High Point University students recently gained valuable career insights from Sean Suggs, the university's Technology Executive in Residence and former president of Toyota Battery Manufacturing North Carolina. During his visit on April 8, Suggs spoke in the Callicutt Life Skills Theater about the importance of motivation and personal goals in navigating professional careers.
Life Skills and Leadership Session
Suggs led a session titled "Motivation in Motion from the Manufacturing Floor to the C-Suite," where he introduced students to the Japanese concept of ikigai, meaning one's reason for being. He encouraged students to reflect on what motivates them each morning. He also discussed kaizen, the Japanese philosophy of continuous improvement that is central to Toyota's corporate culture.
"You've got to focus on the positive and what motivates you to greatness," Suggs said. "Your professional ikigai is important, but your personal ikigai is more important."
Engagement Beyond the Theater
In addition to the session, Suggs participated in a supply chain management class, shared lunch with business students, held one-on-one coaching sessions, and served as a judge for HPU's 16th annual Business Plan Competition on April 8. He advised students to build their own board of directors by finding a mentor, coach, and sponsor. A mentor provides encouragement, a coach offers skills to learn from, and a sponsor advocates for you when you are not present.
Suggs' Career Journey
Suggs shared his personal story: after college and service in the U.S. Army, he joined Toyota, where he worked for 27 years. Starting on the manufacturing floor, he rose to become president of Toyota's $14 billion investment in North Carolina, supporting electric and plug-in hybrid battery vehicles. He highlighted key turning points, including taking leadership opportunities, overcoming obstacles, and empowering others.
Student Reflections
Nick Sorrells, a junior business administration major from Bel Air, Maryland, noted the impact of the Japanese concepts: "The first things that popped out for me were when he explained kaizen and ikigai – finding that balance between a person's reason for being and what drives us. With kaizen, you're always improving. And his advice to think before you act resonated because we'll make decisions affecting others."
Tyler DeSotle, a sophomore finance major from Warwick, New York, learned the value of clear goals and rewards. "Another small thing: when asked about gaining trust, he said he writes down birthdays and anniversaries. That resonated because as a leader, empathy and understanding are key to earning respect."
