The Titanium Economy Podcast

Ayna
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The brains behind Ayna bring you this first-of its kind podcast series with esteemed leaders from across the industrial sector. These in-depth conversations lift the lid on how success is cultivated in The Titanium Economy. Hear their first-hand experiences, expertise, strategies, and more. Visit www.titaniumeconomy.com for more

  1. Episode 36: Steve Blanco

    JAN 28

    Episode 36: Steve Blanco

    Steve Blanco, President and CEO of MSA Safety, joins the Titanium Economy Podcast to discuss leading a safety technology company through innovation, global growth, and digital transformation. In his wide-ranging conversation with Gaurav Batra, CEO of Ayna, Steve shares how mission driven leadership, customer intimacy, and technology shape MSA’s strategy and long-term performance. In this episode:  How MSA has stayed relevant for over a century by innovating around tangible customer safety problems Why customer intimacy is the core driver of differentiation in industrial safety How connected devices, software, and AI are changing workplace safety and operations What it takes to scale globally while preserving culture, margins, and long-term growth Steve Blanco serves as President and Chief Executive Officer where he is responsible for overseeing MSA Safety’s global portfolio and the implementation of the company’s strategic initiatives.  Previously (from 2017 to 2022) he was President of MSA Americas. During his tenure, revenue in the segment grew by more than 40%.  Steve also helped oversee the acquisitions and integrations of Bacharach, Globe Manufacturing, and Sierra Monitor. Prior to joining MSA Safety, Steve worked for Eaton Corporation, serving as Vice President of Manufacturing for the company’s Electrical Sector, and worked for Ford Motor Company and Visteon. For More Information MSA The Safety Company Steve Blanco LinkedIn Gaurav Batra LinkedIn Ayna Website

    35 min
  2. Episode 35: Brish Bhan Vaidya

    JAN 9

    Episode 35: Brish Bhan Vaidya

    In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vivek Sharma speaks with Brish Bhan Vaidya, Global Procurement Executive at Uber, on how procurement is evolving from a cost function to a strategic growth enabler. Brish highlights the shift toward multi-tier supplier diversification, AI-driven intelligence, ESG integration, and proactive scenario planning to build resilient, agile sourcing models aligned with business objectives. Brish leads APAC Strategic Sourcing and the Global Buying Center at Uber, bringing 20+ years of experience across BT, Accenture, and American Express. He has driven large-scale procurement transformations, strengthening supplier partnerships, embedding digital and AI capabilities, and building world-class sourcing frameworks to deliver sustained value across complex global supply chains. Discussion Points (00:00) Procurement’s evolution: Shift from cost center to strategic value driver, requiring proactive planning amid tariffs and geopolitical disruption. (6:27) Managing sourcing risk: Multi-tier supplier diversification is now the baseline to address ESG, insolvency, and geopolitical uncertainty. (13:21) Building resilience: Effective sourcing hinges on supplier optionality, performance tracking, and co-creation, with TCO factoring in disruption risk. (17:39) AI in procurement: AI accelerates category intelligence, supplier risk analysis, and contract lifecycle management. (32:03) Future-ready leadership: Procurement leaders must blend ESG rigor with commercial acumen and digital fluency. For More Information Brish Bhan Vaidya LinkedIn Titanium Economy Ayna.AI Website Vivek Sharma LinkedIn

    42 min
  3. Episode 34: Ed Dowling

    11/08/2025

    Episode 34: Ed Dowling

    Ayna’s Mohit Jaju interviews Ed Dowling, CEO of Compass Minerals, on how 2025 tariff regimes are reshaping industrial supply chains. Ed notes that while Compass achieved USMCA compliance exemptions, secondary effects disrupted inbound supply chains, prompting a shift from sole- to multi-source strategies. He highlights market differentiation—high-value industrial products allowed tariff pass-through, while bulk municipal contracts resisted price changes, creating millions in opportunity costs. Ed calls for policy consistency, arguing that volatility deters investment while known risks can be managed—underscoring the need for constructive CEO–policymaker engagement and resilient supply chains. Ed Dowling, CEO of Compass Minerals, brings 30+ years of global mining and minerals leadership, including CEO roles at SSR Mining and Meridian Gold, senior positions at De Beers and Cleveland-Cliffs, and board chair roles at Polyus and Copper Mountain Mining. He currently serves on Teck Resources’ board. A former U.S. Navy Petty Officer, Dowling holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in mineral processing from Penn State, grounding his leadership in deep technical expertise across salt, lithium, magnesium, and plant nutrition markets.   Discussion Points (00:00) Compass Minerals Overview – Ed Dowling leads Compass Minerals, producing salt, lithium, magnesium, and plant nutrition critical to infrastructure. (01:39) 2025 Tariff Impact – Tariff uncertainty delayed expansion, though USMCA compliance exempted core products from direct exposure. (04:32) Supply Chain Restructuring – Shifted from sole-source to multi-source networks to manage tariff-driven inbound disruptions. (08:33) Cost Pass-Through Dynamics – High-value industrial products absorbed tariff costs; bulk municipal contracts resisted price changes. (15:57) Policy and Leadership Insight – CEOs should engage policymakers for trade clarity; policy consistency enables investment and risk management.    For More Information Compass Minerals Ed Dowling Titanium Economy Ayna.AI Website Mohit Jaju

    18 min
  4. Episode 33: Mike Slessor

    10/28/2025

    Episode 33: Mike Slessor

    In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Mike Slessor, President and CEO of FormFactor, about the transformation of semiconductor testing and innovation at the frontier of AI, photonics, and advanced packaging. Mike shares how FormFactor’s deep customer integration—where over a third of employees work directly with partners like Samsung, TSMC, Intel, and NVIDIA—drives precision, speed, and collaboration. He highlights key inflection points such as silicon photonics for energy-efficient data centers, high-bandwidth memory testing for AI, and the role of advanced packaging in extending Moore’s Law. He also discusses the company’s strategic U.S. expansion through a Texas brownfield acquisition following its divestiture of China operations, underscoring how geopolitics is reshaping the semiconductor value chain. Mike Slessor has led FormFactor since 2014, guiding it to a $750M global leader in semiconductor test and measurement with 2,200 employees worldwide. A former CEO of MicroProbe (acquired by FormFactor), he began his career at KLA-Tencor. Mike holds a PhD in Aeronautics and Physics from Caltech and a BSc in Engineering Physics from the University of British Columbia. Under his leadership, FormFactor continues to pioneer next generation testing solutions powering the semiconductor industry’s most complex challenges.   Discussion Points (01:37) Market Position & Portfolio: FormFactor’s probe cards enable wafer-level testing, while its systems business supports lab-to-fab transitions for next-gen technologies like quantum computing. (03:29) Innovation & Customer Collaboration: Deep alignment with key customers drives sustained R&D investment. Engineering teams maintain daily collaboration with global semiconductor leaders. (06:49) Technology Trends: 5G/6G, silicon photonics, and advanced packaging are reshaping the industry—improving data center efficiency and pushing Moore’s Law forward. (15:25) Geopolitics & Manufacturing Strategy: Following its China divestiture, FormFactor is expanding U.S. production with a Texas facility to strengthen resilience amid shifting trade dynamics. Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode is Ayna's Vineet Gupta.   For More Information Mike Slessor LinkedIn Ayna Website Vineet Gupta

    26 min
  5. Episode 32: Dong-Su Kim

    10/17/2025

    Episode 32: Dong-Su Kim

    "Contrary to a lot of people's beliefs, I do believe that financial gain and strategic benefits - they go hand in hand." - Dong-Su Kim Host Vineet Gupta sits down with Dong-Su Kim, CEO of LG Technology Ventures, to discuss corporate venture capital and emerging tech investments. Kim stresses that corporate VCs must deliver financial returns as well as strategic value, pushing back against the view that strategy comes at the expense of profitability. He highlights opportunities in enterprise AI for verticals, semiconductor infrastructure for AI, and the electrification wave beyond EVs. He also cautions against hype in consumer AI and LLMs, predicting consolidation ahead. Dong-Su Kim leads LG Technology Ventures, managing nearly $900M across AI, biotech, cleantech, consumer, and enterprise tech. A Caltech physics graduate with a PhD in electrical engineering from Princeton, Kim has over 20 years in venture capital. He previously invested in 30+ companies at Samsung Ventures before founding LG Technology Ventures in 2018, bringing a rare blend of strategic and financial discipline to corporate VC.   Discussion Points (00:00) Kim shares his journey from physics and semiconductor research to corporate venture capital (00:03:18) Corporate VC eases fundraising and opens strategic partnerships while targeting solid returns (00:09:47) Early-stage semiconductor bets hinge on market size and execution, with AI valuations both promising and risky (00:15:11) Enterprise AI in verticals offers stronger upside than consumer apps, as LLM cost drops enable specialized solutions (00:21:13) Electrification beyond EVs—spanning homes, industry, and infrastructure—presents the next big wave of opportunities   For More Information Dong-Su Kim LinkedIn LG Technology Ventures Ayna.AI Website Vineet Gupta

    23 min
  6. Episode 31: Wahid Nawabi

    09/08/2025

    Episode 31: Wahid Nawabi

    In this episode, Vineet Gupta, President and Head of Semiconductor at Ayna, speaks with Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President & CEO of AeroVironment, on how the company is redefining defense tech through innovation and customer focus. Wahid highlights AeroVironment’s portfolio of unmanned systems, the Blue Halo acquisition, and advances in AI-driven autonomy. The conversation also touches on leadership, product development speed, and military-grade quality, with Wahid sharing his decade-ahead vision for the industry.  Wahid Nawabi has led AeroVironment for 15+ years, building it into a full-spectrum defense technology prime. With prior leadership roles at American Power Conversion, he brings cross-sector experience. Under his watch, AeroVironment has driven new categories like loitering munitions, executed strategic acquisitions, and sustained innovation investments of 12–13% of revenue while scaling production.   Discussion Points AeroVironment’s Defense Leadership – Established as a leading multi-domain defense technology provider, with a focus on integrating unmanned systems and AI capabilities Engineering Legacy & Innovation – With seven vehicles in the Smithsonian, AeroVironment combines heritage with rapid development cycles and sustained R&D investment Building High-Performing Teams – Success comes from balancing freedom to experiment with mission-driven discipline, while preserving culture and employee engagement Comprehensive Solutions – From underwater robotics to space communications and cyber, strategic acquisitions close capability gaps and strengthen the tech portfolio Military-Grade Reliability – Meeting exponentially higher standards than consumer tech, with advanced autonomy powered by proprietary annotated datasets in computer vision   For More Information Aerovironment Wahid Nawabi LinkedIn Ayna Vineet Gupta

    34 min
  7. Episode 30: Anu Khare

    08/25/2025

    Episode 30: Anu Khare

    "A digital champion isn’t someone who knows how AI works. It’s someone who knows where to apply it.." - Anu Khare In this episode of our Titanium Economy series, Parthesh Shastri sits down with Anu Khare, CIO of Oshkosh Corporation, to unpack how industrial manufacturers can win with digital. Anu shares Oshkosh’s human-centered approach to transformation—grounded in co-creation, phased implementation, and a sharp focus on business value. He outlines the company’s three-layer digital architecture and explains why supply chain optimization offers the biggest ROI, while finance remains an untapped opportunity. The conversation also covers building digital champions, adapting to workforce shifts, and preparing for a tech-enabled industrial future. Anu Khare has led Oshkosh’s digital transformation since 2018, driving initiatives across AI, advanced analytics, ERP modernization, and Industry 4.0. Under his leadership, the team has earned seven consecutive CIO 100 Awards and was named a finalist for the MIT Sloan Leadership Award. Prior to Oshkosh, he held senior roles at Koch Industries and United Technologies. An IIT Roorkee graduate, Anu brings more than two decades of experience in tech-driven industrial change.   Discussion Points (01:17) The three pillars of digital transformation: value, scale, and cybersecurity (03:15) Why aligning with business goals—and co-creating with users—makes change stick (04:27) Inside Oshkosh’s 3-layer tech stack: from transactions to predictive intelligence (18:53) Labor gaps and Gen Z expectations are fast-tracking industrial digitization   For More Information Anu Khare LinkedIn Oshkosh Corp Ayna.AI Website Titanium Economy Parthesh Shastri LinkedIn

    22 min
  8. Episode 29: Nalin Jain

    07/22/2025

    Episode 29: Nalin Jain

    "Technology isn't the barrier - adoption is the key challenge facing industrial leaders today." - Nalin Jain In this episode, Ayna’s Parthesh Shastri speaks with Nalin Jain, Group President of Digital Intelligence at Wabtec Corporation, about the digital transformation sweeping the rail and mining industries. Nalin details how Wabtec, a 150-year-old industrial leader, is leveraging AI, machine learning, and digital solutions to improve safety, efficiency, and sustainability. He highlights innovations like Trip Optimizer, which has helped save 752 million gallons of fuel and cut emissions by up to 25%. The discussion underscores the shift from physical to digital product management and the importance of customer-centric innovation in navigating industrial digitalization. Nalin also emphasizes that technology adoption—not availability—is the biggest hurdle, advocating for AI as a tool to augment human capability. Nalin Jain brings extensive global experience to his role, overseeing digital and mission-critical control systems across railroad, mining, and port operations at Wabtec. He joined the company in 2019, initially leading the global equipment business before taking charge of its digital transformation efforts. With a mechanical engineering degree from National Institute of Technology, Surat and an MBA from Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, Nalin previously held leadership roles at GE, including CEO of GE Aviation and GE Transportation in South Asia. His expertise spans industrial technology, international business, and strategic digital innovation, making him a key voice in shaping the future of intelligent industrial systems.   Discussion Points (00:00) Nalin Jain introduces Wabtec’s 150-year legacy and how digital intelligence is transforming rail and mining operations. (01:16) Wabtec builds autonomous locomotives and software for coordinating trains across complex networks. (03:59) Safety is critical in long-haul operations; efficiency boosts capacity and digital tools drive emissions cuts. (07:13) Machine learning now powers predictive maintenance, with AI enhancing—not replacing—human roles. (12:08) Digital tools cut emissions by 20–25%; Trip Optimizer alone has saved 752 million gallons of fuel. (16:48) Global experience highlights the need for local adaptation; customer focus and curiosity fuel innovation.   For More Information Nalin Jain LinkedIn Wabtec Corp Ayna.AI Website Titanium Economy Parthesh Shastri LinkedIn

    30 min
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The brains behind Ayna bring you this first-of its kind podcast series with esteemed leaders from across the industrial sector. These in-depth conversations lift the lid on how success is cultivated in The Titanium Economy. Hear their first-hand experiences, expertise, strategies, and more. Visit www.titaniumeconomy.com for more

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