Chain Mountain

Hank Ackerman
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Entrepreneurship

Chain Mountain - the podcast for leaders who move fast and think deep. Hosted by Hank Ackerman—Co-founder of Chain Mountain and a seasoned leader in operational transformation—the show delves into the high-stakes, high-impact world of industrial operations and technology through the voices of those leading the charge. Tune into weekly episodes featuring current and emerging operational executives who are transforming industry from the inside out.

  1. SE01E16 The Future of Winemaking, AI & Innovation | Kent Mann

    21h ago

    SE01E16 The Future of Winemaking, AI & Innovation | Kent Mann

    What does it take to transition from military service to executive leadership? In this episode, Kent Mann shares powerful lessons from his journey through the U.S. Navy, leadership roles in the civilian world, and the evolving winemaking industry. Kent discusses how emotional intelligence, mentorship, adaptability, and continuous learning have shaped his leadership philosophy. He explains why trust is the foundation of high-performing teams, how leaders can create cultures of safety and engagement, and what it takes to advance into executive leadership roles. The conversation also explores innovation in winemaking, lean methodology, operational excellence, and the future impact of AI on the wine industry. Whether you're an aspiring leader, experienced executive, entrepreneur, or operations professional, this episode is packed with actionable insights for career growth and organizational success. 🎯 In this episode, you'll learn:• Leadership lessons from the Navy• How emotional intelligence improves leadership effectiveness• The importance of mentorship and career development• Building trust and high-performing teams• Strategies for career advancement and executive leadership• Lean methodology and continuous improvement• Creating a strong safety culture• Innovation and technology in winemaking• The future of AI in business and manufacturing• Why adaptability is a critical leadership skill ⏱ Chapters:00:00 Navigating Change: The Impact of a Mobile Childhood02:56 Leadership Lessons from the Navy05:52 Setting Goals: The Importance of a North Star09:00 Transitioning to Civilian Leadership11:56 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership17:01 Wine and Leadership: Finding Joy in the Journey21:03 Innovations in Winemaking: The Future of the Industry23:58 Striving for Perfection: Lean Methodology in Operations28:56 Mentorship and Emotional Intelligence: Developing Future Leaders33:22 Navigating New Leadership Challenges37:57 The Importance of Trust and Performance40:07 Keys to Success in Career Advancement46:05 Bridging the Gap to Executive Leadership48:59 Cultivating a Safety Culture in Organizations52:48 The Future of Winemaking and Consumer Trends 💡 Memorable Quotes:"You have to be a facilitator.""Humility is one of the most important things.""You need to understand the gaps in yourself.""You have to be adaptable.""Having good quality is super important." Connect With Kent Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kent-mann-7792307/ If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and share it with leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to elevate their careers. #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #Management #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #NavyLeadership #TeamBuilding #OperationsManagement #LeanMethodology #Winemaking #Innovation #CareerAdvancement #BusinessLeadership We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    1h 1m
  2. SE01E15 Building Brands Through Operational Excellence | Sean Bolling

    Jun 4

    SE01E15 Building Brands Through Operational Excellence | Sean Bolling

    In this episode, Sean Bolling joins Henry to explore the powerful connection between branding, operations, supply chain management, and business performance. Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Sean shares practical insights on operational excellence, manufacturing efficiency, AI, automation, financial literacy, and the future of consumer-driven brand management. The conversation examines why successful brands like Toyota have built trust through operational discipline, how organizations can better manage change, and why understanding the language of finance is critical for operational leaders. Sean also explains how AI and automation are transforming decision-making while emphasizing the continued importance of human judgment and cross-functional collaboration. Whether you're a business leader, operations executive, entrepreneur, supply chain professional, or someone interested in leadership and organizational growth, this episode offers actionable strategies for improving performance and navigating today's rapidly evolving business landscape. 🔹 Key Topics Covered:• Branding and operational excellence• Supply chain management and manufacturing• Public vs private equity business models• Change management and organizational culture• Financial literacy for operational leaders• AI, automation, and human decision-making• Metrics that drive business results• Process improvement and efficiency• Cross-functional collaboration• Cost, speed, and quality trade-offs• Future trends in brand management• Consumer behavior and digital transformation 💡 Memorable Quotes:"AI won't replace human interaction.""Automation is not an end in itself.""Financials are universal.""What must be true to make that happen?""We're capitalists at the end of the day." ⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Introduction to Branding and Operations07:19 The Role of One Touch Point in Branding10:50 Public vs. Private Equity Models16:43 Managing Change in Organizations24:54 Understanding Financial Language in Operations28:05 The Balance of AI and Human Interaction36:43 Automation: The Next Frontier40:20 Metrics That Matter in Automation49:29 The Power of Simplicity in Metrics51:09 Identifying Key Metrics for Success54:49 Understanding the Trade-offs in Operations59:19 Building Cross-Functional Collaboration01:04:09 Navigating Cost, Speed, and Quality Trade-offs01:09:59 The Future of Brand Management and Consumer Behavior #OperationsManagement #SupplyChain #AI #Automation #Leadership #Manufacturing #BusinessStrategy #OperationalExcellence #ChangeManagement #PrivateEquity #BrandManagement #DataAnalytics #ProcessImprovement #BusinessLeadership #DigitalTransformation We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    1h 20m
  3. SE01E14 | How AI Is Transforming Modern Manufacturing | Salil Godika

    May 21

    SE01E14 | How AI Is Transforming Modern Manufacturing | Salil Godika

    🎙️ Chain Mountain Podcast | Salil Godika on AI, Automation & the Manufacturing Maturity Gap In this episode of the Chain Mountain Podcast, Henry sits down with Salil Godika for an insightful conversation about the growing “manufacturing maturity gap”  the divide between modern, data-driven factories and businesses still relying on outdated systems and processes. Salil shares his perspective on why many manufacturers remain stuck in the “messy middle” of digitization, and how AI, automation, predictive maintenance, and digital twins are reshaping the future of manufacturing. The conversation explores not just the technology itself, but the real-world challenges companies face when trying to modernize from data quality and legacy systems to culture change and talent acquisition. In this episode, we discuss: 💡 What the manufacturing maturity gap really means🏭 Why many factories struggle with modernization🤖 How AI is transforming manufacturing operations📊 The importance of data quality and architecture🔧 Predictive maintenance and reducing costly downtime👁️ Computer vision and AI-driven quality control🌐 The future of robotics, automation, and digital twins👥 Why culture and people matter just as much as technology🚀 Practical strategies for implementing AI successfully A key theme throughout the conversation is that successful transformation doesn’t come from chasing the latest AI trend — it comes from focusing on real business outcomes, strong data foundations, and continuous improvement. This is a valuable conversation for manufacturing leaders, supply chain professionals, operations teams, and anyone interested in the future of industrial technology. We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    45 min

  4. Apr 24

    SE01E13 | Frozen Food, Shrinkflation, and the Real Cost of Supply Chain Complexity | Matt Kasten

    Matt Kasten, VP of Operations at Diana's, pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a frozen food brand — from protecting the cold chain across thousands of miles to navigating distributor margins that can swallow 40% of your revenue before a product ever hits a shelf. With a background spanning Unilever, PepsiCo, Hain Celestial, and Icelandic Provisions, Matt brings rare perspective on what separates supply chain strategy at a startup from the playbook at a multinational.The conversation covers the real mechanics behind frozen food's $72 billion growth, the hidden economics of SKU proliferation, how temperature loggers are being used as both quality tools and freight claims evidence, and why AI-powered forecasting may be the biggest untapped opportunity for small CPG brands right now. If you work in food, FMCG, or supply chain — or you're building a consumer brand and wondering why the margins keep disappearing — this one's worth your time.Key takeaways: The US frozen food market hit $72B in 2023, driven by convenience, clean ingredients, and rapid gluten-free category growthDistributor and retailer margins combined can reach 70-78% of shelf price, leaving startups very little room to operateShrinkflation is widespread — Diana's deliberately absorbs cost pressure rather than reduce product quality or ingredient standardsSKU rationalisation is a leadership decision, not just a supply chain one — without executive buy-in, redundant products quietly drain cash and cause food wasteTemperature loggers on high-value loads serve a dual purpose: proactive cold chain management and hard evidence for freight claimsWeekly order cycles give far better promotional visibility and demand signal accuracy than monthly orderingAI forecasting has strong potential for CPG supply chains, but only when fed rich data — customer inventories, consumption data, order history, and distributor stock levelsFTE offset arguments and inventory reduction models are the most effective ways to justify supply chain tech investment to startup founders Connect with Matt Kasten on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattkastenIf this episode resonated with you, subscribe for more conversations with supply chain leaders navigating the real challenges of building and scaling consumer brands.

    45 min

  5. Jan 29

    SE01E12 | Leadership Lessons Under Pressure | with Leonid Naboyshchikov

    Leonid Naboyshchikov went from counterterrorism operations in Southeast Asia to leading teams in the US space program. In this conversation, he breaks down how high-stakes fieldwork shaped his approach to servant leadership, building trust in distributed teams, and keeping people connected to mission over decades-long timelines.We dig into why only one in five aerospace employees are under 35, the unsexy but critical roles that make launches possible, how AI is changing space operations without replacing human judgment, and what it really takes to make working on rockets in Huntsville as appealing as coding in Silicon Valley. Leo shares straight talk on soft skills gaps in young hires, the intersection of civil, commercial, and defense space sectors, and why the space industry needs to get better at telling its story. Key topics covered:Leadership under pressure and servant leadership principlesManaging distributed teams in post-COVID work environmentsMission-focused culture and long-term team motivationAttracting young talent to aerospace careersCommunication and soft skills gaps in recent graduatesThe unsexy but critical roles in space missionsAI integration in mission-critical operationsGrowth opportunities across civil, commercial, and defense space sectorsAdvice for aspiring space industry professionalsWhether you're leading technical teams, managing distributed workforces, or trying to sustain long-term motivation around big missions, this conversation offers practical insights on building trust, enabling ownership, and creating conditions where people do their best work. Connect with Leonid NaboyshchikovLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leonid-naboyshchikov/ We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    52 min

  6. Jan 15

    SE01E11 | The Future of Agriculture: Resilience Through Transparency | with Heather Messer | Chain Mountain

    In this episode I speak with Heather Messer, The vice president of US operations at Wilbur-Ellis.  Wilbur-Elis is a leading agribusiness company that provides crop protection products, seeds, and nutritional solutions to growers around the world.  We discuss the critical role of agriculture in the U.S. economy and the specific supply chain and operational challenges faced by the agricultural sector. We also discuss the importance of innovation,  especially in the context of consumer trends towards organic foods, and the regulatory challenges that hinder the rapid adoption of new agriculturaltechnologies. Using the impact of tariffs on the soybean market as a case inpoint, we highlight how difficult it can be to forecast elements that are outof our control Be sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss out on our awesome future guests.   We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    50 min

  7. Jan 1

    SE01E10 | Breaking Barriers in the Medical Industry | with Justine Franchina | Chain Mountain

    In this week's episode, Justine Franchina shares her journey in the male-dominated chemical industry, emphasizing the importance of mentorship, diverse experiences, and customer engagement. She discusses the critical role of safety and continuous learning in her leadership philosophy, as well as the challenges of implementing effective processes and systems like SAP. Justine highlights the significance of building trust and seeking feedback to foster collaboration and drive organizational success. Be sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss out on our awesome future guests.   We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    49 min

  8. 12/18/2025

    SE01E09 | Hire problem-solvers with real-world experience | with Douglas Hardesty | Chain Mountain

    In this week's show we have a conversation with Doug Hardesty, COO ofMycoWorks. In this conversation, Doug discusses the innovative production of their cutting edge material innovation, its sustainability benefits, and the challenges faced in biotech manufacturing. He emphasizes the importance of future-focused innovation, the role of venture capital, and the need for a shift in perceptions about manufacturing careers. Doug also highlights the significance of bridging the education gap in technical skills and predicts a future where biomaterials and a better work-life balance in manufacturing will be prioritized. Be sure to like and subscribe so you don't miss out on our awesome future guests.   We hope you enjoyed this episode! - Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :) Website Link: www.chainmtn.com Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/ Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNqApple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain #Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations

    51 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Chain Mountain - the podcast for leaders who move fast and think deep. Hosted by Hank Ackerman—Co-founder of Chain Mountain and a seasoned leader in operational transformation—the show delves into the high-stakes, high-impact world of industrial operations and technology through the voices of those leading the charge. Tune into weekly episodes featuring current and emerging operational executives who are transforming industry from the inside out.

Information

  • Creator
    Hank Ackerman
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Hank Ackerman