Leadership Spotlight: Q&A with Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan
Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan is Executive Vice President, Business Development & Global Test Operations for Link Engineering Company. Link is a multinational company dedicated to the design and manufacture of precision test equipment and provider of comprehensive testing services for a wide variety of vehicle components including braking systems. In the following Q&A, Tim shares with us valuable insights on the topics of leadership and success.

TBR: What is your current role and area of responsibility?  

TD: Develop and maintain existing business relationships while oversee the development and growth of profitable new business opportunities.  Working together with the others on our executive, leadership, sales and testing teams to direct and execute our business strategy and plan. Help develop and build our organizational culture, values and reputation.

TBR: How would you describe your leadership style and why has it worked so well for you?

TD: My goal is to lead as a servant leader. This aligns well with the Link Engineering corporate value of “Satisfying our customer is our first priority”. To achieve this value I must work with the attitude of serving first. This serving attitude is about wanting to help others and Link Engineering be successful. It is about identifying and meeting the needs of our staff, suppliers, partners and industry associations.

TBR: What do you see as your biggest challenge right now?

TD: Three major challenges at the moment are:

The skill and foresight to coordinate and execute the required capacity at the appropriate Link facility globally to best support our customers.

Retaining our experienced talent and recruiting new talent.

Finish the full implementation of our new ERP at all Link Engineering facilities

TBR: What do you look for when evaluating top talent?

TD: Job aptitude is very important but much more important is a proven background of team building using an execution style that focuses on treating others fairly, honestly, and with respect.

TBR: What was your first job in Industry? 

TD: Assistant Application Engineer working for Lucas Industries, Troy MI. In this position I was very fortunate to be part of a growing business unit that gave me many opportunities to learn new skills, grow personally and professionally.  Additionally I had three very good mentors early in my career at Lucas.

TBR: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself at age 20?

TD: I am not the kind of person that looks back. With this said, I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to work for and with a lot of very good people.

TBR: Name your favorite / recent book(s) you have read.

TD: My favorite book is the Holy Bible (New Living Translation). I try to read 2 or 3 books per month so let me name a few others:

The Advantage – By Patrick Lencioni 

Blessed Beyond Measure – Dr Tom Hill

The Principal of the Path – By Andy Stanley

Money Master the Game – By Tony Robbins

The Good Life – by Chuck Colson

TBR: What has been the biggest contributor to your success at this point?

TD: First my wife, she knows my dreams, has my back and has always supported my career.  Then the people I work with at Link Engineering from our CEO Roy Link, to the entire staff that I work with to provide our customers the products or data that contributes to their success.

TBR: Tell us a something that most people might not know about you or your organization. 

TD: I am a big believer in the principal of giving back by tithing of my time, talent and treasure.  As an example, I currently serve and support two different non-profit boards (www.adoortohope.com & www.nlsmichigan.org ) along with various other organizations.


About Link Engineering

Link Engineering Company is a multinational company dedicated to the design and manufacture of precision test equipment and provider of comprehensive testing services for a wide variety of vehicle components. Headquartered in Plymouth, Michigan (suburb of Detroit), Link maintains offices and test laboratories throughout the world in support of our customers. Link systems are recognized as an industry standard for many test applications.

The Brake Report
The Brake Report

The BRAKE Report is an online media platform dedicated to the automotive and commercial vehicle brake segments. Our mission is to provide the global brake community with the latest news & headlines from around the industry.