Industry Ignited Podcast
Industry Ignited is a business podcast featuring bold conversations with leaders who are reshaping how business gets done. Each episode highlights breakthrough stories from the industrial, manufacturing, biotech, chemical, and B2B sectors, offering an inside look at how executives and innovators solve real-world challenges. It is hosted by Dr. Leeanne Aguilar, an entrepreneur, executive coach, and marketing strategist. Episodes dig into strategies, mindsets, and lessons around scaling companies, navigating complex operations, rethinking culture, and preparing for the future of work. The show is aimed at executives, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders looking for fresh perspectives on leadership.
Episodes
Why Employees Really Leave Their Jobs | Ep. 108 [Jamile Dingle]
What does it take to build a workplace where people feel supported, accountable, and motivated to perform? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Jamile Dingle to explore why strong HR foundations matter from the very beginning. Drawing from his experience across the military, manufacturing, workforce development, and HR leadership, Jamile discusses the importance
Why Reshoring Could Be More Profitable Than Offshoring | Ep. 107 [Harry Moser]
What if offshoring isn’t actually saving companies as much money as they think? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Harry Moser, founder of the Reshoring Initiative, to explore the true cost of offshore manufacturing and why bringing production back to the United States can make strong business sense. Harry explains why companies need to look beyond wages and pu
How Waste Could Help Solve the World’s Energy Crisis | Ep. 106 [David Goebel]
What if one of the world’s biggest waste problems could become one of its most valuable energy solutions? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Dave Goebel, CEO and Founder of EnVerde LLC, to explore how waste streams can be transformed into clean energy and valuable chemical resources.Dave shares his journey from global leadership roles in the oil and chemical in
Why Legacy Businesses Must Innovate to Survive | Ep. 105 [Tariq Miflal]
What does it take to transform a 50-year-old family business into a future-ready mobility company? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Tariq Miflal, CEO of Lumala, to explore how a third-generation manufacturing business is evolving from traditional bicycles into e-bikes, cargo bikes, electric mobility solutions, and new sustainable business models.Tariq shares
Better Recovery Starts With Good Sleep | Ep. 104 [Sam Jacobsak]
What happens when a frustrating personal recovery experience reveals a problem the healthcare industry has overlooked? On this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Sam Jacobsak, a former professional baseball player turned entrepreneur, to explore how his own shoulder surgery and struggle to sleep during recovery inspired him to build a solution designed around a real pa
How AI and 3D Imaging Could Transform Spine Surgery | Ep. 103 [Erez Lampert]
What if spine surgeons could operate with real-time 3D guidance while reducing their reliance on intraoperative radiation? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Erez Lampert, CEO and founder of PathKeeper Surgical, to explore how AI, optical 3D imaging, and surgical navigation are changing the future of spine surgery.Erez shares how his background in aerospace, de
How One Failed Product Changed the Way She Built Her Business | Ep. 102 [Anu Luthra]
What does it take to walk away from a successful career in finance and build a purpose-driven brand from the ground up? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Anu Luthra, founder and CEO of Lumehra, to explore her journey from corporate finance to entrepreneurship and the lessons she learned along the way.Anu shares how her first product became an unexpected lesson
The Next Generation of Military Drones Is Taking Shape | Ep. 101 [James Thurman]
What if the future of aviation could combine vertical takeoff, turbine-powered endurance, and the flexibility to serve both military and civilian missions?In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with James Thurman, Founder and CEO of Portal Aircraft Company, to explore his vision for the next generation of VTOL aircraft. Drawing on his experience as a naval aviator, aero
The Biggest Problem in Biotech No One Talks About | Ep. 99 [Dr. Michael Weickert]
What does it really take to bring a life-saving medical breakthrough to patients? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Dr. Michael Weickert, CEO of Pacylex Pharmaceuticals and FE Pharmaceuticals, to discuss the realities of building first-in-class therapies in oncology and infectious disease. From the challenges of securing funding for breakthrough innovations to
This Surgical Innovation Solves a 50-Year-Old Problem | Ep. 98 [Will Crawford]
What if one of the biggest opportunities to improve surgical safety and operating room efficiency has been hiding in plain sight? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leanne Aguilar sits down with Will Crawford, CEO and Co-Founder of Smart Step Surgical, to discuss how a simple observation in the operating room led to the creation of an innovative medical device that is transforming surgical e
The Technology Behind Safer Drones and Smarter Navigation | Ep. 97 [Omer Sharar]
What does it take to build technology that keeps critical systems operating when reliability matters most? In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar welcomes Omer Sharar, CEO and Founder of infiniDOME Solutions, for an engaging discussion on the future of GPS protection, resilient navigation, and the innovations driving next-generation autonomous systems. Omer shares the story
The CEO's Guide to Building a Company That Lasts | Ep. 96 [Emir Avdic]
What separates companies that simply survive from those that continue to grow for decades? In this thought-provoking episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar welcomes Emir Avdic, President and CEO of Sebright Products Inc., for an in-depth conversation about leadership, innovation, employee ownership, and building organizations where people genuinely care about the company's success.
The Innovation That Could Power the Future | Ep. 95 [Don Currie]
What if one breakthrough could dramatically improve the efficiency of electric vehicles, data centers, renewable energy systems, and the power grid? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Don Currie, CEO of Hillcrest Energy Technologies Ltd., to explore the innovation behind zero-voltage switching and why it has the potential to change how electricity is converted and
How Honey Became The Secret Behind This Beauty Brand | Ep. 94 [Ayesha Ibrahim]
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Ayesha Ibrahim, CEO of Honey Corn, to explore how one natural ingredient, honey, became the foundation of an award-winning ethical skincare brand. What started as a personal search for relief from postpartum eczema evolved into a global entrepreneurial journey driven by sustainability, innovation, and a passion for creating pr
How Predictive AI Makes Aircraft More Reliable | Ep. 93 [Mark Strauss]
Why Reliability Wins Missions isn't just a statement; it's the philosophy behind the next generation of autonomous aircraft. In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Mark Strauss, Founder and CEO of Wave Aerospace, to discuss how his company is redefining UAV performance with aircraft designed to succeed when conventional drones can't. Discover how innovat
The Next Billion-Dollar Energy Opportunity | Ep. 92 [Andrew Stock]
What does it take to build successful companies across multiple industries and then apply those lessons to one of the biggest challenges in commercial energy? In this episode, Andrew Stock joins Dr. Leeanne Aguilar to discuss the future of solar, energy storage, geothermal power, and the critical role of financing in helping projects get built. Andrew explains why many solar companies struggle, ho
How to Scale a Battery Energy Storage Company Without Failing | Ep. 91 [Mark Hagedorn]
What separates a successful battery company from one that runs out of money before reaching scale? In this episode, Mark Hagedorn shares the operational playbook behind building and growing battery energy storage businesses, including lessons learned from startups, manufacturing facilities, supply chains, and large-scale energy projects. He explains why great technology alone isn't enough and
How Manufacturers Are Cutting Energy Costs Without Spending a Dollar Upfront | Ep. 90 [David Kipling]
What if manufacturers could reduce energy costs, lower carbon emissions, and modernize critical infrastructure without investing any capital upfront? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with David Kipling, CEO of On-site Energy Group, to explore how innovative energy financing models are helping industrial companies unlock major savings while accelerating their susta
The Science Behind Nature-Inspired Innovation | Ep. 89 [Sidney Rostan]
What if the next breakthrough in AI, engineering, or product innovation isn't something humans invent, but something nature has already perfected? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Sidney Rostan, Founder and CEO of Bioxegy, France's leading biomimicry R&D design office, to explore how companies are using nature-inspired solutions to solve some of
The Real Difference Between Cheap and Quality | Ep. 88 [David Thuro]
What really happens when manufacturers compete only on price? In this powerful conversation, David Thuro explains why cheap manufacturing often leads to hidden costs, quality failures, and long-term risk. As the leader of Thuro Metal Products, David has spent decades producing mission-critical precision parts for aerospace, defense, automotive, and industrial markets where accuracy, reliability, a
The Startup Mistake That Kills Great Technology | Ep. 87 [George Boyajian]
Why do so many breakthrough technologies never make it into the real world? In this powerful conversation, Mussel Polymers CEO George Boyajian breaks down the hidden reasons most deep tech startups fail and what founders should be doing differently from day one. Drawing from decades of experience in university commercialization, venture creation, and advanced materials, George shares the exact fra
What Automakers Are Missing Inside EV Batteries | Ep. 86 [Efrat Avnet Steinberg]
What if the biggest problem in electric vehicles is something manufacturers can’t even see? In this fascinating episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Efrat Avnet Steinberg, the CEO of INNER, a company pioneering breakthrough CT scanning technology for EV battery inspection. Together, they dive into the hidden defects impacting EV batteries, why traditional quality checks are
How Better Tooling Creates Massive Profit | Ep. 85 [Kaci King]
What if the biggest advantage in manufacturing wasn’t a new machine, but a smarter tooling strategy?In this episode, West Ohio Tool CEO Kaci King explains how custom-engineered cutting tools are helping manufacturers slash downtime, increase productivity, and save millions in operational costs. From solving “impossible” machining problems to creating tooling solutions that dramatically outperform
The Untold Reality of Running a Defense Company | Ep. 84 [Pablo Ahumada]
What does it really take to lead in industries where timing, compliance, trust, and execution can determine success or failure?In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Captain Pablo Ahumada, CEO of NEXA Industrial Solutions (GEDEF Holdings), about his journey from construction and logistics into global defense manufacturing and aerospace ambitions. Pablo shares hard-earn
Why Hypersonic Missiles Need New Materials Now? | Ep. 83 [Ed Pope]
Hypersonic technology promises speeds beyond Mach 5, but there’s a critical problem most people overlook: the materials. In this deep-dive conversation, Dr. Ed Pope shares over 30 years of experience developing advanced ceramics and composites designed to survive extreme environments. From reusable heat shields to next-generation carbon-carbon materials, he explains what actually happens when syst
Why Most Automation Projects Fail (And How to Fix It) | Ep. 82 [William Willard]
Thinking about investing in automation? Watch this first. In this episode, Bill Willard shares decades of experience helping manufacturers move from “shiny object” automation to scalable, real-world solutions that deliver results. He explains why most companies underestimate the true cost of automation, why labor reduction is often the wrong ROI focus, and how overlooking operators and maintenance
The Untold Story Behind Aerospace Innovation | Ep. 81 [Damien Marc]
Damien’s journey is anything but ordinary. After losing his father, he stepped into leadership with little experience in the industry and a promise to keep the business alive. Today, he leads a company at the forefront of aerospace innovation, turning simple mechanical parts into smart, connected technologies.In this conversation, he opens up about overcoming rejection, scaling from scratch, betti
How Manufacturing Can Rebuild the Economy | Ep. 80 [Connie Gunther]
The future of work is being rebuilt right now and manufacturing is at the center of it. In this episode, Connie Gunther shares how emerging technologies like AI are transforming workforce training, accelerating certification, and helping companies scale faster than ever before. But technology alone isn’t the answer. True transformation comes from aligning industry, education, and community in a wa
Why Bigger Wind Turbines Aren’t Always Better | Ep. 79 [Frank Gagnon]
In this episode of Industry Ignited, we challenge one of the biggest assumptions in renewable energy: that bigger is always better. Host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Frank Gagnon of Wind-Do Energy about a new model for wind power, mid-scale turbines designed to work in networks, not just massive standalone farms.Frank shares how his industrial engineering mindset led him to rethink wind technol
The Chip That Makes Devices 10x More Efficient | Ep. 78 [Tom Trill]
In this conversation, we break down the technology behind a revolutionary GPS chip designed to overcome the limitations of traditional RF systems. By digitizing up to 90% of the radio frequency architecture, Tom Trill and his team have created a solution that dramatically improves efficiency, scalability, and cost. This shift allows devices to achieve high-performance positioning and timing while
How One Decision Changed His Entire Life | Ep. 77 [Lindsay Gorrill]
What would make someone walk away from a secure, prestigious career path and risk everything to build something from scratch?In this episode of Industry Ignited, Lindsay Gorrill shares the pivotal moment that changed the course of his life. On track to become a partner at KPMG, he made a decision most people wouldn’t: he chose uncertainty over security. What followed was a journey filled with fail
Why Cheap Refrigeration Costs More in the Long Run | Ep. 76 [Marcos Pordeus de Paula]
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Marcos Pordeus de Paula, CEO of Frigo King and Power Mobile, to explore what truly drives competitive advantage in transport refrigeration. While many companies compete on price, Marcos shares why Frigo King chose a different path, focusing on uptime, durability, service, and real-time data to deliver long-term value for custo
How Great Leaders Turn Engineering Into Growth | Ep. 75 [Bill Kleftis]
What separates leaders who simply manage engineering from those who turn it into a true engine for growth, margin, and shareholder value?In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Bill Kleftis, CEO of Spartan Consulting Solutions, to unpack the real-world leadership lessons behind building high-performing engineering organizations. With experience spanning HVAC, medica
Innovation Is Not Enough: How to Turn Ideas Into Profitable Businesses | Ep. 74 [Nigel Marc Roberts]
Why do so many brilliant innovations fail? Often it’s not the technology, it’s the lack of a clear path to commercialization.In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Nigel Marc Roberts, CEO of GraphMarine, to discuss the real reason great ideas struggle to become profitable businesses.With experience leading 23 technology commercialization journeys, Nigel shares
How to Modernize Defense Manufacturing Faster | Ep. 73 [Dr. Dean Bartles]
What if the biggest barrier to faster, safer, and more cost-effective defense manufacturing isn’t technology, but the path to deploying it?In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Dr. Dean Bartles, President & CEO of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group (MTDG), to discuss how innovation actually reaches defense manufacturing.With over 30 years of experie
The Human Skills AI Can’t Replace | Ep. 72 [David Powell]
As AI accelerates and the pace of change intensifies, the biggest question facing organizations today is this: what human skills will determine who thrives and who struggles in the future of work? In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with David Powell, co-founder of The Golden Thread, to explore the people skills that technology cannot replace.Drawing from more than 3
The Renewable Revolution Has a Supply Problem | Ep. 71 [Mike Riley]
Clean energy has a supply problem and almost no one is talking about it. As governments push electrification and AI drives power demand higher than ever, the materials required to build batteries and upgrade the grid remain concentrated in the hands of geopolitical competitors. Mike Reilly breaks down why lithium extraction, synthetic graphite, and critical mineral processing are the real battlegr
Why Failure Makes Better Engineers | Ep. 70 [Dr. Rashid Ali]
What does it really take to become a great aerospace engineer?In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Dr. Rashid Ali, aerospace educator, UAV designer, and flight control expert, about the mindset that separates competent engineers from transformational ones.From childhood fascination with flight to rebuilding confidence after a glider crash, Dr. Ali shares how failure
Why Delayed Decisions Cost You Millions | Ep. 69 [Meher Billimoria]
What separates high-performing manufacturing leaders from everyone else? It’s not just automation, AI, or bigger facilities. It’s the ability to build disciplined systems, develop strong teams, and make decisive moves under pressure.In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Meher Billimoria, a manufacturing leader with over 27 years of experience spanning enterprise lead
Luxury Design Without the Designer Fees | Ep. 68 [Salman A Rahman]
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Salman A. Rahman, Chief Technology Officer of Decorate AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the $290 billion interior design industry.Salman shares how his background in technology and textiles led to the creation of Decorate AI, a platform built to eliminate guesswork, reduce costly design mistakes, and
Your Device Works… So Why Won’t Anyone Buy It? | Ep. 67 [Lisa Voronkova]
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Lisa Voronkova, CEO of Ova Solutions and author of Hardware Bible: Build a Medical Device from Scratch, to unpack the real reasons medical devices fail, not in the lab, but in the real world.Lisa shares hard-earned lessons from her own founder journey, including the classic trap of building around “cool tech” instead of s
Building Hydrogen Fueling Stations: Cost, Safety and Scale Explained | Ep. 66 [Salim Rahemtulla]
Hydrogen is often talked about as the fuel of the future, but what does it actually look like in practice?In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Salim Rahemtulla, President and CEO of PowerTap Hydrogen Fuel Corp, to break down how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles work, where they make sense, and where they don’t. From 20-minute heavy-duty refueling to water-only ta
Why Lighter Ammo Can Hit Harder Than Heavier Bullets | Ep. 65 [Gary Ramey]
What if the most misunderstood part of a product category isn’t the product people obsess over, but the one that actually determines performance?In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Gary Ramey, CEO of Liberty Ammunition, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, brand strategy, innovation and what it takes to grow in highly regulated, high-stakes indust
The Secret to Making Aortic Surgery Safer: Inside Vestec’s Breakthrough Technology | Ep. 64 [Joseph Rafferty]
What does it really take to turn breakthrough medical innovation into real-world impact when lives are on the line and the system isn’t built for speed?In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Joseph Rafferty, CEO of Vestec, a seasoned medtech leader who has spent decades operating at the intersection of innovation, commercialization, and clinical reality.Joseph
Innovation in Medicine: Solving Problems No One Else Could | Ep. 63 [Perter Bonutti, MD]
What does it take to turn an idea into a life-changing medical device? Peter Bonutti, MD explains how mentorship, curiosity and patient-driven innovation led to over 500 patents and 700 licensed products. Learn the importance of persistence, problem-solving, and ethical innovation in medicine. Discover how Peter Bonutti is pushing the limits of medicine. From early orthopedic innovations to openi
Giving Cancer Survivors Back Their Freedom: Sub-Q Bionics Story | Ep. 62 [Jordan Pollack]
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Jordan Pollack, CEO and co-founder of Sub-Q Bionics, to explore breakthrough innovations in medtech that are transforming the lives of cancer survivors.Jordan, a biomedical engineer and medical device entrepreneur, shares his journey from Boston Scientific to founding SubQ Bionics, a company developing implantable bionic
The Physicist Who Challenged Aviation: Inside the Future of VTOL | EP.61
What if the future of flight didn’t come from aerospace giants—but from a physicist who once broke world speed records on a human-powered bicycle?In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Damjan Zabovnik, CEO of EV Corporation, to explore how radical efficiency, unconventional thinking, and persistence are reshaping aviation.Damjan shares his journey from designi
Building High-Performance Cultures in Manufacturing: Andrew Patrick of Eckert Machining | Ep. 60
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Andrew Patrick, President and CEO of Eckert Machining Inc., about why the most powerful driver of manufacturing performance isn’t equipment or automation, but culture. Drawing on decades of experience transforming large machine shops in Silicon Valley and Europe, Andrew explains how management unity, consistent leadership be
Turning Ideas into Production-Ready Parts with 3D Printing: Matthew Guy of Niche 3D | Ep. 59
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Matthew Guy, CEO of Niche 3D, to demystify additive manufacturing and show where 3D printing creates real business advantage beyond “hobby” perception. Matthew explains why the winners in 3D printing focus on applications and customer needs—not the novelty of the technology—then walks through how he designs and manufactur
“No One Talks About This”— A New Solution to Pelvic Pain: Zack Lyon of H3Pelvic Therapy Systems | Ep. 58
On this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Zack Lyon, Chief Executive Officer of H3Pelvic Therapy Systems, an industrial designer and engineer with 30+ years of experience and 40+ U.S. patents, about how a personal health crisis sparked a breakthrough approach to pelvic pain care. Zack shares how the “Keep It Simple” design philosophy shaped a home-based pelvic thera
How to Lead Through Failure in Pharma Manufacturing: Robert Poe, CEO of Olon USA | Ep. 57
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Robert Poe, President and CEO of Olon USA, about what it takes to move a fragile lab concept into a real-world, life-changing medicine—at scale, safely, and with quality. Robert shares his unconventional leadership journey (from combat medic and lab maintenance to CEO), the power of mentors who allow people to learn through f
When Growth Outruns Process: Angie Griffin of Third Coast on Scaling Without Breaking | Ep. 56
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Angie Griffin, Chief Commercial Officer at Third Coast, to unpack what it really takes to scale a fast-growing chemical company without losing agility, safety, or customer intimacy. Angie shares her unconventional path from English degrees to commercial leadership, then breaks down Third Coast’s core growth challenge—when
When NASA Systems Thinking Meets Accident Reconstruction: Robert Swint, CEO of ATA Associates | Ep. 55
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Robert Swint, CEO of ATA Associates, whose 50-year career spans NASA’s Apollo and Space Shuttle programs to some of the world’s most complex accident and failure investigations. Drawing on his 24 years at NASA—including work on Apollo, Apollo 13 recovery, Shuttle avionics integration, and space-station safety—Bob explains how systems
What Happens When Pharma Measures Performance Like the Olympics? Tim Mikhelashvili, Amedea Pharma | Ep. 54
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Tim Mikhelashvili, CEO and Co-Founder of Amedea Pharma, to explore how life sciences can achieve elite performance by borrowing principles from Olympic sports and data science. Drawing on more than 20 years across pharma, biotech, and medical affairs, Tim shares how early exposure to drug recalls and poor manufacturing conditions
Turning Niche Crops Into Profitable Systems: Andrew Bish of BISH Enterprises & Hemp Harvest Works | Ep. 53
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar talks with Andrew Bish, CEO of BISH Enterprises and Hemp Harvest Works (Giltner, Nebraska) and President of the Hemp Feed Coalition, about what it takes to modernize agriculture when the barriers aren’t just engineering—they’re markets, policy, and perception. Andrew shares how returning to his small-town roots shaped his leadership, how corpor
Reinventing Footwear Manufacturing in India: Chandan Manocha, CEO of Player Footwear | Ep. 52
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Chandan Manocha, CEO of Player Footwear Company in Delhi, India, to explore how a third-generation manufacturer can be modernized through science, design thinking, and customer-first innovation. Taking over the business at just 19 during COVID, Chandan used the shutdown as a reset moment—revamping operations, shifting from tradit
How Fractional Executive Teams Are Changing Life Sciences: Richard Rives Bird of Rives Consult | Ep. 51
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Richard Rives Bird, President of Rives Consult, on why breakthrough medical devices don’t succeed on innovation alone—they succeed when founders pair great science with the right commercialization strategy, regulatory pathway, and reimbursement reality. Richard shares how he moved from physics into clinical affairs after a CEO recogn
What Does It Take to Build a Gigawatt of Solar in Texas? Sol Bobst, Solar Ranch Development Company | Ep. 50
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Sol Bobst, President of Solar Ranch Development Company and ToxSci Advisors, to explore how Texas can meet a rapidly accelerating power demand through practical, scalable renewable energy development. Sol shares how his background as a board-certified toxicologist and applied scientist led him from oil and gas into solar entre
What Does the Future of Flight Look Like? Dr. Naresh Sharma of NASHERO Shares His Vision | Ep. 49
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Dr. Naresh Sharma, CEO and President of NASHERO, a lifelong aerospace innovator whose passion for flight began in childhood and evolved into decades of breakthrough engineering. Dr. Sharma shares how deep fundamentals, relentless curiosity, and world-class collaborations—most notably with Stanford’s Professor Stephen W. Tsai—have
The Science of Saving Vision: David Esposito, CEO of ONL Therapeutics | Ep. 48
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with David Esposito, Chief Executive Officer of ONL Therapeutics, a decorated combat veteran and seasoned healthcare executive who has successfully built and scaled multiple life science companies. David shares how leadership forged on the battlefield now guides his work at the forefront of biotech innovation, where ONL Therapeutics i
How Bri Bustos Is Transforming CCMC with Data, Governance, and Unified Technology | Ep. 47
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Brianne “Bri” Bustos, Chief Information Officer at CCMC, to unpack how modern CIOs transform technology from a cost center into a strategic growth engine. Bri shares her journey across energy, archaeology, and property management, revealing why strong data foundations, deep business partnerships, and relentless communication a
The Breakthrough That Could Replace Batteries: Larry Richenstein, CEO of WePower Technologies | Ep. 46
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Lawrence “Larry” Richenstein, Founder and CEO of WePower Technologies (GEMS), to uncover how kinetic energy harvesting is poised to eliminate batteries forever. Larry shares his unconventional entrepreneurial journey, the costly lessons that shaped his leadership, and the groundbreaking physics behind GEMS—technology capable of ge
What It Really Takes to Build Reliable, Low-Carbon Infrastructure: Lisa Roy, CEO of Optimum Energy | Ep. 45
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Lisa Roy, CEO and President of Optimum Energy, a global leader in engineered energy infrastructure and energy-as-a-service solutions. With more than 30 years of experience in building systems, technology, and sustainability—including a senior leadership role at Johnson Controls—Lisa shares how Optimum is helping organizations
AI, Ethics, Leadership and the Future of Pharma: Dr. Laurie Myers, CEO of Hallett Davis Strategic Group | Ep. 44
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Dr. Laurie Myers, CEO of Hallett Davis Strategic Group, to unpack how science, ethics, and commercialization must intersect to deliver life-changing medicines. Dr. Myers shares her remarkable transition from toxicology research to senior marketing leadership at global pharma giants, revealing how listening, data translation, and e
How IT Can Make or Break a Business: Stephen Sweeney, CEO of Upright Services | Ep. 43
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Stephen Sweeney, CEO of Upright Services, to unpack how small and mid-sized businesses can turn technology from a constant headache into a genuine competitive advantage. Stephen shares his unexpected journey from educator to entrepreneur, the lessons he learned buying and scaling an IT company, and why proactive technology dec
What the Future of Digital Ecosystems Really Looks Like: Adam Broadway, CEO of Platform OS | Ep. 42
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar talks with Adam Broadway, CEO of Platform OS, about the future of platforms, marketplace ecosystems, and community-centered technology. Adam shares his remarkable journey from high-school dropout to building companies acquired by Adobe, and how these experiences shaped his mission to help innovators build scalable, secure, and customizable d
How Nanotechnology Is Transforming Waste Cleanup: Ali Rezaei & Maryam Lotfitanha of Polyean Technology | Ep. 41
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Ali Rezaei, CEO and Nanobiotechnology Researcher, and Maryam Lotfitanha, Marketing Director of Polyean Technology Inc., the clean-tech startup behind K-Lean—a biodegradable, nano-enhanced powder that solidifies leachate, eliminates odors, reduces bacteria, and deters pests in everyday waste. Ali shares how a common household p
How Executive Coaching Unlocks the Leader You Already Are: Gabrielle Vasquez Baumeyer, CEO of Baumeyer Coaching | Ep. 40
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Gabrielle Vasquez Baumeyer, CEO and Founder of Baumeyer Coaching and ACC-ICF Certified Executive Coach, to explore what truly unlocks sustainable leadership and performance from the inside out. Drawing on over 25 years in training, consulting, and executive coaching, Gabrielle shares how real transformation begins with sl
How a Greek Farmer Transformed Setbacks into Sustainable Success: Thomas Moschos, CEO of Moschos Farm | Ep. 39
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Thomas Moschos, CEO, agronomist, and dairy production expert at Moschos Farm in Greece, to explore how a multigenerational farm is preserving the authenticity of true Greek dairy while scaling sustainably. Thomas shares the pivotal moment that drove him to bring cheese and yogurt production in-house, how agronomy choices like
Blending Biotechnology and Nature for Safer Personal Care: Paul Dempers, CEO of Demron Naturals | Ep. 38
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Paul Dempers, chemist and CEO of Demron Naturals, whose science-driven approach to natural formulations is reshaping personal care, home care, and pet care across Africa and beyond. Dempers shares how witnessing the toxicity of traditional detergents sparked his mission to develop effective, ethically sourced, and environmentally
How Robotics and AI are Reshaping the Future of City Skylines: Michael Brown of Skyline Robotics | Ep. 37
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Michael Brown, Chairman and CEO of Skyline Robotics, the company behind Osmo—the world’s first robotic-armed window-cleaning system. Brown shares how a shrinking labor pool, extreme safety risks, and rising urban skylines sparked Skyline’s mission to reinvent facade maintenance using AI, LIDAR, computer vision, and real-time force
Innovating for a Sustainable Future: Jeff Monroe of LifeSpaces Innovation Group | Ep. 36
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Jeff Monroe, CEO and Chief Innovation Officer of LifeSpaces Innovation Group, about how disruptive sustainable technologies are reshaping the B2B and manufacturing landscape. With over four decades of experience spanning consumer goods, food service, and industrial markets, Monroe shares how his company bridges innovation and sus
How Can Paper Replace Plastic? Ariadne Dimoula of Paramount Planet Product on Nature-Inspired Innovation | Ep. 35
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Ariadne Dimoula, CEO and founder of Paramount Planet Product (P3RD.Earth), whose groundbreaking innovation in microfibrillated cellulose could replace the world’s most common plastic pollutants—wrappers, lids, filters, and straws—with biodegradable, ocean-safe materials. Drawing from her background as an oceanographer and a family
How Can Loyalty and Leadership Scale a Company to $1 Billion? Skip Giessing of DXP Shares the Secrets | Ep. 34
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Skip Giessing, President of the Rotating Equipment Division at DXP Enterprises, to explore how he helped grow the division from $150 million to over $1 billion while preserving the company’s core culture of loyalty, entrepreneurship, and long-term vision. Skip shares how lessons from the U.S. Navy and owning his own business s
Designing Innovation from the Ground Up: Circle R Engineering’s T’Ray Rutledge on Turning Ideas into Systems | Ep. 33
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews T’Ray Rutledge, P.E., CEO of Circle R Engineering, whose career spans the U.S. Air Force flight line to founding a design-build firm that turns napkin sketches into working machines. Rutledge shares how aerospace discipline, curiosity, and safety culture shaped his approach to hydraulics, pneumatics, and electric-drive systems acr
The Safe and Effective Cure to Cancer: Angiex Founder Paul Jaminet Shares the Science | Ep. 32
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Paul Jaminet, Ph.D., Founder and President of Angiex, to discuss a revolutionary new approach to cancer therapy that delivers drugs directly into tumor cell nuclei while sparing healthy tissue. Drawing from his journey through MIT physics, Harvard astrophysics, software entrepreneurship, and natural health research, Jaminet sh
How Can Early-Life Nutrition Transform Global Protein Production? Erik Visser, CEO of Hamlet Protein Shares His Vision | Ep. 31
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Erik Visser, CEO of Hamlet Protein, to explore how early-life animal nutrition is shaping the future of sustainable protein. From law and political science to leading global feed innovation, Visser shares how strategy, culture, and servant leadership drive transformation across the feed and food value chain. He discusses how Hamle
What’s the Secret to Sustainable Process Improvement? Ann Marie O’Connell Explains | Ep. 30
In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Ann Marie O’Connell, professional engineer, MBA, and certified Six Sigma Black Belt, to explore the intersection of process discipline and creativity. With over four decades leading MCU Limited, Ann Marie shares how flexible, physics- and economics-based design thinking can drive real innovation—without stifling imaginati
Future of Inclusive Marketplaces: Sara Quintero on KarmaChic | Ep. 29
On Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Sara Quintero, founder & chief innovation officer of KarmaChic Marketplace—an e-commerce platform built to scale women-owned and minority-owned businesses. Sara shares how a boutique setback became the launchpad for a human-first, AI-powered marketplace with low fees, geolocation discovery, and a CreatorLab vendor hub for content, analytics,
How to Build a Bankable Business: Thomas Gilman on the Financial Habits of Thriving Companies | Ep. 28
In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar talks with Thomas Gilman, founder of Driving Business Growth and former BP executive, about how CEOs can move from running their business to truly scaling it. Drawing on decades of global leadership and financial strategy experience, Gilman reveals the Wall Street techniques that every Main Street CEO should know—from improving business cred
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