Lewis “Lou” Von Thaer is President and CEO of Battelle, the world’s largest independent nonprofit applied science and technology organization. With a team of over 40,000 highly skilled and trained employees, Battelle provides companies and governmental agencies with comprehensive scientific solutions, serving multiple markets, including health care, industry, national security, infrastructure, and the environment. 

Mr. Von Thaer describes what’s next in the R&D landscape as companies recover from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic citing examples of practices that have contributed to Battelle’s success. He describes how small and midsize companies can get help in establishing a focus and thriving as the economic landscape changes. He also outlines the many ways that Battelle is working to develop the next generation of thinkers and doers through its education programs that mine talent from underserved populations in the community. In addition, he shares stories of his remarkable career path, innovations he has fostered, and challenges he has met.

Discussion points:

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode is Paolo Baldesi

For More Information

Battelle website

Lou Von Thaer on LinkedIn 

Ayna

Paolo Baldesi on LinkedIn

Ludovic Phalippou is a specialist in asset management with a focus on investments in private-equity funds. He is a professor of financial economics at Oxford’s Saïd Business School, heads their FAME Group, and has strong links with senior practitioners in the industry. He speaks at practitioner conferences, appears in the media internationally, and is the author of Private Equity Laid Bare.

Here, Professor Phalippou identifies the challenges of measuring PE funds’ performance and suggests ways of addressing those challenges. Noting that the relatively low degree of transparency in PE markets is hard to square with the relatively high management fees charged by the funds, he offers his perspective on a future in which investors will seek a greater degree of control over their investments.

Discussion Points

Fernweh Insights is brought to you by Fernweh Group. The host of this episode, Paolo Baldesi, is a senior vice president at Fernweh. Fernweh Group is an investment company that is adapting an engaged investor and operator model to create alpha − performance superior to market indices − in the industrial and industrial technology sector.

Disclaimer: The views, information, and opinions presented in this podcast are solely those of the individuals involved and do not necessarily represent those of Fernweh Group LLC or its affiliates. This Podcast should not be considered financial or investment advice. Fernweh does not verify for accuracy any of the information contained in this podcast.

Ludovic Phalippou on LinkedIn

Private Equity Laid Bare (Ludovic Phalippou’s book)

Chetan Dube, founder and CEO of Amelia, an industry-leading cognitive agent, has an ambitious goal: to free mankind from the shackles of mundane daily tasks and chores so creative minds can soar and create a better world for all of us. According to Chetan, with AI at a tipping point of exceeding human levels of comprehension, it is no longer a choice for businesses to use AI or not; it is a choice between adapting to a digital hybrid or dying slowly.

Hesitancy and misconceptions about AI have long been a barrier to widespread adoption. One important way AI can help us right now is by bridging our current labor and talent gaps. Companies should consider how they can make their employees’ lives better and easier by using AI to take on the drudgery of mundane tasks that don’t require a human employee, which can only benefit bottom-line growth.

Chetan’s passion for developing algorithms that will model the best of human thinking and behaviors is inspiring. Join us for a discussion about how AI is improving businesses and lives today and how it will transform our world in the near future.

Discussion points:

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. 

This episode is part of our Disruption 2.0 series, where the focus is on how a new wave of technology is disrupting multiple sectors.

For More Information

Chetan Dube website

Chetan Dube on LinkedIn

Ayna

Paolo Baldesi on LinkedIn

Brett Cope, President and CEO of Powell Industries recounts his leadership of a 75-year-old family business with a can-do attitude. He shines a light on the importance of culture in enabling a small company to weather the many economic storms and stay on the path of continuous improvement and value creation despite business cyclicality. Powell Industries designs, manufactures, and services custom-engineered equipment and systems for the distribution, control, and monitoring of electrical energy. 

Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience in the electrical, automation, and process industries, Mr. Cope also shares his views on the state of the electrical energy equipment industry today and the electrical energy sector’s likely transformation over the next several years. Listen in as one of the pioneers in the electrical and automation space talks about weathering crises, embodying core values, attracting and keeping talent at a relatively small company, and being a nonfamily CEO of a family-owned business.

Discussion points:

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode, Danielle Isbell, is Manager of Operations at Fernweh.

This episode is part of our Industrials series which focuses on transformational journeys of companies in the industrials sector, one of the most prominent sectors and the bedrock of the U.S. economy. 

For More Information

Powell Industries Website: https://www.powellind.com/Default.aspx

Brett Cope on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brett-cope-4a050b3/

Fernweh Group: https://www.ayna.ai/ 

Meghan Juday is chairman of the board at Ideal Industries, a family-owned multinational corporation engaged in diversified industries. In this describes her firsthand experience of managing a successful family-run business. A key advantage is a long-term perspective, expressed on the company’s website as “seeing our business in generations, not quarters,” which fosters an entrepreneurial culture. However, a company’s legacy can be difficult to maintain over generations in a constantly changing environment. 

Ms. Juday provides glimpses of Ideal’s strategies for maintaining a family environment of inclusion, development, growth, and success. As a speaker, author, and family business and corporate governance advocate, she has a deep understanding of what helps family businesses thrive and survive. Join us to learn more about how she maintains the founding culture and standards, grooms talent in younger generations, and meets the challenges of being a female leader of a manufacturing business.

Discussion Points

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode, Nidhi Arora, is Vice President at Ayna

This episode is part of our industrials series which focuses on transformational journeys of companies in the industrials sector, one of the most prominent sectors and the bedrock of the U.S. economy. 

For More Information

IDEAL Industries Website: https://www.idealindustries.com/us/en.html 

Meghan Juday on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghanjuday/ 

Ayna: https://www.ayna.ai/ 

HEICO Corporation’s turnaround story has created headlines for the past 20 years. The company designs, manufactures, and sells aerospace, defense, and electronics-related products and services in the United States and internationally. It can boast of a decade of industry-leading operational performance and shareholder value creation, propelled by its acquisition and transformation of 88 businesses since 1996.

Victor Mendelson, longtime co-president of HEICO, shares his thoughts on what has contributed to the company’s continued success, citing its flexible mindset and management during the turnaround, relentless focus on product and people development, and a culture of ownership that includes employees of acquired businesses. He also discusses HEICO’s navigation of COVID-19’s many challenges and his optimistic outlook for the aviation, aerospace, and defense industry. 

Join us to learn about key elements of sustainable transformations, the integration of companies in a programmatic M&A approach, and other insights from an exceptional leader in the industrials sector.

Discussion Points

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode, Nidhi Arora, is Vice President at Ayna

This episode is part of our Industrials series which focuses on transformational journeys of companies in the industrials Sector, one of the most prominent sectors and the bedrock of the U.S. economy. 

For More Information

Heico Corp Website: https://www.heico.com/

Victor Mendelson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-mendelson-6ba6807/

Ayna: https://www.ayna.ai/

Nidhi Arora on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nidhi-arora-1672301b/

Gregory Rustowicz, Vice President of Finance and CFO of Columbus McKinnon, shares his thoughts on the company’s strong track record of value creation and resilience through the pandemic and the changing dynamics in the material handling industry.

Columbus McKinnon is a global leader in lifting and motion-control technology, and they are “moving businesses forward with smart solutions for high-value problems.”  With its restructuring initiatives, programmatic M&A approach, and strong cashflow performance even during the pandemic, Columbus McKinnon is a case study on driving alpha returns within the Industrials sector. 

Join us for a glimpse into some of the internal strategies for growth and success that Greg has been part of with Columbus McKinnon’s “great transformation” over the last 10 years, including his ideas on industry trends, thoughts on mergers and acquisitions, and finding and fostering talent.

Discussion Points

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. 

This episode is part of our industrials series which focuses on transformational journeys of companies in the industrials sector, one of the most prominent sectors and the bedrock of the U.S. economy.

For More Information

Columbus McKinnon Website: https://www.columbusmckinnon.com/en-us/

Greg Rustowicz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-rustowicz-a2211670/

Ayna: https://www.ayna.ai/ 

Paolo Baldesi on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paolo-b-a47b344/

Robert (Bob) L. Luddy, one of the most talented, persistent, and enduring entrepreneurs in the U.S., shares his journey of transforming CaptiveAire to an industry leader. Bob discusses CaptiveAire’s focus on continuous growth and improvement, the rich culture of perfection, and the passion of bringing right technologies and products to its customers. 

Founded by Bob in 1976 as a small fire suppression company in Raleigh, N.C., CaptiveAire is today the largest privately held manufacturer of commercial kitchen ventilation systems in the U.S. and a one-stop shop for any building’s HVAC needs. Bob is also the author of the book, Entrepreneurial Life: The Path from Startup to Market Leader.

What does it take to convert an entrepreneurial concept from just a dream to becoming a market leader? How do small businesses build and sustain winning cultures? What measures can make businesses withstand the ups and downs of economic cycles? Listen in as Bob Luddy shares his thoughts on becoming and remaining the leader in an industry.  

Discussion Points:

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode, Nick Santhanam is the CEO of Fernweh Group.

This episode is part of Ayna's Industrials series, which focuses on transformational journeys of companies in the industrials sector, the bedrock of the US economy. 

Resources/Links:

CaptiveAire Website

Robert Luddy LinkedIn

Find Bob’s Book on Amazon

Ayna

Nick Santhanam LinkedIn

Chris Krebs, a renowned expert in cybersecurity, shares his thoughts on the current issues facing cybersecurity around the world, including the current situation in Ukraine, the 2020 election, the Colonial Pipeline hack, and other attacks on critical infrastructure. He also discusses how organizations can anticipate, prevent, and recover from these types of attacks in the future.  

Mr. Krebs is a former Director of the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). He recently founded a cyber consulting firm named Krebs Stamos Group with his partner Alex Stamos where their first assignment was the SolarWinds hack.

How big is the threat of cyber attacks in today’s world? How can companies become more security minded? Tune in for the conversation with Chris Krebs to learn more.

Discussion Points:

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode, Nick Santhanam is the CEO of Fernweh.

This episode is part of Disruption 2.0 series where the focus is how a new wave of technology is disrupting multiple sectors.

For more information:

Christopher Krebs LinkedIn

Krebs Stamos Group Website

Ayna

Nick Santhanam LinkedIn

Rodrigo Liang, CEO and co-founder of one of the most well funded AI start-ups – SambaNova Systems – talks about the rapid transition to the AI world, the parallels of this transition with the internet era, and the industries that are already witnessing disruptions through AI. Rodrigo discusses the fundamental shift required in the hardware architecture and the merits of a software-first approach optimized for data workflows.

With their recent success and limelight in the AI world, Rodrigo and the SambaNova team are continuing this exciting journey as a trusted advisor to enterprises looking to accelerate their AI deployments. 

Where is AI in its development curve right now?  Why has data overtaken operations as the driver of AI software and hardware? How do enterprises think and approach at-scale AI adoption? Tune in for an insightful conversation with a leader in this exploding field.

Discussion Points

Ayna Insights is brought to you by Ayna, the premiere advisory firm in the industrial technology space that provies transformation and consulting services to its clients. The host of this episode, Paolo Baldesi, is Former Senior Vice President at Fernweh.

This episode is part of the Disruption 2.0 series where the focus is how a new wave of technology is disrupting multiple sectors.

For More Information

Rodrigo Liang at SambaNova

Rodrigo Liang on LinkedIn

Ayna

Paolo Baldesi on LinkedIn