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When people in the automotive world talk about leaders who bring out the best in others, Kim Less's name always surfaces. As Vice President of aftersales for Nissan Americas, she leads a team of more than 1,600 people in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and South America.

Her leadership philosophy? Constant gentle pressure. The phrase, which came from Danny Meyer, perfectly captures how Kim shows up daily. 

To her, "constant" means persistence and accountability. "Gentle" means having your team's back while guiding them toward growth. And "pressure" is the drive to win, move with urgency, and deliver. Together, they form the balance she strives for: leading with calm confidence but never without expectation.

At Nissan, Kim has spent years redefining what aftersales means inside the organization. For her, aftersales isn't an "afterthought," it's the engine that fuels brand loyalty and future sales. 

Leading across multiple countries means managing different cultures, languages, and expectations. Kim talks about how she's brought the entire Americas region together as one unified team. She does that by traveling to meet teams in person and building relationships and credibility. Over time, those consistent actions turned into a shared culture built on mutual respect and accountability.

As the automotive industry evolves, Nissan is focused on simplifying its processes to make quicker decisions. Kim recalls working with the dealer advisory board to streamline 60 dealer-facing programs; removing or simplifying two-thirds to sharpen focus on what truly matters. 

To her, simplification isn't about doing less; it's about removing distractions so teams can move faster and stay focused on impact.

She ties that same thinking to the importance of trust inside organizations. Once people trust each other and the data and systems they rely on, they no longer waste time validating every decision. That's when speed naturally follows. 

She also reflects on the personal side of leadership and the lessons from finding balance. Earlier in her career, while raising twins, she often hesitated to step away from work for family events. Over time, she learned that setting boundaries wasn't a weakness but a necessity. 

Now, she mentors others, urging them to "own their calendar," set limits, and protect their well-being. It's advice she lives by and passes down to emerging leaders who often feel pressured to choose between career and personal life.

Themes discussed in this episode:

• How Kim Less applies “constant gentle pressure” to balance accountability, empathy, and performance in leading Nissan Aftersales Americas
• The leadership lessons Kim Less learned from Saturn and GM that shaped her people-first approach at Nissan
• Why calm leadership and consistency drive stronger team alignment across multiple cultures and regions in the Americas
• The business case for aftersales as a core growth engine that strengthens brand loyalty and customer lifetime value
• The transformation of Nissan’s Aftersales organization through simplification, streamlined programs, and faster decision-making
• The process of uniting 1,600 employees across North and South America under one shared vision and operating model
• The importance of visiting markets and building relationships in person to earn credibility and alignment
• How setting boundaries, owning your calendar, and leading with authenticity sustain energy and focus in high-pressure roles

Featured guest: Kim Less

What she does: As Vice President of Aftersales for Nissan Americas, Kim Less leads the organization’s mission to strengthen customer satisfaction, brand loyalty, and profitability across North and South America. Since her appointment in 2022, she has guided aftersales strategy, dealer operations, and parts logistics with a focus on delivering exceptional ownership experiences. With more than 30 years in global supply chain, manufacturing, engineering, and aftersales, Kim combines operational expertise with a people-first leadership style that’s earned her wide respect across the industry.

Episode Highlights:

[03:34] Constant. Gentle. Pressure.: Kim shares the simple philosophy that defines her leadership: steady persistence, genuine care, and the right kind of pressure to keep her team moving forward together.

[07:07] Where It All Began: Kim reflects on her early years at Saturn and GM, where hands-on experience and teamwork shaped the foundation of how she leads today.

[08:29] Leading with Energy: Among the 21 traits of Authentic Leaders, Positive energy, Kim says, can change the tone of a room, lift people through chaos, and turn tough moments into opportunities for progress.

[12:14] Rethinking Aftersales: Aftersales isn’t an afterthought — it’s the engine of brand loyalty and future sales, turning every service visit into a lasting customer relationship.

[17:49] One Team, One Vision: Bringing together diverse teams across the Americas, Kim led Nissan Aftersales to operate as one unified organization with shared goals and faster results.

[19:48] The Trust Formula: Bringing a diverse team together, Kim credits persistence and genuine relationships as the real secret. Taking the time to visit each market, listen, and build trust until collaboration becomes second nature.

[23:31] Steady in the Storm: When everything’s shifting, Kim believes leadership means staying calm, being honest about the challenges, and showing up for your people so they don’t lose their footing.

[28:15] Speed Through Trust: For Kim, real speed starts with trust. When people believe in the data, the systems, and each other, decisions move faster, complexity fades, and the whole organization starts to flow.

[32:23] Faith, Family, and Coke Zero: Between morning reflections, family time, and a daily Coke Zero, Kim shares the simple routines and guilty pleasures that keep her grounded outside the office.

[35:06] Owning Your Calendar title: Kim admits she once hesitated to set boundaries but learned that real leadership means taking control of your time; showing that balance isn’t weakness, it’s strength.

Top Quotes:

[14:07] Kim: “A lot of what I do within our company and externally and within dealerships is explain the importance of aftersales. What it can do to your business, what it can do to our business. Here's an interesting data point: A vehicle owner who services with their dealership is three times more likely to purchase their next vehicle from that dealership. Think about that. Think about the importance of servicing with the dealership, how important that is to brand loyalty, 'cause my role is driving brand loyalty through positive ownership experiences and then keeping that customer for life. So, they come back and drop future sales, they'll buy another new car or truck or SUV from us.”

[26:03] Kim: “I'm the kind of person that I'm gonna step up and say, that's on me, right? That's on me. I'm gonna think differently next time. And I encourage my team to call me out like I wanna be challenged. I wanna be challenged as a leader. And no reason not to speak up and say, "Let's rethink this. I'm not sure that's the right path. Let's try something different." I'm all about that.”

[31:21] Kim: “Taking out complexity, getting really focused on what matters most to us, which is selling cars, parts, accessories. Keeping customers on that journey with us, growing our business. So, again, simplification can be an enabler to speed. We're taking that approach. It's working. So, we're gonna keep going down that path, 'cause I think to really be out in front in our industry right now, you've gotta go faster.”

[38:07] Kim: “Be your best at work and mental well-being. Own your calendar. Draw those lines. Set the boundaries.”