A college degree and economic mobility often go hand in hand. A bachelor’s degree can lead to higher earnings over a lifetime. But as technologies like AI impact the job market, how do academic institutions best prepare students for roles that may not even be created yet? Not only that, how do we give more people the chance to achieve a degree and build the skills that industries need? In this episode, Barbara Humpton speaks with Scott Pulsipher, president of Western Governors University, about how academic institutions can think innovatively – even radically – about what it means to achieve a college degree in an era of rapid change. Listeners will learn how WGU has become a pioneer in this space, tackling challenges like affordability and accessibility while giving students more ownership over their education.

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Training a Skilled Workforce

Barbara Humpton on Training a Manufacturing Workforce

AI is reshaping how we live, learn, and work. But no matter how powerful the technology becomes, there’s one skill it will never replicate: being human.

In this special episode of The Optimistic Outlook, Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton shares her 2025 commencement address to graduates of Western Governors University. Her message is both simple and powerful: Empathy. Curiosity. Resilience. The joy you bring to your work. These aren’t soft skills — they’re human skills. And in a world increasingly driven by AI, they’re more essential than ever.

Tune in to hear Barbara’s reflections on the future of work, her personal journey in tech and leadership, and why the most optimistic outlook begins with embracing what makes us uniquely human.

Show notes:

What AI Can’t Replace: Siemens USA CEO’s Message to Graduates

Barbara's commencement reflection post on LinkedIn

We’re halfway through 2025—and what a year it’s been. In this special mid-year check-in, Barbara revisits the bold predictions she made back in January and asks: Are we delivering on the promise of Industrial AI, clean energy, and workforce transformation? From factories revitalized by digital twins to microgrids powering America’s fast-growing AI data centers, this episode highlights the real-world innovations reshaping our industrial landscape.

Drawing on insights from top guests—futurists, engineers, and workforce leaders—Barbara explores what’s working, where challenges remain, and how people are staying at the center of it all. If you’re curious about how data, AI, and human ingenuity are rewriting the rules of American industry, this episode is your front-row seat. Let’s take stock of how far we’ve come—and what it will take to finish the year strong.

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What does a futurist see when they look ahead—not just to next year, but to 2050 and beyond? In this episode, Barbara sits down with Brian Comiskey, Senior Director of Innovation & Trends at the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), to explore the megatrends transforming our world. From industrial AI and digital twins to quantum computing and generational shifts, Brian offers a window into the technological, societal, and human-centered forces that are defining the future. Together, they discuss how industrial innovation is not only catching up to—but in many cases, leading—the digital revolution, and what it takes for businesses and communities to thrive in a world of constant change.

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Siemens unveils breakthrough innovations in industrial AI and digital twin technology at CES 2025

Barbara returns to a theme she’s been hearing more and more from policymakers, educators, and industrial leaders alike: how to truly bring back American manufacturing. While much of the attention is focused on high-profile greenfield projects—brand-new, high-tech factories—there’s an equally urgent priority hiding in plain sight: transforming the factories we already have. In this episode, Barbara welcomes back Del Costy, President and Managing Director at Siemens Digital Industries, to talk about the “brownfield”—the 98 percent of U.S. manufacturers that are small and mid-sized enterprises already operating today. Del shares what he’s hearing from customers on the ground, the challenges they face with legacy systems, and the practical solutions available now. This episode reveals the technologies and strategies that can help legacy manufacturers adopt change at the speed of relevance. 

Show notes: LinkedIn Newsletter - https://www.linkedin.com/newsletters/7171212265625374720/ 

MIT professor, entrepreneur, and manufacturing visionary Dr. John Hart joins the show to continue the podcast’s focus on what it will really take to bring back American manufacturing. Together, John and Barbara explore how revitalizing U.S. industry will require more than cutting-edge technologies—it will take collaborative ecosystems that span education, entrepreneurship, and workforce development. From insights into the latest trends in automation and 3D printing, to a bold rethinking of who today’s “technologists” are, this conversation dives into what it takes to transform both greenfield and brownfield operations. With expertise drawn from the intersection of the lab and shop floor, Dr. Hart helps paint a picture of what’s possible when ecosystems align—and how we can turn this manufacturing moment into lasting progress.

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Press Release: Siemens Founding Member of MIT Initiative designed to transform U.S. manufacturing through research, innovation and training

MIT Technology Review Insights, created in partnership with Siemens

Washington Post Live Podcast: Siemens CEO Barbara Humpton on the 'fourth industrial revolution'

In the latest episode of Optimistic Outlook, Barbara dives into the heart of America’s manufacturing revival, drawing parallels from the high-octane world of IndyCar racing to the industrial tech sector driving economic growth.

Discover how cutting-edge are not just giving racing teams a competitive edge but also fueling the transformation of U.S. manufacturing. Learn why these advancements matter to manufacturers, business leaders, policymakers, and workers eager to shape the next chapter of American industry.

If you care about strengthening supply chains, creating high-paying jobs, and fostering innovation, this episode is for you. From revitalizing small and medium-sized factories to building a resilient workforce and modernizing energy infrastructure, Barbara outlines a clear roadmap to accelerate industrial growth. Tune in to uncover how we can hit the accelerator on America’s industrial future—and why now is the time to start those engines.

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Andretti Global Announces Siemens as Indianapolis 500 Primary Partner for Kyle Kirkwood

In this episode of the Optimistic Outlook, Barbara reflects on insights from the inaugural AI for Real event in New York City, featuring insights from top economists and innovators. This episode dives into how Industrial AI empowers workers, drives innovation, and strengthens America’s industrial leadership. Whether you're a business leader, policymaker, or curious professional, learn why investing in Industrial AI is key to creating resilient industries and unlocking new opportunities for all.

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A quiet revolution is reshaping how we build, work, and compete at the intersection of AI and American manufacturing. Recorded live at ITI’s Intersect Summit in D.C., this episode explores how breakthroughs in Industrial AI—from Siemens’ AI-powered production tools to Toyota’s collaborative “big room” model—create more intelligent factories and empower U.S. workers.

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What is AI with purpose? For manufacturers, it’s making data valuable | By: Barbara Humpton, CEO Siemens USA

What does it take to power the future of transportation, industry, and infrastructure? In this electrifying episode, we’re joined by Jennifer Mefford, National Co-Chair of the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP), to explore how cutting-edge training reshapes the electrical workforce.

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More about the Siemens Foundation 

More about the Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Training Program (EVITP)

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