America the Beautiful: My three days with MINI USA

It’s rare that national journalists, like myself get to leave the confines of our desks, offices, or mobile devices and actually engage with our “news-stories” in real time.

I had such an opportunity this past week with executives, staff, interns, and owners of MINIUSA, as we literally motored across the heartland of the USA from Memphis to Chicago.  The annual trek “Mini Takes the States” is one that usually draws lots of local media attention, and community engagement as the cars roll through for gas stops, lodging, food, and events. But, I was provided a first-hand view of the company, its leaders, and its “culture” in an up close and personal way that I will never forget as a journalist, and more importantly as a person who greatly loves her country.

The most amazing thing about this three day trek for me, was the time I spent in the car with MINIUSA Marketing Director, Tom Salkowsky on my last leg on the trip from St. Louis, Missouri to Chicago, Illinois. Tom is one of the most senior people in the MINI leadership, and deservedly so. Tom and I embarked on a side-bar journey that took us through some of Missouri’s most scenic and historic small towns, ending us up in Springfield, Illinois looking at President Lincoln’s gravesite, family home, and Presidential Library.  It was also a great time to connect as human beings, share our life stories, backgrounds, and ultimately tie it all in to the great European, turned American brand known as: MINIUSA.

While I don’t want to say too much in this blog (because I intend to file several national stories on my observations), I wanted to simply pen a blog to say that this journalist is not easily impressed, yet I am more than impressed with MINIUSA. I am so impressed and engaged in and with the culture of owners, staff, and executives that I met during my journey, that I too will buy a MINI car at some point next year, and commit to being part of the trek in 2016 (as both a writer and owner).

The long and short of what I experienced with the MINIUSA family, is just that: It felt like a family.  The “culture” is both palpable and positive. I looked long and hard for someone or something to make me go, “hmmm?” Fortunately, I never found it. I am often called upon by Fortune 100 firms to speak, coach and help train women leaders. I see literally hundreds and thousands of senior corporate leaders, managers, and staff interact. Yet, in all of my years as a top trainer and best-selling author of books about women, leadership and culture, I have never seen a corporate collegiality and spirt of friendship, excellence, and engagement with customers like what I experienced during “Mini Takes the States” this week.

I highly recommend that the owners of MINIs who have yet to take this annual trek across the nation, do so.  Not only will you get to experience “America the beautiful” like never before, but I believe you will come away better educated, engaged, and connected to the leaders who designed your unique MINI vehicle.

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Sophia A. Nelson is an award winning journalist and author. She is a former White House Correspondent covering First Lady Michelle Obama, and she is a TV personality and political commentator and freelance writer for many national outlets.