Roxana and Florian Rohde are the founders of iProcess LLC, a consulting firm that specializes in helping automotive R&D executives achieve better software and product quality by applying process models such as Automotive SPICE. Roxana’s extensive experience in the automotive industry includes working with leading car manufacturers such as BMW, Audi, Fiat-Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Mercedes-Benz. Before starting the firm, she was a software quality engineer at Continental Automotive, where she led cross-functional teams and improved customer satisfaction through various tools and methodologies.
Florian, on the other hand, has a background in mechatronics engineering and has worked with well-known automotive companies such as Bosch, SiemensVDO, and NIO. However, the most significant part of his career is his role as the founder, manager, and first member of the vehicle software validation team at Tesla Motors. During his time at Tesla, he invented the software-defined vehicle and built an end-to-end automated testing pipeline that allowed for hundreds of software releases over the years. Florian’s experience at Tesla is what sets him apart in the automotive industry and is one of the driving forces behind his success at iProcess LLC.
Co-founders with Complementary Expertise and Responsibilities
As 50/50 partners at iProcess LLC, Roxana and Florian share responsibility for the overall success of the company. While their individual technical backgrounds form the foundation of their work, they also recognize the value of combining their abilities and knowledge to tackle cutting-edge projects.
Roxana’s key role and responsibility as a co-founder lie in utilizing her extensive knowledge and experience in the automotive field to drive software program improvements and enhance product quality for clients. With her expertise in quality management systems such as Automotive SPICE, she leads cross-functional teams to achieve high results and improve customer satisfaction.
Florian’s key role and responsibility, on the other hand, is to facilitate the creation and implementation of development and validation strategies for clients. As an experienced engineer with a background in mechatronics, he brings a unique perspective to the table and ensures that clients receive customized solutions that provide the most value.
Creating a Motivating and Inclusive Workplace Culture
Roxana and Florian are experienced leaders who understand the importance of motivating and inspiring their teams to achieve their goals and objectives. They lead by example and provide tailored guidance depending on the team size, experience, and understanding of the industry. Roxana and Florian believe that the cookie-cutter approach does not work. Instead, they work closely with their teams to identify the strengths and weaknesses of each member and develop customized plans for success.
To ensure a positive and inclusive workplace, Roxana and Florian prioritize open communication and collaboration among team members. They encourage their team to share their ideas and perspectives freely and are always willing to listen and provide constructive feedback. They understand that diversity and inclusion are crucial to a successful team and actively work to create an environment that values and embraces different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives.
Roxana and Florian also make an effort to recognize and celebrate their team’s accomplishments and milestones, both big and small. They understand the importance of showing appreciation and giving credit where credit is due, which helps to build a sense of pride and ownership among team members.
Challenges of a Female Consultant in a Male-Dominated Industry
Roxana mentions that she faced challenges at the beginning of her journey. Clients tried to negotiate with her more on pricing, questioned her skills and knowledge before she could speak, and sometimes hired her not to follow her advice. While she is not sure if these challenges were gender-specific or consulting-specific, it is worth noting that the tech industry, in general, has been historically male-dominated. Women often face challenges such as discrimination, bias, and a lack of representation in leadership positions. To overcome these challenges, Roxana chose to focus on being an excellent service provider and helping her clients achieve their best results. She did not let any gender-specific or consulting-specific challenges define her or limit her capabilities.
Key Advice for Aspiring Automotive Leaders
Florian and Roxana have two pieces of advice for aspiring leaders in the automotive industry. Firstly, they recommend mastering the understanding of system interactions and multi-system integration, as this is where the current challenges and opportunities lie in the industry. With the integration of more and more complex solutions, leaders who can navigate these system interactions and ensure successful validation will be highly valuable.
Secondly, they advise that aspiring leaders need to be prepared for the non-technical aspects of the business when founding and growing a company. Overhead tasks such as accounting, legal, tax, and HR can consume a significant amount of time and energy, and it’s important to be prepared for this reality. Additionally, it is essential to balance technical problem-solving with a focus on business aspects to ensure sustainable growth and success.
Driving Transformation Toward Software-defined Vehicles
Roxana and Florian’s goals for the future of iProcess are to be a driving force in the automotive industry’s transformation towards software-defined vehicles. They want to continue to provide high-quality software process improvement and training services while also expanding their portfolio to include fields such as functional safety and cyber security. They hope to be at the forefront of innovation in the industry and help their clients achieve the best results by providing expertise in multi-system integration and validation. Additionally, they want to continue to support and empower women in the industry and mentor the next generation of leaders.
iProcess LLC’s Tailored Solutions for Start-ups and Established Manufacturers
iProcess LLC is a leading provider of automotive process improvement and consulting services. Founded in 2014, the company has evolved to offer a wide range of cutting-edge services to support both start-ups and established car manufacturers. With a focus on helping clients navigate the changing landscape of the automotive industry, iProcess offers flexible and tailored solutions to meet the unique needs of each client. From process and strategy definitions for start-ups to modern and agile development and validation strategies for established manufacturers, iProcess has the skills, knowledge, and experience to drive success. The company prides itself on being a translator of sorts, able to speak the language of both start-ups and big tech and bring them together for mutually beneficial collaborations.
Also Read: The 10 Innovative Leaders in the Automotive Industry, 2024.
