Leadership in Manufacturing

Sannah Vinding
  • 5.0 (27)
  • Management
  • Updated Biweekly

Leading technical, commercial, cross-functional, and global teams takes clarity, trust, and sound judgment. Leadership in Manufacturing is built for the people doing that work across the electronics and manufacturing ecosystem. Hosted and produced by Sannah Vinding, an engineer with a master’s in mechanical engineering, a product marketing and go-to-market leader, and an author. She brings firsthand experience building teams, developing products, and connecting technical expertise with commercial growth to every conversation. Hear from executives and industry leaders across electronics, manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, semiconductors, and the manufacturers’ rep community. Guests share real decisions, hard lessons, and practical habits that help teams move forward when pressure is high, resources are stretched, and customer needs are changing. Each episode explores how leaders: Communicate clearly across technical and non-technical teams Build trust across functions, cultures, and regions Develop the next generation of leaders Navigate market shifts and organizational change Use AI and data with sound judgment Turn listening and feedback into action These are practical leadership lessons grounded in the experiences of people working inside the industry. Trusted by 4,800+ leaders across manufacturing, distribution, and technical industries. Listed #5 on Million Podcasts’ Best Podcasts for Manufacturers in the US, ranked in the Top 5% globally by Listen Notes, and watched more than 250,000 times on YouTube. New episodes weekly. Explore the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast for full episodes and leadership resources.

  1. 4d ago

    How Leaders Prepare Sales Teams for Growth With AI and Better Training

    Brooks Mattice, Vice President of Sales and Partner at MFC Group, joins Sannah Vinding to discuss how leaders prepare sales teams for growth through structured training, practical onboarding, feedback, and AI-supported tools. Brooks shares how MFC Group created a common sales training process as the company expanded across 20 states. The program combines skills training, process training, homework, quizzes, and reinforcement through manager conversations. He also explains how AI is helping new salespeople research accounts, identify contacts, estimate market opportunity, understand product fit, and prepare for more relevant customer conversations. The goal is not to replace sales judgment. It is to reduce preparation friction and keep salespeople in front of customers more often. In this episode, you will learn: Why product training alone is not enough for a growing sales teamHow to build a shared minimum standard for sales skills and processesHow AI can support account research, onboarding, and customer preparationWhy human judgment and trust still shape the customer conversationHow leaders can give clearer feedback as their responsibilities growWhy curiosity, humility, hunger, and a willingness to try support growthHow manufacturers' representatives can create more value in a changing market Brooks Mattice brings more than 25 years of experience across semiconductor, electronic systems, EMS, passive, and electromechanical markets. A Purdue University electrical engineering graduate, he has worked in field sales, strategic accounts, sales leadership, and general management. He works with suppliers, distribution partners, and customers across automotive, industrial, medical, aerospace, communications, data center, and other electronics markets. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast brings practical leadership conversations to leaders across electronics, manufacturing, distribution, and technical industries. Newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/newsletter/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    How Leaders Prepare Sales Teams for Growth With AI and Better Training

  2. Sep 22

    Why Leadership Is Built in the Moments Nobody Sees

    Colin Strother, Executive Vice President at Rochester Electronics, joins Sannah Vinding to discuss how trust, authenticity, and customer commitment shape leadership across a global electronics business. Colin shares how Rochester supports customers across the semiconductor ecosystem and why customer experience cannot depend on one channel. Some customers want to meet face to face. Others want to pick up the phone or use a digital platform. The leadership challenge is creating an experience that supports all three while keeping trust at the center. The conversation also covers how leaders learn from mistakes, why self-awareness and composure matter, how confidence helps new leaders grow, and what picking up a piece of trash can teach us about doing the right thing when nobody is looking. In this episode, you will learn: Why trust has to come before influenceHow authenticity helps leaders turn a vision into results through other peopleWhy customers want choice across personal and digital channelsHow global leaders build local teams and relationshipsWhy self-awareness and composure matter when information moves quicklyHow confidence and support help new leaders step forwardHow small visible actions reinforce leadership standardsAbout the guest: Colin Strother is Executive Vice President at Rochester Electronics. He began his career through an electronics apprenticeship in Scotland and has since worked across semiconductor distribution, customer experience, sales, and global team leadership. Episode 152 is hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, product marketing and GTM leader, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Join the Leadership in Manufacturing newsletter for weekly lessons from conversations with leaders across electronics, manufacturing, distribution, and supply chain: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/newsletter/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why Leadership Is Built in the Moments Nobody Sees

  3. Sep 8

    How Distribution Leaders Build Trust as AI Speeds Up Work

    Riad Nizam, President of Master Electronics, joins Sannah Vinding on the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast to discuss how distribution leaders build trust as AI speeds up work across the electronics industry. Riad shares how Master Electronics builds a relationship-first culture through communication, decision-making, feedback, mindset, and customer and supplier trust. He also talks about how AI is helping the organization think differently, bigger, and faster, while people still own the final judgment. This conversation is for leaders in electronics distribution, manufacturing, supplier relationships, sales, product, and technical teams who want to move faster without losing trust, communication, or human judgment. In this episode, you will learn: How Master Electronics supports faster decisions with practical decision toolsWhy trust is still one of the strongest advantages in electronics distributionWhere communication breaks down between suppliers, distributors, and customersWhat customers ask for now around tariffs, compliance, supply chain, pricing, and lead timesHow AI can help teams think differently without replacing human decision-makingWhy mindset, humility, and positive energy are hard to train laterHow leaders can make feedback easier by asking for it firstWhy culture has to grow from both the top and the teamAbout the guest: Riad Nizam is President of Master Electronics, a family-owned and operated electronics distributor with more than 50 years of history. Master Electronics was founded by Ike Nizam in 1967. Riad has held leadership roles across sales, product marketing, general management, and executive leadership. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, product marketing and GTM leader, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Stay curious. Keep learning.

    How Distribution Leaders Build Trust as AI Speeds Up Work

  4. Aug 25

    Why Good Managers Build Trust Before They Need It

    Nate Witsaman, Manager of New Market Development at DigiKey, joins Sannah Vinding on the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast to discuss curiosity, communication, feedback, remote leadership, and developing people in technical teams. Good managers do not wait until something goes wrong to build trust with their people. Nate shares how he thinks about the shift from managing tasks to developing people. He talks about asking better questions, learning how people want to be recognized, making space for quieter voices, and building relationships before the hard moments arrive. In this episode, you will learn: Why curiosity is one of the strongest management skillsHow managers can build trust before a difficult conversationWhy recognition and feedback need to be personalHow remote leaders can avoid becoming only transactionalWhy quieter team members may need room and a direct invitation to speakHow slowing down can help teams improve before pressure risesWhy safe practice helps future leaders grow About the guest: Nate Witsaman, MBA, is Manager of New Market Development at DigiKey. He works with emerging technologies, supplier relationships, product onboarding, and market development across the electronics distribution ecosystem. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, product marketing and GTM leader, author of Visible or Invisible, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Sign up for the newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Sannah's book, Visible or Invisible, is coming this September. It is about how industrial B2B companies win buyers when AI builds the shortlist. Get on the list here: https://visibleorinvisible.com/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why Good Managers Build Trust Before They Need It

  5. Aug 11

    Why Credibility Still Wins in Technical Sales

    Technical sales still runs on credibility. AI can help teams move faster, but speed does not replace substance, follow-through, or customer trust. In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding talks with Michael "Mic" Cardone, President at ENOVA USA. Mic leads the company's U.S. growth in professional audio cables and connectors for musicians, studios, live-sound teams, and AV integrators. Mic shares what he has learned from building ENOVA USA, using AI for marketing and business operations, learning new skills, and staying grounded in the kind of credibility customers can actually feel. One line from earlier in his career shaped the conversation: "All you salespeople, you're all foam and no beer." In this episode, you will learn: Why credibility still matters in technical sales How AI can support sales and marketing without replacing judgment Why authenticity matters when customers can spot generic messaging quickly What ownership teaches leaders about patience and decision-making How leaders can keep learning from people who know more than they do Why face-to-face communication still matters for younger leaders What persistence looks like when building a company About the guest: Michael "Mic" Cardone is President of ENOVA USA. He has more than 25 years of experience across sales, management, channel development, Pro AV, systems integration, telecommunications, and OEM markets. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, product marketing and GTM leader, author of Visible or Invisible, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Sign up for the newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Sannah's book, Visible or Invisible, is coming this September. It is about how industrial B2B companies win buyers when AI builds the shortlist. Get on the list here: https://visibleorinvisible.com/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why Credibility Still Wins in Technical Sales

  6. Jul 28

    AI as the Assistant, Not the Salesperson

    How should manufacturers use AI better without turning it into another tool that adds more noise? In this short follow-up conversation, Andy Coyle, Senior Director of Sales at ebm-papst Inc., talks about using AI for research, CRM updates, follow-up, documentation, quoting, and sales support. Sannah connects that back to the real leadership point: AI can speed up repetitive work, but people still own the thinking, the judgment, and the customer conversation. This short episode follows my two-part conversation with Andy Coyle. Listen to the full conversation in Episode 146 and Episode 147: Episode 146: Why the Last Mile of Sales Still Happens Face to Face https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/why-the-last-mile-of-sales-still-happens-face-to-face-episode-146/ Episode 147: Why Strong Leaders Get Comfortable Saying “I Don’t Know” https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/why-strong-leaders-get-comfortable-saying-i-dont-know-episode-147/ Andy Coyle has spent more than thirty years in electronics, distribution, and manufacturing sales, with experience at Hallmark Electronics, Sager Electronics, Laird Technologies, and ebm-papst. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, go-to-market leader, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Sign up for the newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/

    AI as the Assistant, Not the Salesperson

  7. Jul 14

    Why Strong Leaders Get Comfortable Saying I Don’t Know

    Strong leaders do not have every answer. They know how to make decisions, support their teams, and create enough trust that people can say what they need. In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding continues her conversation with Andy Coyle, Senior Director of Sales at ebm-papst Inc. This is part two of the conversation. Part one focused on sales training, AI as a practical tool, and why the last mile of sales still depends on trust. Part two moves into leadership. If you missed part one of my conversation with Andy, listen to Episode 146, where we talked about sales training, AI as a practical tool, and why the last mile of sales still depends on trust. Andy talks about authenticity, having your team's back, making decisions with incomplete information, the mentors who shaped him, and the lesson he wishes he had learned earlier: being comfortable saying, "I don't know, but together we can figure this out." In this episode, you will learn: Why authenticity matters more than polish when people decide whether to trust a leaderWhat it means to have your team's back in hard moments and good onesHow leaders make decisions when the information is incompleteWhy mentors can give direction without giving every answerHow travel, relocation, and global work can shape leadership perspectiveWhy your team decides what kind of leader you areHow leaders can respond when someone asks for more directionAndy Coyle is Senior Director of Sales at ebm-papst Inc. He has spent more than thirty years in electronics, distribution, and manufacturing sales, with experience at Hallmark Electronics, Sager Electronics, Laird Technologies, and ebm-papst. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, go-to-market leader, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Sign up for the newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why Strong Leaders Get Comfortable Saying I Don’t Know

  8. Jun 30

    Why the Last Mile of Sales Still Happens Face to Face

    Sales teams have more tools than ever. Product training has expanded. CRM training has expanded. AI training is next. But the basics of selling still matter when a buyer pushes back, a customer relationship gets tense, or a major opportunity needs trust before it can move forward. In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding talks with Andy Coyle, Senior Director of Sales at ebm-papst Inc., about sales training, trust, AI, and what it means to be a high-touch leader in a high-tech world. Andy shares why his team went back to the basics after COVID, including networking, prospecting, pre-call planning, sales calls, follow-up, and role play. He also talks about why vulnerability is a strength, how distribution and manufacturing move at different speeds, and why AI can support sales work without replacing human judgment. In this episode, you will learn: Why sales training still matters in electronics, manufacturing, and technical salesWhat gets lost when teams focus only on product, CRM, and tool trainingHow vulnerability helps leaders and salespeople ask better questionsWhy distribution and manufacturing often work at different speedsWhat Andy's post-COVID sales boot camp taught his teamHow AI can help with research, comparison, and preparationWhy the last mile of sales still depends on trust, judgment, and face-to-face conversationAbout the guest: Andy Coyle is Senior Director of Sales at ebm-papst Inc. He has spent more than thirty years in electronics, distribution, and manufacturing sales. His work focuses on sales leadership, channel development, customer and distributor relationships, and helping teams grow through people-first leadership. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, go-to-market leader, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. Subscribe to the Leadership in Manufacturing newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why the Last Mile of Sales Still Happens Face to Face
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About

Leading technical, commercial, cross-functional, and global teams takes clarity, trust, and sound judgment. Leadership in Manufacturing is built for the people doing that work across the electronics and manufacturing ecosystem. Hosted and produced by Sannah Vinding, an engineer with a master’s in mechanical engineering, a product marketing and go-to-market leader, and an author. She brings firsthand experience building teams, developing products, and connecting technical expertise with commercial growth to every conversation. Hear from executives and industry leaders across electronics, manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, semiconductors, and the manufacturers’ rep community. Guests share real decisions, hard lessons, and practical habits that help teams move forward when pressure is high, resources are stretched, and customer needs are changing. Each episode explores how leaders: Communicate clearly across technical and non-technical teams Build trust across functions, cultures, and regions Develop the next generation of leaders Navigate market shifts and organizational change Use AI and data with sound judgment Turn listening and feedback into action These are practical leadership lessons grounded in the experiences of people working inside the industry. Trusted by 4,800+ leaders across manufacturing, distribution, and technical industries. Listed #5 on Million Podcasts’ Best Podcasts for Manufacturers in the US, ranked in the Top 5% globally by Listen Notes, and watched more than 250,000 times on YouTube. New episodes weekly. Explore the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast for full episodes and leadership resources.

Information

  • Creator
    Sannah Vinding
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    153
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 uceptive inc
  • Show Website
    Leadership in Manufacturing