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 38: Cooking up ideas in Fuzhou: Alexandra's story at Mercedes-Benz
The Auto Ethnographer with John Stech
49 minutes
1 month ago
EP 38: Cooking up ideas in Fuzhou: Alexandra's story at Mercedes-Benz
Alexandra Strassburger joins John Stech, host of The Auto Ethnographer podcast, with a story that transcends borders, industries, and expectations. Her 11 years living and working in China as a German citizen shaped not only her worldview but also her leadership style, family life, and strategic contributions to one of the world's most iconic automotive brands. In this episode, Alexandra shares how deep cultural immersion—from language learning to Chinese cooking clubs—became the foundation for both personal growth and professional innovation.
Currently Head of IT for Global Sales and Marketing at Mercedes-Benz Cars, Alexandra leads diverse teams across Stuttgart and beyond in shaping the future of digitized, standardized automotive sales. Her career at Mercedes-Benz spans over two decades, with pivotal roles in sales, marketing, R&D, and strategy. But it's her intercultural fluency—honed through years of on-the-ground experience in China—that sets her apart as a global leader.
On the personal side, Alexandra recounts how her early exposure to Chinese culture began at age five, when her father hosted Chinese business partners at their family home. Later, she and her husband made the bold decision to raise their children in a fully local Chinese environment, complete with traditional medicine, Mandarin-speaking caregivers, and dumpling-filled Chinese New Year celebrations. "If you ask me where my home is," she says, "it's in Chaoyang, Beilu in Beijing."
Professionally, Alexandra's time in China was transformative. She helped establish product management in Beijing, built the China Insights division, and led teams through the complexities of a rapidly evolving market. Her leadership journey began with a steep learning curve - "I was very German and very controlling," she admits - but evolved into a hybrid approach that blended German thoroughness with Chinese pragmatism. "That was the magic key," she reflects.
The episode also explores how Alexandra's return to Germany revealed a more international and diverse workplace than the one she had left. She brought back a new mindset - one that values closeness with team members and embraces cultural overlap. "All the fears I brought from Germany were completely useless," she says. "I could just avoid them and learned a lot. I grew a lot there."
Whether you're curious about cross-cultural leadership, global mobility, or the human side of automotive strategy, this conversation offers rich insights and heartfelt reflections. As Alexandra puts it, "We didn't just live in China—we became part of it."
To learn more about The Auto Ethnographer, visit the homepage at https://www.auto-ethnographer.com .
Also follow on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn.
FB page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567929329364
IG page: https://www.instagram.com/auto.ethnographer/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtrD6CPH0KXdKrIRBnTHpuQ
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-auto-ethnographer
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.
