🔊 Description It’s Women in AI Month — and we’re diving into the human side of artificial intelligence. Shannon is joined by Lei Comerford, an award-winning executive coach, certified AI consultant, and leadership facilitator who brings 25+ years of experience in healthcare, hospitality, and professional services. In this fast-paced and thought-provoking conversation, Lei unpacks what it means to become an “AI-powered professional,” and why the future of leadership is...

🔊 Description: What really powers manufacturing? People. In this Manufacturing Day episode, Shannon is joined by Ellen Sieminski, a lean expert, continuous improvement coach, and board member of the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME). With 25+ years in the industry, Ellen brings deep experience and fresh perspective on how women, allies, and curious leaders are shaping the future of manufacturing. From the shop floor to the boardroom, Ellen shares why lean is nev...

September has us juggling back-to-school, conferences, fall festivals, and holiday prep before we can even say “pumpkin spice.” Feeling like you’re already running on fumes? You’re not alone. And that’s why today’s episode is pure gold. I’m joined by Marisa Wheeling Ciesluk—burnout survivor, recovering perfectionist, and Chief Firestarter at MWC Leadership. With over 20 years of experience in leadership development, she helps ambitious women and people-centered leaders grow witho...

On this special Women’s Equality Day episode, host Shannon Bumgarner sits down with Maria Brinck—leadership advisor, founder of Zynergy International, and author of The Leadership We Need: A New Mindset for a Brighter Future. Maria’s career has spanned continents and boardrooms, but her mission is simple: to transform the way we lead. In this conversation, she shares why the leaders of today cannot be the leaders of tomorrow, how unconscious bias still shapes who gets a seat at the ta...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: With several decades of leadership experience in the staffing sector, Todd Warner recognized the need to disrupt the status quo and create a full-service staffing deliverable that meets the needs of today’s hourly workers while delivering a reliable flexible workforce at some of the largest manufacturing and distribution facilities in the U.S. Prior to joining MyWorkChoice, Todd held executive leadership positions at Select Staffing, Clearpoint, Weststaff...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Noël Kreidler, a recovering perfectionist, is known for passionately supporting college students in finding and succeeding in careers they love. She is an Associate Director of Career Development at the Santa Clara University Career Center and has 30+ years of work experience in talent acquisition, human resources, and career services. As a person with a lifelong physical disability, she champions the inclusion of people with disabilities at work and in the commu...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jennifer Black is a powerhouse of grit, strategy, and results. With decades of experience leading cross-functional teams for multi-billion-dollar companies, she’s known for driving innovation, building strong teams, and moving complex initiatives forward with clarity and confidence. She currently serves as Mission Critical Senior Principal Program Manager at Trane Technologies, leading high-stakes projects in the Commercial HVAC business. From concept...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Sameedha Mahajan, Assoc. AIA, LEED AP ND, is an Architectural Designer at HDR, currently involved in critical infrastructure projects and aviation architecture in the USA. As a graduate of KRVIA, India, and Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, her journey as a first-generation immigrant and a woman of color in the Architecture-Engineering-Construction industry has been both challenging and rewarding. Recently, she was honored to receive the O-1 visa, which is...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Shannon Tymosko is a driven, enthusiastic Electrical Apprentice and proud member of IBEW Local 105. With a passion for learning and a thirst for new challenges, she brings a unique combination of attention to detail and diverse skills to every project. As a skilled trades ambassador, Shannon advocates for alternative career paths, educating and mentoring individuals on the benefits of trades. Her greatest passion lies in teaching and empowering others to succee...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Jenny Mitchell is an executive coach, a podcaster, and a published author who is on a mission to help people have more meaningful conversations. She is a lifelong learner who holds an executive coaching degree from Royal Roads University, a CFRE fundraising designation, and a Doctor of Musical Arts from SUNY Stony Brook in piano performance. Jenny is the Founder & CEO of Chavender, a sought-after partner for companies in Canada and the U.S. in the areas...

ABOUT OUR GUESTS: Daryl Anne Estill is an experienced Project Manager and Leader in the commercial MEP construction industry; spanning semiconductor, pharmaceutical, offices, CNG stations, and multifamily markets. In addition to her direct role as a PM, she is integral to strategic planning, training and development, process improvements, and mentorship for her organization. As a public speaker, mentor, and industry leader, her advocacy work focuses on Women in Construction...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Dr. Janet Polach is a global authority in executive coaching, team development, and leadership. With her unique ability to elevate leaders from the minutiae to drive unparalleled organizational success, she serves as a trusted strategist and advisor to senior executives worldwide. Janet has expertly coached an array of executive and frontline leaders across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Her expertise in guiding diverse, cross-geography teams to uncover their core ...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Bose Akadiri is a Motivational Speaker, Corporate Trainer and founder of Goal and Grind LLC where she partners with high achievers to turn their dreams into their reality using her 5 step Vision and Goals Method(™). Renowned for her dynamic corporate workshops where Bose empowers dreams, elevates teams and transforms organizations. In addition to Goal and Grind, she has led a distinguished career in Corporate Social Responsibility at Boeing, Salesforce, and JPMorgan Ch...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Stephanie Hajducek is a Project Specialist for Enbridge – Project YaREN. Project YaREN is a proposed low carbon ammonia production and export facility in Ingleside, Texas, being developed by Enbridge and Yara. Stephanie has also held positions with industry leading companies such as Bechtel, ChevronPhillips, Citgo, Steel Dynamics and The Chemours Company. In January 2022 Stephanie started a 501c3 nonprofit organization called This One’s for the Gals that helps girls ...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Kate Yoder dynamic Project Management Professional (PMP) known for delivering innovative results through creative engineering practices and a people-centric approach. She received her B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and her M.Sc. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After graduating, Kate honed her analytical skills as a modeling & simulation engineer for several years. She then transitioned into project management, where...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: H.J. Dewes is a strategic leader with a proven record leveraging cross-functional teams to achieve optimal results. He is currently a Business Development Manager at ABB where he has spent his 30+ year career across diverse roles in business development, strategy, sales, marketing and channel, operations and logistics. Prior to joining ABB, H.J. was an Enlisted Operations Specialist in the United States Navy where he earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal.&n...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Giovanna Gray Lockhart moved to Yarmouth, Maine full time three years ago. Her national experience spans work in government from an advisor to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand of New York to national nonprofit leadership as a member of the Board of Directors for StoryCorps. Previously, Lockhart held senior roles at venture-backed companies, as the Senior Director of Impact at The Wing and as Chief Strategy Officer at The Riveter. Immediately prior to coming to the Cent...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Meaghan Ziemba is an industrial tech writer, brand storyteller, and marketer for industrial manufacturers. She has a B.A. and M.A. in Professional and Technical Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and has been writing for manufacturing since 2008. Meaghan also hosts a live video broadcast series called Mavens of Manufacturing. The series focuses on women in the sector and aims to attract younger generations to join manufacturing or engineerin...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Martie Edmunds Zakas has been Mueller Water Products’ CEO since August 2023 and served as President and CEO from August 2023 to May 2024. She previously served as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mueller Water Products since 2018. She has directed Mueller’s strategic planning, corporate development, investor relations and corporate communications activities since joining the Company in 2006. Prior to joining Mueller, Martie spent five y...

ABOUT OUR GUEST: Cheryl Merchant has 40 years of leadership and management experience in manufacturing. She has held leadership positions with industry giants like GM, Mazda, Ford, and Lear Corporation and led teams in the U.S., Mexico, Canada and throughout Europe and Asia. Cheryl spent 19 years as the President and CEO of Hope Global, a manufacturing company with over 2,000 employees and operations in the U.S., Mexico, Czech Republic, China, and Brazil. During that period, Hope Globa...