What will YOU do to unlock innovation?
Featured Episodes

Guest: Mark Adler Madsen
Episode 40
Don’t just go agile, be smart about becoming agile.

Guest: Kim & Todd Saxton
Episode 39
What Determines Whether A Startup Will Fail Or Succeed In The Market?

Guest: Norbert Majerus
Episode 38
Winning Innovation – Interview with Norbert Majerus

Guest: Heather Polivka
Episode 37
Why Companies Must Invest In People-Centered Leadership Development

Guest: Roy Osing
Episode 36
Why You Need To Be An Audacious Leader
Audacious leaders are those who are willing to admit when they are wrong. They are also honest about what they do not know. This makes them vulnerable and shows others that they are human. They are brave enough to make mistakes and learn from them. Audacious leaders work alongside their people.
Guest: RJ Grimshaw
Episode 35
Intrapreneurship – What Is It And How Does It Matter In Today’s World?

Guest: Jamie Flinchbaugh
Episode 34
Understand why framing your problem statement matters.

Guest: Mark Herschberg
Episode 33
Keep Investing In Leadership Skills And Become A Better Leader.
In today’s world, organizations need to be proactive about leadership development. Leaders must develop their skills and abilities to meet the challenges of the future. Only two out of five businesses think they are developing leaders who benefit the company.

Guest: Charlotte Allen
Episode 32
Almost no one likes change, but change is necessary for growth.
Guest: Terry Barnhart
Organizational transformation executive
Episode 31
How to think outside of your own experiences.
Reflecting on what you’ve learned helps you retain information better. It also allows you to apply what you know to new situations. So this episode is a re-run where I had a great conversation with Terry Barnhart about how to teach people to think better – especially the advantages of skill stack, work in collaboration, and how to think outside of your own experience.
What are the tools you teach people about how to think? How do you get teams to work together collaboratively on learning? It’s really hard. Every high-performing team goes through cycles of growth and development and what really matters is how the team thinks and acts together.

Guest: Bruno Pešec
Episode 30
What exactly is an innovation strategy?

Guest: Stacey Ashley
Episode 29
Your strength as a leader comes from yourself.
Leadership is about helping people to realize their potential. If you want to lead, you must learn to listen. People often think that leaders are born, not made. But leadership is learned. Leaders are learners. They learn from experience, from mistakes, from successes, from other people. They learn from themselves and from each other. They learn to ask questions, to seek answers, to understand why things happen.

Guest: Darrell Evans
Episode 28
How to overcome failure & setbacks.

Guest: Zoë Routh
Episode 27
Vulnerability in the workplace is the root of authentic leadership.

Guest: Michael Haynes
Episode 26
Innovation readiness is a critical issue for any organization.

Guest: Peter Mohr
Episode 25
The four P’s to entrepreneurial business success.

Guest: Gabriel Yoder
Episode 24
Design thinking – it starts with empathy every time.

Guest: Lauren Winans
Episode 23
Transparency in leadership is an essential component of effective management.

Guest: Ally Muller
Managing Director GOYA Consulting
Episode 22
How to inspire leaders to change their approach to innovation in the corporate landscape.

Guest: Flip Brown
Founder & CEO at Business Culture Consultant.
Episode 21
When implementing a change, you’re asking people to go into the unknown with you
Change is inevitable in the workplace, but it doesn’t have to be disruptive or chaotic. In fact, there are many ways to implement organizational changes that will lead to success for your organization. The first step towards implementing any kind of organizational change is preparing your organization and yourself for it.
Guest: Alex Brueckman
Business strategist, Board advisor, and author. He coaches executives on designing and implementing business strategies with measurable impact.
Episode 20
A strategy process is the perfect vehicle to shape culture
Many leaders struggle with strategy. Understanding the key steps in strategy implementation is critical to being a successful and effective leader within your company.
Guest: John Zachara
Vice President at Integrated Facilities Solutions, Inc.
Episode 19
How Does Lean Construction Help Companies Become More Efficient?
What is Lean Construction? The main difference between lean construction and traditional approaches is that lean construction looks for opportunities to improve efficiency rather than just trying to reduce cost.
Guest: Jeff Smith
Motivational Speaker and Virtual Training on Advanced Leadership for KPI and Business Management at Jeff-Smith.com
Episode 18
KPIs have not evolved, the way we use KPI’s has evolved.
What are the KPIs and what do they mean and how can you use them to improve performance? First of all, KPIs are not targets to be hit, they help you identify areas where improvements need to be made so you can focus your efforts accordingly.
Guest: Ricardo Liberato
Making Companies Better
Episode 17
If you’re only trying things that succeed. You’re not going to innovate.
Why is agile important for a learning organization? Agile is about teaching the mindset that we are always questioning what we are doing.
Guest: Jared Allmond
Culture Collaborator | Partnering with HR and L&D professionals to ethically and safely strengthen culture
Episode 16
The importance of being a people-centric organization.
How do you build a people-centric culture? you start with aligning with people’s values. The culture is the secret sauce and it is unique for every business – it’s all about fostering a culture where the employees feel valued and engaged.
Guest: Andy Skipper
CTO Coach at CTO Craft, Startup Technology Advisor
Episode 15
Coach or mentor? You need both.
Encouraging coaching and mentorship are key components when managing modern employees. The right skills play a critical role in driving future success and it is all about asking the right questions, empower employees, provide feedback, know each individual’s strengths and be a great listener. Coach to inspire — and to learn.
Guest: Steve Stucky
President MN Chapter PDMA | Business Owner | Agile / Lean Product Development Coach, Helping Businesses Drive Profitable Growth
Episode 14
How a Lean-Agile Mindset and Practices can Improve your Product Development Outcome.
How can you radically reduce idea-to-market cycle times? How do you build sustainable, profitable growth for the business through better product development and the elimination of waste? Learn more about lean/agile methodology and why lean product development is not about cost reduction.
Guest: Sudhanshu Srivastava
Entrepreneur | Customer Success | Product Success
Episode 13
Failing fast is a great thing, but fail forward – so that you’re moving.
What is the secret sauce for a successful product launch? The secret is to create a knowledge-intensive company where there is a dynamic between knowledge creation and knowledge sharing across the entire company.
Guest: Fred Leland
Director and Principal Trainer for Law Enforcement & Security Consulting (LESC)
Episode 12
Don’t be afraid to adapt and adjust your methods of learning.
How can decision making and problems solving skills be improved? What is sense-making teaching/learning and can it helps us to solve problems better? Learn how to help your people work together more effectively by changing your way of teaching
Guest: Terry Barnhart
Organizational transformation executive
Episode 11
How to think outside of your own experiences.
What are the tools you teach people about how to think? How do you get teams to work together collaboratively on learning? It’s really hard. Every high-performing team goes through cycles of growth and development and what really matters is how the team thinks and acts together.
Guest: Paul Dunlop
Supporting organisations and individuals to go from CHAOS to CALM Productivity
Episode 10
Let go and stay curious so you can ask the good questions.
How good is your company at problem-solving? Learn more about how LEGO serious play works as a catalyst and can improve the implementation of a lean management system in your organization. The lean mindset is effective in any process-driven environment whether it’s in the delivery of a service or a product.
Guest: David Shiller
Product & Business Development For The Advanced Lighting Industry
Episode 9
Marketing innovation – the business side of Innovation
Many companies are making poor decisions in their marketing messaging which leads to terrible outcomes. Understanding both the sales and marketing side as well as the technology side can lead to better Solutions and Innovation.
Guest: Robin Gaster
President of Incumetrics Inc, a data and analysis consultancy
Episode 8
What is the secret of Amazon’s huge Success?
Why is amazon one of the most successful companies worldwide and what innovation strategies drive their ongoing quest to become the most customer-centric company? Amazon has mastered the art of innovation on a massive scale by becoming a massive cluster of highly innovative and driven teams.
Guest: Chaim Guggenheim
Co-Founder and CEO at Stealth – L&D Start-Up
Episode 7
A world of thinking and learning.
Guest: Jeff Hastie
Founder and President at Learn-Apply-Lead, LLC
Episode 6
The Role of Leadership in Changing Organizational Culture.
Guest: Charlotte Nytoft
I help Companies Conquer Transatlantic Markets
Episode 5
How to drive digital innovation across businesses, departments, borders, and cultures.
Guest: Louise Them Kjølholm
Chief Advisor Environmental and Social Risk at EKF Denmarks Export Credit
Episode 4
The importance of accepting the early stages of innovation.
Guest: Norbert Majerus
Business Owner & Retired from The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co
Episode 3
The process is easy, it’s the people part that is the difficult one.
Guest: Bella Englebach
Creating Better Organizations where the Music of the Human Spirit Sings.
Lead Consultant, Lean for Humans, Inc.
Episode 2
It’s all about the people – become better problem solvers
Guest: Bob Melvin
Episode 1
Passion for lean product development.
Driving Growth through Supplier Relationships and Collaborationn – Paul Aspiras – Episode 72
Join host Sannah Vinding as she delves into the world of innovation leadership with guest Paul Aspiras. Explore the challenges and strategies of hiring in the electronics industry, the power of building relationships, and the impact of digital transformation.
Navigating Complexity: Exploring Trends in Electronics Manufacturing through Analytic Data – Dennis Reed – Episode 71
Episode 71 Navigating Complexity: Exploring Trends in Electronics Manufacturing through Analytic DataIn this episode of the Mind Innovation Leadership podcast, host Sannah Vinding interviews Dennis Reed, a senior research analyst at Edgewater Research. They discuss...
Unlocking the Potential of Intrapreneurs: Driving Business Growth and Success – RJ Grimshaw – Episode 70
The episode concludes with valuable insights into unlocking the potential of intrapreneurs and fostering a culture of innovation and creativity. Listeners gain essential knowledge for building a successful business, regardless of size, by embracing the entrepreneurial mindset and encouraging intrapreneurship to drive company growth and success.
Customer-Centric Solutions: Shifting Focus from Products to Problem Solving – Lori Bruno – Episode 69
In this episode of the Mind the Innovation Leadership Podcast, host Sannah Vinding is joined by special guest Lori Bruno, President of Luscombe Engineering of San Francisco. They discuss the importance of effective communication in the electronics manufacturing industry, particularly within the relationship between manufacturers and manufacturing reps. Lori shares valuable insights about solving customer problems, adapting to remote work challenges, and finding innovative marketing strategies.
Adapting to Change: How the Electronics Industry Embraced Digital Communication – Tobi Cornell – episode 68
Join host Sannah Vinding in an insightful conversation with Tobi Connell, the president of Kruvand Associates, Inc., as they delve into the world of leadership excellence in the electronics industry.
The Importance of People-First Values Backed by Transparent Leadership – Shane Zutz – Episode 67
On this episode of Mind the Innovation, host Sannah Vinding is joined by special guest Shane Zutz, Vice President of Human Resources at Digikey Electronics, to discuss leadership excellence in electronics manufacturing
Unmasking the Truth: Debunking Attention Span Myths and Mastering Visual Communication – Chris Gray – Episode 66
Discover the role of consumer psychology, critical thinking, and trust-building in business and marketing. Join host Sannah Vinding and expert Chris Gray as they explore customer behavior and strategies for success. Tune in now for valuable insights in the dynamic world of innovation.
Harnessing the Power of Digital Transformation in the Manufacturing Industry – Andrew Schwarz – Episode 65
In this enlightening episode, we had the privilege of sitting down with Andrew Schwarz, the Regional Sales Manager at SupplyFrame. Andrew shared invaluable insights on how SupplyFrame is leading the charge in driving digital transformation within the manufacturing industry.
Navigating the Evolving Role of Marketing in Manufacturing: Insights from a Marketing Director – Maryellen Stack – Episode 64
In this episode of Mind The Innovation, host Sannah Vinding interviews Maryellen Stack, Director of Marketing Communications for Saga Electronics, to discuss the evolving role of marketing in the manufacturing industry
Navigating the Changing Landscape of the Electronics Industry – Chris Beeson – Episode 63
In this episode of Mind the Innovation Podcast, your host Sannah Vinding is joined by Chris Beeson, the President for Electronics and Global Strategic Suppliers at the RS Group, about the trends and challenges in the electronics industry.
From Manual to Automated: How Technology is Changing the Sales Game – Tim Paulus – Episode 62
In this podcast, Tim Paulus (President EI Sales) and Sannah Vinding explore the essential qualities and strategies that make for a successful manufacturing rep.
Diversity in Data: Why Inclusion Matters in Generating Effective Solutions – Robert Derringer – Episode 61
In this podcast, Robert Derringer (Director of Global Channel, Crouzet, North America) and Sannah Vinding explore the significance of deriving actionable insights from data analysis, stressing the importance of critical thinking and curiosity in the process.
The Benefits of Investing in a Strong Digital Marketing Strategy for Manufacturers – Bridget Kane-Ferrigan – Episode 60
I invited Bridget Kane-Ferrigan, Marketing Manager at Fair Rite Products Corp, as a guest on the Mind The Innovation Leadership podcast. Bridget shares her insights on why manufacturers need to focus on their digital marketing strategy.
Manufacturing Salespeople as Marketers: The Shift Towards Problem-Solving Instead of Product-Pitching – Graham Kilshaw – Episode 59
In this episode, Graham Kilshaw, CEO of Lectrix, shares his insights on successful content marketing for engineers in the manufacturing industry. He emphasizes the need for a mindset shift from marketing to engineers, to marketing for engineers, to effectively reach and engage this critical audience.
The Future of Manufacturing Marketing: Embracing the Human Element to Stand Out from the Crowd – Rob Brunson – Episode 58
Humanizing your branding and marketing strategy can have a significant impact on your success as a manufacturer.
Invest in Outcomes, Not Just Inputs, for Successful Digital Transformation and Customer Experience Initiatives – Cynthia Kellam – Episode 57
The world of digital transformation and customer experience initiatives is booming. Companies all over the world are looking to invest heavily in their technology outputs, believing that this will go towards optimum customer engagement and satisfaction.
Cultivating a Culture of Innovation: Achieving Digital Transformation in the Electronics Manufacturing Industry – Cameron English – Episode 56
In this episode of the Mind The Innovation Leadership Podcast, Cameron English, President/CEO at English Technical Sales, joins the show to discuss how to grow and shape future strategies by creating an organizational culture.
Gaining an Edge in the Electronics Industry: From Skills to Strategies – Walter Tobin – Episode 55
Episode 55 Gaining an Edge in the Electronics Industry: From Skills to StrategiesAs the electronics industry becomes increasingly competitive, it can be challenging to gain an edge. But with the right skills and strategies, you can stand out from the competition. I...
Why are visualization and sketching beneficial to businesses? Kevin Dulle – Episode 54
Visualization and sketching can be incredibly powerful tools to help you develop and communicate your ideas, no matter the size of your business. Whether you’re in the process of executing a strategy or just beginning to craft one, visualizing it can have identifiable benefits.
Why experience-centric design and cross-cultural design really matters! Gleb Kuznetsov – Episode 53
In today’s global economy, there is a growing need for companies to design products that appeal to consumers across cultures.
When developing products for international markets, it is important to understand cultural differences between countries
How to Humanize the Recruiting & Hiring Process – Mike Thomson – Episode 52
In order to humanize the recruitment and hiring process, you must first understand why people join organizations. Once you do, you can create a culture where everyone feels valued and appreciated. This makes the recruiting and hiring process less stressful and more enjoyable for both parties.
How To Improve Your Public Speaking Skills – Brenden Kumarasamy – Episode 51
Whether you’re giving a presentation at work, delivering a speech at school, or even presenting at a conference, public speaking is a skill everyone needs to master.
Consumer Psychology – what does it mean and how to use it? Chris Gray – Episode 50
The goal of this episode is to provide listeners with the basics of consumer psychology and how it impacts buying behavior and customer engagement in today’s society.
Is Innovation Measurable? Esther Gons – Episode 49
When was the last time you heard someone say “I don’t measure innovation?” That’s because measuring innovation has become a key part of running a successful company. In today’s competitive market, companies need to innovate constantly to stay ahead of their competition. However, measuring innovation isn’t always easy.
Why Strategic Product Management Matters – Steve Johnson – Episode 48
Strategic product management is critical to any company’s long term growth and success. Without it, companies will never have the ability to plan their future effectively. Product managers must understand the entire value chain from conception through launch and beyond.
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