Automation Ladies

Humanoid robots are getting real, and the biggest question isn’t “Can they dance?” It’s “Who’s going to understand them well enough to build, program, and fix them?” We sit down with Dr. Elliot Hefling Jr., founder of Reality Tech Academy, to talk about why he brings full-scale humanoid robots into education and why waiting until college is too late for most students, especially in underserved communities. 

We get into what it looks like to teach robotics with Pepper and NAO using Python programming, live demos, and simulation tools like Choregraphe. Dr. Hefling explains his “plant the seed” approach: show students how the code works behind the scenes, let them test wild ideas safely, and help them see technology as something they can create. We also explore what social robots can realistically do today, from multilingual interaction to machine vision, obstacle avoidance, indoor navigation, and even early ideas for elder care support like reminders, guidance, and simple object retrieval within payload limits. 

Along the way, we zoom out to the workforce problem: if humanoid robots become as common as computers, we’ll need an entire pipeline of people who can troubleshoot and maintain them. That’s where the episode lands, on becoming producers not just users, and building local skills so robotics doesn’t become a black box. Subscribe, share this with a friend in STEM education or industrial automation, and leave a review with one thing you’d want a humanoid robot to help with.

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

You don’t need a perfectly planned career to become a manufacturing leader. Megan, Director of Manufacturing at Sentry Equipment, started in hospitality and landed in manufacturing because she wanted a more predictable schedule for family life. What happened next is the part most people miss: she fell in love with the shop floor, learned continuous improvement tools like QRM, Lean, and Six Sigma, and kept choosing roles that expanded her skills until she was leading manufacturing operations.

We also get specific about what strong manufacturers do differently when hiring and developing people. Sentry runs a culture interview before a skills interview, betting on coachability, attitude, and learning speed. We talk about recruiting challenges, why marketing matters for hiring, and what companies can change right now to attract more women in manufacturing and a more diverse workforce without treating it like a checkbox.

Then we go deeper into the hard parts of scaling a shop: building teams with complementary strengths, using personality assessments to improve training, and capturing tribal knowledge before it walks out the door. Megan shares how they’re moving toward clearer work instructions and easier access to process knowledge, plus where AI can save time in everyday work when used responsibly.

If you want real-world manufacturing leadership insights and a clearer picture of how modern industrial companies grow talent, you’ll get a lot from this conversation. Subscribe to Automation Ladies, share the episode with a friend in manufacturing, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

Automation media, trade shows, and digital content are reshaping how the industrial automation industry connects. In this episode, Sarah shares insights from covering manufacturing and packaging events, building relationships across OEMs and integrators, and how social media and content creation are influencing the future of automation, engineering, and industrial technology.

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

Season 7 kicks off with Cathy “Conveyor Cougar” Rinne, President of FlexLine Automation, a 15-person, woman-owned integrator known for moving fast, shipping when it counts, and adapting the playbook—from conveyors and robotics to a TikTok presence that actually reaches engineers.

We talk about what leadership really means in a family business, how FlexLine is using AI to automate drawings and quoting, and why an automation company that won’t automate itself will eventually get noticed.

Cathy also shares how her agricultural roots shape how she approaches factory problems: use what you have, fix what breaks, and design for reality. From autosteer tractors to rural manufacturing, we explore why some of the most important automation work happens outside major tech hubs.

We also challenge a common myth: going direct isn’t always faster or cheaper. Custom automation often requires an integrator’s experience, inventory, and responsiveness.

If you care about practical automation—AI that saves engineers time, robotics that fit the job, and service that actually shows up—this episode is for you.

🔗 Connect with Cathy

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%F0%9F%90%86-cathy-rinne-a1764a11/

Website: https://flex-lineautomation.com/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theconveyorcougar

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

When a chance conversation at a beer bar introduced her to the word “SCADA,” Margarita Rosenkrans had no idea it would spark a career in industrial automation. In this episode, Courtney and Alicia chat with Margarita—Sales Engineer at Inductive Automation—about her path from graduating in the middle of a hiring freeze to thriving in both support and sales engineering roles. We cover her behind-the-scenes insights from OT SCADA CON, the culture and community at Inductive, favorite Ignition features, troubleshooting war stories, and even how she used Ignition’s Maker Edition to build her wedding website. Whether you’re an Ignition pro or just automation-curious, you’ll enjoy this mix of career lessons, tech talk, and personal stories.

Thank you to Inductive Automation for sponsoring this Episode and the recent support of OT SCADA CON - where we were lucky enough to meet Maggie in person!

Find out more about the Ignition Community Conference happening Sept 16 - 18 in Sacramento CA and get your tickets to Level Up! your SCADA game. 

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

Ever wondered what it takes to lead automation projects at trailblazing companies like Tesla and The Boring Company?

Nikki chats with Riddhi Padariya about her journey from nerdy high schooler inspired by "How It's Made" to becoming a controls engineering leader in industries ranging from tissue manufacturing to carbon capture and underground tunneling. They dive into hands-on lessons, breakthrough technologies like virtual commissioning, the power of industry communities, and Riddhi’s passion for making automation more accessible, especially for the next generation of engineers.

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This episode is brought to you by SPS Atlanta.  Smart Production Solutions is the world's premiere industrial automation trade show is coming to the US!

Register today:  https://www.xpressreg.net/register/SPSA0925/landing.asp?sc&aban&hkey&iq&vip&tm

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Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales/

Connect with Ali on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering/

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez/

Connect with Riddhi on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/riddhipadariya/

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

Curious how someone ends up building a career around machine vision and industrial automation? 

Nikki sits down with Kerry Pierce, discussing the winding path that led her from computer engineering to becoming a machine vision integrator, the invaluable lessons learned along the way, and how she’s helping demystify the field for newcomers. 

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This episode is brought to you by SPS Atlanta.  Smart Production Solutions is the world's premiere industrial automation trade show is coming to the US!

Register today:  https://www.xpressreg.net/register/SPSA0925/landing.asp?sc&aban&hkey&iq&vip&tm

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Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales/

 Connect with Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering/ 

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez/ 

Connect with Kerry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kspierce/

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

How do you build business skills as a chemical engineer?

In this episode of the Automation Ladies podcast, Ali G chats with Brielle Reisman, who shares her experiences at Applied Control Engineering, and the importance of combining technical skills with business acumen.  Brielle shares how she embraced the value of personal branding and content creation in the engineering industry, particularly for women. 

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales/

Connect with Ali on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering/

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez/

Connect with Brielle on LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/brielle-reisman/

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

How will AI change Industrial automation?  

Ashlesha Anil Chaudhari  and Alex Kaderi from Masked Owl Technologies join us this week to  discuss how their team is building practical solutions to support engineers and rethink the use of AI and new technologies on the factory floor.

Hear firsthand insights into what manufacturers are actually adopting, where they're finding real value, and why some initiatives stall out.

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales/

 Connect with Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering/

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez/

Connect with Ashlesha on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlesha-anil-chaudhari-7853169a/

Connect with Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alex-kaderi-18338bb8/

Learn more about Masked Owl Technologies: https://www.maskedowltechnologies.com/

Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...

How is automation and robotics changing the future of farming?

Katie Bradford, Founder and CEO of Rotate8, joins Nikki to share her story of building practical automation that empowers small farms to thrive without sacrificing repairability or local expertise. 

Tune in to hear the challenges and opportunities in ag-tech, the design of accessible robotic platforms for small farms, and why an open-source, repairable approach matters for sustainable farming. 

Connect with Nikki on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikki-gonzales/

 Connect with Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alicia-gilpin-ali-g-process-controls-engineering/ 

Connect with Courtney on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/courtneydfernandez/ 

Connect with Katie on LinkedIn: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradford-katie/

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Support the show

_________________________________________________________________

🎙 About Automation Ladies

Automation Ladies is an industrial automation podcast spotlighting the engineers, integrators, innovators, and leaders shaping the future of manufacturing.

__________________________________________________________________

🎤 Want to be a guest on the show?
https://www.automationladies.io/guests/intake/

__________________________________________________________________

👩‍🏭 Connect with the Hosts

Nikki Gonzales

Courtney Fernandez

Ali G

__________________________________________________________________

🎟 The Automation Ladies Community Conference: https://otscada.com

Learn more about the hosts’ industrial automation conference OT SCADA CON attended by 100+ automation professionals, engineers, integrators, and technology leaders for hands-on learning, real-world case studies, and meaningful industry connections.

🎬 Credits

Produced by: Veronica Espinoza
Music by: Sam Janes

P.S. - Help our podcast grow with ...