Larry Ott on leadership advice
From How Larry Ott built a talent engine that fuels business growth at Cooper Standard · · Growthspace
“If you have to ask how to develop a good relationship with your CEO or how to get a seat at the table, it means you’re not doing the right things. First and foremost, understand what you’re doing and memorize the business strategy, not just the HR strategy.”
On , Larry Ott, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at COOPER-STANDARD HOLDINGS INC, spoke about leadership advice during How Larry Ott built a talent engine that fuels business growth at Cooper Standard on Growthspace.
About Larry Ott
Larry Ott, Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer at Cooper Standard, discussed his approach to talent strategy and HR leadership in an April 2025 interview. He said that when he joined the company 11 and a half years ago, there were no talent processes, definitions of high potential, or a properly utilized performance management system. Ott stated that his team created a defined talent strategy, built Cooper Standard University, and introduced a three-point performance rating system with an emphasis on written comments and feedback. He described mentoring as a requirement for director-level and above leaders, and said he views HR professionals as needing to be "business people first and HR people second." Ott also reflected on a mistake he made at a previous company, saying he assumed people understood his vision for the HR business partner role and was not prescriptive enough in helping them achieve it. He noted that the role of CHRO has become more strategic over time, citing that in 1992 only 0.5% of CHROs in Fortune 1500 companies were among the top five executives, compared to 13% today. Ott advised HR professionals to understand the business strategy, gain experience on the manufacturing floor if in a manufacturing company, and be transparent in providing feedback.