Engineering with Heart: Susan Schall on Human-Centered Leadership in Manufacturing

In this episode of the Marquis Masters Podcast, Ryan Estes sits down with Susan Schall, engineer, consultant, author, and founder of SOS Consulting, to explore what happens when technical rigor meets human-centered leadership.

Susan shares the powerful lesson that shaped her career early on: every problem has two solutions, the correct solution and the right solution. The correct one comes from the textbooks. The right one is the one you can implement with and through people.

From Six Sigma and lean manufacturing to artificial intelligence and robotics, Susan explains why small and mid-sized American manufacturers are often overlooked - and why they represent one of the greatest opportunities for sustainable economic growth. She unpacks why fundamentals matter more than flashy tools, why AI still requires a “human in the loop,” and how leaders must transform themselves before they can transform their organizations.

The conversation dives into:

• Why manufacturing is ahead of other industries in human–technology integration

• The danger of layering advanced tools on top of broken processes

• How trust forms the foundation of effective leadership

• Why fixing systems beats “fixing people.”

• The Magnificent Seven data tools that drive measurable operational gains

• Susan’s journey from blog writer to author, now preparing her first book

• The role of vision, patience, and vulnerability in driving real change

• Encouraging women and young students to pursue engineering careers

Susan also reflects on her lifelong connection to Penn State, her passion for mentoring the next generation of engineers, and the importance of staying grounded in family and community while leading at a high level.

This episode is a masterclass for founders, engineers, operators, and executives who want to compete in a rapidly changing world without losing sight of the human element.

Links Mentioned in This Episode

• Susan Schall Personal Website:  https://www.drsusanoschall.com/ 

• SOS Consulting (Execute to Compete): https://execute2compete.com/ 

• Marquis Who’s Who: https://marquiswhoswho.com

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