In this episode of Workforce 4.0, host Ann Wyatt interviews prominent manufacturing leader, Ashleigh Walters on lessons discovered through Ashleigh's book, "Leading with Grit and Grace." As these two southern girls unpack what it means to simultaneously "have grit and lead with grace," listeners of the show will learn more about the powerful impact that thoughtful leadership has on key topics such as recruitment, empowering your frontline workforce and succession planning.

In This Episode:

-05:35: The Inspiration Behind 'Grit and Grace'

-08:05: The Role of Technology in Manufacturing

-11:06: Marketing and Succession Planning in Manufacturing

-14:30: Transitioning To An ESOP Company

-16:45: The Impact of ESOP on Employees and Community

-17:12: The Decision To Choose ESOP Over Private Equity

-18:21: ESOP As A Recruitment and Retention Tool

-22:00: Leadership and Cultural Change in Manufacturing

-24:15: Continuous Improvement and Industry Evolution

-27:23: Learning From Other Industries

-28:36: Conclusion and Contact Information

About Ashleigh Walters:

Ashleigh and her family relocated to the Rust Belt town of Erie, Pennsylvania, in an attempt to revive her husband's family's 54-year-old business. She used the problem-solving skills she obtained while earning her BS in Chemical Engineering from Auburn University and was able to change the company culture by using a coach approach leadership style. Ashleigh regularly shares her story with fellow leaders and encourages them to "make things better" by continuously improving processes. To learn more about Ashleigh connect with her here.

The Future of Work (And This Episode) Is Powered By Secchi:

Secchi is a revolutionary workforce engagement tool created for organizations to make data-driven frontline decisions in real-time. By measuring and combining multiple people-related lead indicators, Secchi provides in-the-moment visibility into individual frontline employee performance, team performance, engagement/turnover risks, and positive employee behaviors all while removing the traditional barriers of administrative burden on leaders. To learn more about Secchi, check them out here.

Lessons In Grit And Grace (with Ashleigh Walters, UT Center for Industrial Services)