213: Re-Envisioning Energy and the Future of Industry, Live from the Empowering Pumps & Industry Conference

We’ve all been guilty of taking energy for granted at some point, from mindlessly flicking on light switches to filling up our cars on the way to work. We may grumble about the costs, but when was the last time you really thought about where it all comes from?

The availability of energy is something that affects us all, and leaders in the industry are calling for a re-envisioned future. In this episode, we sit down with Michelle Jordan from TECHMAR, Gakuo Ndonga of WD Bearings, and Meaghan Ziemba, host of Mavens of Manufacturing. Recorded live at the Empowering Pumps & Industry Conference, we dive into what it truly means to re-envision energy for the future.

Key themes from our conversation include challenging traditional ways of thinking, spreading awareness, and the importance of collaboration. The secret to innovation in energy isn’t just about new tech (although that’s important), it’s also about bringing fresh voices into the conversation. But as we see across manufacturing, it’s not always easy to sell younger generations on a future career in energy. So we look at what industry leaders can do to communicate and spark excitement to keep energy ticking.

In this episode, find out:

• What does it mean to re-envision energy? Meaghan, Michelle, and Gakuo all share their perspectives and career stories
• Why we need to avoid taking energy for granted and remember that it’s a valuable, scarce resource
• How maintenance and reliability are handled in the energy industry
• How leaders can talk to their customers about re-envisioning operations
• Changes in the workforce and how this can drive innovation for energy
• Gakuo shares a story of a tour he took in an experimental mine that had a classroom in it
• How industry leaders can communicate with others about the energy industry to drive excitement and awareness
• The trick to getting more comfortable sharing your stories to tell others about your career
• Advice for businesses on communicating with educators and young people and why a new approach is needed for a new generation
• Why it’s so important to find your passion and communicate that well
• How focusing on relatable everyday items can help you to communicate the value of working in energy
• Why continuous learning is key and the importance of approaching everything from a student perspective

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Tweetable Quotes:

• “We have to treat energy as a very valuable resource that's not always there. And the way we do that is by bringing people together. People have to be excited to be in this industry to keep energy going.” – Gakuo Ndonga
• "We all have to be advocates for this industry... If you have a really cool story, or if you know of a really cool story, share that with everyone." – Meaghan Ziemba
• "Looking forward to the future, the direction we are headed, the infrastructure that is being built, clean energy, renewable energy, carbon capture—those things are our future." – Michelle Jordan

Links & mentions:

• Mavens of Manufacturing, a live video series that celebrates women in manufacturing
• WD Bearings, manufacturers of high-quality bearings that specializes in tech, manufacturing, and research
• TECHMAR, epoxy grout manufacturers that specializes in protecting equipment from vibrations
• Empowering Pumps & Industry Conference, a conference that connects industry leaders and insights on workforce development, leadership and innovation

Make sure to visit http://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.