Originally from Ireland, Aine Denari relocated to the U.S. at age 22 to pursue graduate studies in mechanical engineering. She was drawn to innovations happening in the automotive industry, launching her career as a Ford Motor Company engineer and later, becoming vice president for a German company developing autonomous driving, shared access, and electric vehicles.
“I was at the center of driving transformative change in the automotive industry, which brought with it many teething problems along with great opportunities,” Aine recalls.
In 2018, Aine found herself at a crossroads in her career. Although she already held an MBA and multiple engineering degrees, she wanted to develop her potential as a leader. “I wanted to have more engagement on leadership, communication, influencing, and mindsets,” Aine says. She enrolled in the six-week, full-time, in-person Stanford Graduate School of Business (GSB) Executive Education Stanford Executive Program (SEP).
Learning in the “Heart of Innovation”
“Stanford is at the very heart of innovation, and technology leadership was a big draw for me,” Aine shares. She was drawn to SEP’s rigorous, comprehensive curriculum, as well as to its extracurricular activities such as meditation and yoga designed to cultivate wellness and balance. And she welcomed the opportunity to learn alongside other global business leaders. “We were a diverse group in terms of industries and backgrounds — all successful executives with a lot to bring to the table,” she notes.
“It was such an honor and a privilege to take six weeks away from daily life and engage in the incredible academics, activities, and lectures,” Aine says. SEP’s three key academic curriculum themes — leading people, leading organizations, and leading global systems — provided the frameworks, knowledge, tools, and a roadmap for her professional development and personal transformation.
Accelerating Professional Leadership Growth
Aine says she emerged from the Stanford Executive Program with robust leadership and management skills to chart a course for team and company success. She rose to the level of senior vice president and general manager of her company’s global division overseeing the development of autonomous driving systems.
Aine credits the program with helping her transition from an execution-focused mindset to one centered on motivation and influence. “At SEP, I learned how to lead teams, motivate people, and get the most out of groups. That’s something I have tried to live by in all of my daily work, wherever I am. I encourage people to collaborate and support each other, because only good things will come.”
Two years after SEP, Aine discovered new horizons — joining Brunswick Corporation, a leader in marine recreation. In 2024, she became president of the company’s Navico Group, comprising brands that serve the marine, RV, specialty vehicle, and industrial markets. She also serves as Brunswick’s chief technology officer.
Lasting Impact of the Stanford Executive Program
SEP helped Aine become a catalyst for “developing a culture of innovation and collaboration, scaling my organization, and driving change.” It also helped her appreciate team members’ various perspectives, “as we want to make sure we listen to and consider those as we’re thinking about what the future solution should be.”
Aine keeps reminders of her SEP ‘18 experience close. On her office desk are several framed quotations from program faculty. She reads a couple out loud.
“This is from [strategic communication lecturer] Matt Abrahams: ‘It is not what you want to say, but rather what the other person needs to hear that’s important.’” Aine reaches for another. “Here’s one from [organizational behavior lecturer] Bill Barnett: ‘Your job as a leader is not to know what’s next. It’s to create a system that discovers what’s next.’”
The framed quotes have travelled with her as she’s advanced as a leader in the automotive and marine recreation industries. “I still look at them, and they ring true,” she says. “They are a great reminder of some of the key learnings and highlights, as well as some of the incredible people.”
Forging Lifelong Global Connections
Aine stays in touch with her SEP ‘18 cohort through a GSB WhatsApp group and by attending reunions (typically hosted by SEP alumni around the globe), when she can. “Such great friendships were created during those six weeks,” she says. “We were such an active, engaged, involved, energetic group that our network is second to none.”
Aine will keep tapping into her SEP network — and leveraging the benefits of being part of the GSB alumni community — as she innovates, inspires, and leads within her industry. “Eight years later, to see that continued level of engagement from such a global group is pretty outstanding.”
Interested in learning more about this program?
Explore Stanford Executive Program details, curriculum, schedule, and more.
