing in two countries, his heritage, his career, and his approach to life lived in cultures not his own. It is informative and deeply inspiring.
To learn more about the Auto Ethnographer and for links to all podcast platforms, follow the link to the homepage. https://www.auto-ethnographer.com [https://www.auto-ethnographer.com/]
Check out our Instagram here [https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/].
Check out our YouTube Channel here [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQ].
The Auto Ethnographer with John Stech
The Auto Ethnographer is a journey into the world’s cultures as told through the lived experiences of people who have crossed borders, navigated unfamiliar norms, and built careers in places far from home. Hosted by global executive and cultural storyteller John Jörn Stech, the show blends personal narrative, cross‑cultural insight, and thoughtful conversation to illuminate how humans adapt, thrive, and sometimes stumble when cultures meet.
John brings a rare perspective: over thirty years working for Mercedes‑Benz, Chrysler Corp (now Stellantis), Volvo Cars, and VinFast, across five continents. His career has taken him from the United States to Germany, Egypt, Russia, Vietnam, and now Thailand -each move reshaping how he understands identity, communication, leadership, and belonging.
While the podcast’s origins were rooted in the global automotive world, its lens has widened. Today, The Auto Ethnographer explores culture first—with guests from business, the arts, education, mobility, technology, and beyond. Automotive voices will still appear, but now as part of a broader tapestry of international experience rather than the sole focus.
What You’ll Hear
- Conversations with expats, repats, and locals who bridge cultures in their work and daily lives
- Stories of adaptation, misunderstanding, humor, and growth
- Insights into how cultural norms shape communication, leadership, trust, and collaboration
- Reflections on identity, belonging, and the emotional realities of living abroad
- Occasional deep dives into the automotive world—through a cultural, not technical, lens
Why “Auto Ethnography”?
Drawing inspiration from the academic method of autoethnography, the show uses personal experience as a window into broader cultural truths. John and his guests explore how assumptions, traditions, values, and emotions shape human behavior, and how those forces play out in workplaces, communities, and cross‑border relationships.
Who This Podcast Is For
The Auto Ethnographer is for anyone fascinated by:
- Global cultures and how people navigate them
- International careers and cross‑cultural leadership
- The human side of globalization
- Stories that reveal how culture shapes success, conflict, and connection
Whether you’re a seasoned global professional, a newcomer preparing for your first international assignment, or simply someone who loves learning how people live and work around the world, this podcast offers insight, empathy, and a few laughs along the way.
About John
Throughout his career, John has worked with thousands of people from dozens of cultures, leading teams, launching brands, and building bridges across borders. His life has been a continuous experiment in cultural adaptation, one he now shares with listeners through candid storytelling and thoughtful dialogue.
The Auto Ethnographer brings those experiences to you: one culture, one conversation, one story at a time.
