ROLE MODELSHIP

Case Study 2 : GPS Routes

Highway 121 leading up Napa Valley, California is colorful in the Fall. As you’re driving, you’re listening to an AI recording of an interview.

As a seasoned Chief Product Officer (CPO) candidate, Rene has been invited to interview with Meeni, the CTO of the software division of the high-profile $1B European autonomous vehicle company HeroMash. Rene’s discussion with the new CEO Bill, her new potential boss, is scheduled for today, right after your interview at Cakebread Cellars in St. Helena, CA, where the autonomous cars are being tested.

Meeni, CTO (and friends with Bill), mentions that she came out of retirement for this role, about a year ago. She is known for her technical prowess and is also infamous for her micromanagement and detractor modelship behavior.

The company has had financial challenges and recently went from being a public company to a private company with a very aggressive, prescriptive cost-cutting investor. A well respected CRO you know, Ray Dean, just left the company for a smaller startup with more role modelship focus.

CTO Meeni proudly mentions that she publicly committed at a large conference to deliver critical features for the company’s flagship self-driving car by a fixed date—a promise widely regarded as overly ambitious and unachievable given the timeline and current resources.

The five critical features include:

1. Full Autonomous Navigation in Urban Environments: The HeroMash car must navigate complex city streets with no human intervention, including handling pedestrian traffic, unpredictable cyclists, and erratic bike drivers.
2. Real-time Hazard Detection and Evasion: A system to instantly identify road hazards like sudden obstacles (wine bottles, HeroMash bike tires, skateboards) and weather changes and autonomously execute safe evasive maneuvers.
3. Seamless V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) Communication: The car must communicate with traffic lights (horizontal and vertical), road signs, the Napa HeroMash Train, and other vehicles to anticipate and respond to traffic changes dynamically.
4. Advanced Passenger Personalization: An AI-driven system to customize the ride experience based on passenger preferences, including temperature, routes, entertainment, and seating adjustments.
5. Fail-Safe Emergency Takeover: An automatic handover system that seamlessly shifts control to the driver if the AI encounters a situation beyond its capabilities, with instant alerts and intuitive controls.

Meeni also highlights to Rene the three key internal objectives:

• Reduce the number of HeroMash autonomous car accidents with the HeroMash bicycles by 90%. There are software code stream deployment issues causing glitches in the last three releases.
• Cut cloud AI cost by 20% and implement muti-vendor cloud strategy.
• Increase Ideal Customer Profile (ICP) pipeline by 10%.

Throughout the interview, based on the AI recording, it’s clear that the CTO Meeni views Rene not as a strategic peer and a partner but as a potential scapegoat. Meeni even mentions that Rene may want to report to her for the first year. That makes you cringe. You can’t help but think that when others are detractor role models, the team needs to double down on multipliers with the courage to provide feedback. You also wonder what type of rewards exist to encourage or discourage this type of behavior.

Meeni frequently refers to the urgent need for Rene to “own delivery,” a veiled signal for transferring the impending failure of these promises onto other shoulders. The CTO’s questions center not on innovation or product strategy but on how Rene would handle missed deadlines, cope with public scrutiny, and manage a stressed team already reeling from constant micromanagement and poor employee engagement results.

Despite the enticing opportunity to shape a groundbreaking product, the signs are clear: the CTO is looking to hire someone to absorb the fallout of her over-promises. Accepting the role would mean Rene would have to step into a minefield where accountability is misaligned, success is unlikely, and blame is almost certain to be deflected onto her or even you.

Meeni reminds Rene that she is the ideal candidate because of a HeroMash bicycle accident Rene’s son had six months ago, where Rene admitted publicly her son was distracted by his cell phone and ran into the HeroMash autonomous vehicle. You’re very impressed when Rene asks about what human values and economic benefits are rewarded in the HeroMash culture and talks about working backward from rewards to achieve results.

Rene’s voice is clear on the AI recording when she says: “There are three types of dates: desired, target, and committed. It sounds like the HeroMash culture could use some better definitions of dates and a process for communicating commitments internally and externally. I’m happy to help. The example is set from the top, so I’m looking forward to having a discussion with you on where you see room for improvement.”

You hear Meeni take a pause.

“Dates are the tip of the iceberg,” Rene says. “In autonomous vehicles, the route on the GPS is just the dashboard display—what lies beneath is a vast network of sensors, AI decision-making, real-time adjustments, and unforeseen road conditions.

Much like a project plan, a self-driving car’s journey isn’t just about setting a destination. It’s about continuously adapting to traffic, recalculating for detours, handling unexpected obstacles, and ensuring a smooth ride—all while staying aligned with the ultimate goal.”

Before meeting with Bill, the CEO, Rene gets to interview you, Marie McGyver, a former CEO and now a HeroMash Go-To-Market strategy advisor.

As you approach Cakebread Cellars in St. Helena, you’re greeted by shimmering vineyards that stretch over gentle, sun-drenched hills. There are at least three dozen HeroMash bicycles parked in the front. The winery’s sleek, rustic architecture harmonizes with the natural landscape, inviting visitors into a serene, yet vibrant environment. The setting is picture-perfect—rows of grapevines basking in golden light, framed by lush gardens and oak trees, with the gentle breeze carrying the earthy aromas of Napa Valley. The sense of place is enhanced by their sustainably crafted wines, making it a destination as captivating as the flavors it produces.

What is your place as a role model to interview, coach and advise Rene and Meeni?

You step out of your not-so-fancy car and step into the white HeroMash autonomous vehicle for the interview with Rene.

You are Marie. You know the history of why Ray Dean (CRO), left from the previous case study. What would you role model during the interview with Rene and after? How would you encourage Rene and Meeni to channel their best role models to demo stewardship, fellowship, mentorship, leadership and sponsorship?