Leadership in Manufacturing

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

Leading technical, cross-functional, and global teams is one of the hardest jobs in the electronics and manufacturing ecosystem. This show is built for the people doing that work every day. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast features practical conversations with executives and industry leaders across electronics, manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, semiconductor, and the manufacturers rep community. Each episode goes beyond surface-level leadership advice. Guests share real decisions, hard lessons, and the leadership moves that matter when pressure is high, teams are stretched, customers are changing, and the margin for error is thin. The show explores how leaders communicate clearly across technical and non-technical teams, build trust across functions and regions, develop the next generation of leaders, respond to market change, use AI with judgment, and turn listening, feedback, and belief into execution. No fluff. No theory. Just practical leadership lessons from people working inside the industry. Trusted by 4,800+ leaders across manufacturing, distribution, and technical industries. Ranked among the top leadership podcasts worldwide. Watched more than 225,000 times on YouTube. New episodes weekly at https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/

  1. 18h ago

    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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. Jun 16

    What Distribution Leaders Need Before They Automate

    Automation can improve distribution operations, but only when leaders understand the work, the team, and the flexibility the business still needs. In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding talks with Aaron Hein, Senior Director of Distribution Operations at Sager Electronics, about leading operational change, building a new distribution operation, and choosing flexibility before locking into automation too early. Aaron shares what he learned from leading teams through change, communicating when information is incomplete, and staying steady when the plan keeps shifting. He also talks about where AI fits in warehouse and distribution operations today, and why the human side of leadership still matters. In this episode, you will learn: What distribution leaders should consider before they automateWhy flexibility can matter more than a fixed system in a new operationHow to lead through a facility transition with empathy and clarityWhy steady leadership matters when the plan keeps changingWhere AI can help operations, and where human judgment still mattersHow leaders can build trust before asking teams to changeWhat younger leaders should know about patience and opportunityAaron Hein is Senior Director of Distribution Operations at Sager Electronics, where he leads operations, logistics, and quality efforts. He brings more than 15 years of experience in distribution, supply chain, continuous improvement, and industrial engineering across the electronics and manufacturing sectors. 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/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning. This Podcast episode is sponsored by Sager Electronics

    What Distribution Leaders Need Before They Automate

  5. Jun 2

    How Rep Firms Prove Value Beyond Sales

    The manufacturers rep role is changing. Territory coverage and relationships still matter, but manufacturers now expect stronger opportunity visibility, better data, more technical confidence, and a clearer reason to keep investing in the rep relationship. In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding continues her conversation with Walter Tobin, former CEO of the Electronics Representatives Association. This is part two of their discussion on the electronics channel, and it focuses on how rep firms need to evolve beyond traditional sales positioning. Walter explains why the best rep firms are thinking more like consulting firms, how AI can help identify customers and opportunities, why digital presence matters, and why succession planning should be visible to principals before it becomes a concern. In this episode, you will learn: Why rep firms need to prove value beyond the line cardHow lead flow has changed between reps and manufacturersWhy digital presence matters for customer trustHow the consulting mindset can help recruit technical talentWhy succession planning matters to principalsWhat manufacturers often misunderstand about the rep modelWhy technical training matters for the next generation of channel leadersHow AI can help identify customers and opportunitiesAbout the guest: Walter Tobin is the former CEO of the Electronics Representatives Association. He spent much of his career in electronic distribution, including senior leadership at Future Electronics, before leading ERA and supporting the independent rep community across the electronics channel. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer and go-to-market leader focused on practical leadership in technical environments. Sign up for the newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    How Rep Firms Prove Value Beyond Sales

  6. May 19

    Why Sales Training Matters When Outreach Stops Working

    Customers are harder to reach. Inboxes are full, LinkedIn pitches arrive too fast, and more outreach is not solving the problem. In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding sits down with Walter Tobin, former CEO of the Electronics Representatives Association, to talk about why sales training matters in the electronics channel. Walter brings decades of experience across electronics distribution, manufacturer relationships, and the manufacturers rep community. The conversation covers how customer behavior has changed, why reps and distributors need to work together, what manufacturers risk when they bypass rep relationships, and where AI helps sales teams without replacing the human part. In this episode, you will learn: Why customers ignore most outreach today.How to think about value before sending the message.Why sales training is still missing in parts of the electronics industry.How reps and distributors can work together to win and keep the socket.Why AI helps with research, but not with trust.What it takes to become a trusted advisor in the electronics channel. About the guest: Walter Tobin is the former CEO of the Electronics Representatives Association. Before leading ERA, he held senior roles at Future Electronics, Pioneer-Standard, and Arrow Electronics. He is known for his work connecting manufacturers reps, distributors, and manufacturers across the electronics industry. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer and go-to-market leader focused on how leaders operate when complexity is high and the answers are not always obvious. Newsletter: https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why Sales Training Matters When Outreach Stops Working

  7. May 12

    Why Building Your Successor Is the Real Leadership Test

    Jeff Newell is the President of Mouser Electronics, a global distributor with more than 4,000 employees, 1,200 manufacturer partners, and customers in 223 countries and territories. In this episode, Jeff sits down with Sannah Vinding to talk about what leadership actually looks like at the top of a multi-billion dollar global business. Jeff is direct, practical, and refuses to put himself on a pedestal. He is a servant leader. He does not ask his team to do anything he would not do himself. He believes the readiness of your successor is the most accurate signal of whether you are ready for your next role. He shares his own mistakes openly because he believes that is how trust is built. This is a conversation for senior leaders who are quietly asking themselves whether they are doing the work that actually moves people forward. In this episode, you will learn: Why building your successor is the real test of leadership readinessHow to give feedback without making it personalWhy a servant leader at the top of a global business gets more doneHow to step into a long-tenured leader's role without changing too much too fastWhy being open about your own mistakes builds more trust than hiding themHow to read industry cycles before they roll over *Why staying open is the career move most senior leaders stop making About the Guest: Jeff Newell is President of Mouser Electronics. Before stepping into the President role in 2025, he served as Senior Vice President of Products for over a decade. He spent more than 20 years at Texas Instruments earlier in his career. Hosted By: Sannah Vinding hosts the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast. She is an engineer and go-to-market leader focused on how leaders operate when complexity is high and answers are not always obvious. Sign up for the newsletter at https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning.

    Why Building Your Successor Is the Real Leadership Test

  8. May 5

    How Leaders Build Trust When Buyers Already Have the Answers

    What does the field sales rep actually deliver in a market where buyers research with AI before they engage? Lonnie Power, Customer Business Manager at Heilind Electronics, joins Sannah Vinding to talk about how the role has shifted from information delivery to translation, bridging, and problem solving. Lonnie has spent close to three decades inside the electronics industry, working both the supplier and distribution sides of the table. He talks about why AI is a powerful tool but not a replacement, why it answers confidently whether the answer is correct or not, and what it takes to develop the next generation of talent in an industry where most people stumble in by accident. This conversation is for sales leaders, distribution executives, rep firm owners, and senior professionals who are rebuilding how their teams sell, support, and grow customers in a market where the rules are being rewritten week by week. In this episode, you will learn: Why AI speeds the search but judgment closes the dealHow the field rep role is shifting from information to translationWhy younger buyers default to Amazon and Alibaba, and what to do about itHow to reframe the 80/20 rule for where the industry is goingWhy managing your personal brand is the one thing you controlWhat it looks like to lead through pivot moments without losing momentumAbout the guest: Lonnie Power is the Customer Business Manager at Heilind Electronics with more than two decades of experience selling component solutions across the electronics industry. Hosted by Sannah Vinding. She is an engineer and go-to-market leader focused on how leaders operate when complexity is high and the answers are not always obvious. Get the weekly newsletter at https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/ Stay curious. Keep learning

    How Leaders Build Trust When Buyers Already Have the Answers
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About

Leading technical, cross-functional, and global teams is one of the hardest jobs in the electronics and manufacturing ecosystem. This show is built for the people doing that work every day. Hosted by Sannah Vinding, the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast features practical conversations with executives and industry leaders across electronics, manufacturing, distribution, supply chain, semiconductor, and the manufacturers rep community. Each episode goes beyond surface-level leadership advice. Guests share real decisions, hard lessons, and the leadership moves that matter when pressure is high, teams are stretched, customers are changing, and the margin for error is thin. The show explores how leaders communicate clearly across technical and non-technical teams, build trust across functions and regions, develop the next generation of leaders, respond to market change, use AI with judgment, and turn listening, feedback, and belief into execution. No fluff. No theory. Just practical leadership lessons from people working inside the industry. Trusted by 4,800+ leaders across manufacturing, distribution, and technical industries. Ranked among the top leadership podcasts worldwide. Watched more than 225,000 times on YouTube. New episodes weekly at https://leadershipinmanufacturing.com/hello/

Information

  • Creator
    Sannah Vinding
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 uceptive inc
  • Show Website
    Leadership in Manufacturing