Our Connected World | TE Connectivity

For professional engineers looking to advance in their careers, it’s more about showcasing your skills than your degrees. In this edition of TE Connectivity’s Our Connected World podcast, Chief Human Resources Officer Malavika Sagar discusses how the path toward success is evolving.

Key takeaways:

• Technical skills get you hired. Adaptability and curiosity drive career growth.

• AI will change engineering, but human judgment will matter more than ever.

• The most successful engineers solve business and customer problems, not just technical ones. Show you’re one of them.

At the core of every good engineer is the desire to solve a problem. That includes how humans, and the businesses they work for, can lessen their impact on the world. In this edition of Our Connected World, TE Connectivity Director of Global Corporate Responsibility Lauren Benne talks about the important role engineers play in helping companies work more sustainably.

Key takeaways:

• Engineers are quickly turning sustainability into innovation. From AI to design, they’re building smarter, lower-impact solutions at scale.

• Sustainable design is now table stakes. Companies expect lower carbon, less waste and circular thinking from their suppliers right from the start.

• Sustainability impacts business performance. What’s good for the planet is also driving growth, resilience and competitive edge.

How is high-speed data reshaping our relationship with our vehicles? In this episode of Our Connected World, TE Connectivity’s Davy Brown, CTO for Transportation Solutions, breaks down how data connectivity is already making vehicles safer and smarter, paving the road toward autonomy on highways, job sites and farms.

Key takeaways:

· Modern vehicles run on massive amounts of high-speed, low-latency data that already power safety, infotainment, and driver-assist features we use every day.

· Fully autonomous driving is coming, but data connectivity is delivering meaningful benefits right now, especially in controlled, off-road environments like agriculture, construction and mining.

· Behind the software and AI headlines, reliable hardware and interconnect technology are the critical foundation that make connected, intelligent vehicles possible.

Companies have moved beyond the experimentation phase of AI and are now demanding to see the real value of their investment. Phil Gilchrist, TE Connectivity’s chief transportation leader for AI and sustainability, joins this episode of Our Connected World to discuss the results from the 2026 Industrial Technology Index, TE’s global survey of engineers and executives about what’s driving innovation, what’s getting in the way and how AI is changing the landscape.

Key takeaways:

• 82% of companies said they have adopted AI to some degree, revealing a significant investment in this technology around the world

• Engineers and executives alike are searching for the return on investment in AI, but they are defining success differently

• Engineers are relying on AI to handle routine tasks and are using the extra bandwidth to focus on higher value work

As technology and AI advance, the speed of innovation continues to get faster. In this episode of Our Connected World, TE Connectivity’s Shad Kroeger, president of the Industrial Solutions segment, talks about how engineers are keeping up with today’s lightning-fast pace of invention and discovery.

Key takeaways:

• Innovation is accelerating across industries, compressing design cycles and increasing uncertainty. Companies can keep pace through deep customer collaboration, helping partners iterate rapidly, as expectations for faster, more complex technological advances grow.

• Engineers are adapting by working closely with customers and suppliers, using real time feedback to optimize solutions. Building collaborative environments can improve the success of partnerships.

• AI is transforming engineering workflows, enabling faster iteration, pattern recognition from past designs, and new discoveries. Rather than replacing engineers, AI acts as a force multiplier—boosting productivity while human expertise and deep customer understanding remain irreplaceable.

Data connectivity and electrification are pushing transportation technology forward. In this episode of Our Connected World, TE Connectivity’s Aaron Stucki, president of Transportation Solutions, discusses how the experience of driving a car or operating farm equipment is being driven by the work being done by the connectors and sensors deep inside these vehicles.

Key takeaways:

• Vehicles are becoming software‑defined “smartphones on wheels,” enabled by high‑speed data, sensors, and over‑the‑air updates that improve safety, performance, and customer experience throughout the vehicle’s life cycle.

• Autonomy and connectivity are reshaping multiple industries, not just passenger cars. From agriculture to commercial fleets, sensors and automation are increasing efficiency, sustainability, and safety—helping reduce waste, boost productivity, and potentially cut traffic injuries dramatically.

• Despite regional differences, the long‑term trajectory of electrification remains strong. Global EV adoption continues to grow rapidly, with electric vehicles expected to make up about 60% of worldwide production by 2030, driven by regulation, consumer demand, and advances in vehicle architecture.

Artificial intelligence would not be revolutionizing our work and personal lives without the countless essential components doing their work deep inside data centers powering this technology.

In this episode of Our Connected World, TE Connectivity’s Vishwas Rao, senior vice president and general manager for Digital Data Networks, discusses this fourth industrial revolution and the challenges being faced by the tech companies working to make it all possible.

Key takeaways:

Architectural complexity is increasing as data center owners experiment with new AI clusters that demand ultra-high-speed interconnects and specialized power and cooling systems.

Server product cycles have shrunk from four years to just 18 months, forcing manufacturers to innovate and scale faster than ever before.

With global demand rising, scaling operations quickly and reliably across regions is no longer optional—it's essential.

In this episode of the Our Connected World podcast, we delve into the transformative impact of discrete, hybrid, and process automation technologies on manufacturing. As these technologies evolve, manufacturers are achieving unprecedented economies of scale, customization opportunities, and maintenance predictability. Yet, there is much more to be done to fully realize their potential. This episode explores how industrial engineers can bridge the technical gap to develop new architectures, enabling smarter machines across factory floors.

What steps can industrial engineers take to advance smart manufacturing? How can they leverage new technologies to create more flexible and efficient production processes? These questions and more are explored in today's episode.

Episode Highlights:

• Virtual PLCs and Flexible Production: Ivan discusses how virtual PLCs enable flexible, decentralized production, reducing hardware costs and enhancing real-time decision-making.

• Smart Industrial Machines: Anil explains the benefits of modular and adaptable systems, emphasizing the shift towards sustainable and efficient manufacturing processes.

• Robotic Automation: The conversation covers the role of modern robots, from AGVs to cobots, in increasing production flexibility and efficiency through reprogrammable and AI-enhanced capabilities.

In today's episode of the Our Connected World podcast, we dive into the future of vehicle design, focusing on the transformative impact of advancements in smart vehicle technology. With the rapid shift towards electrification and the increasing complexity of automotive systems, the industry is experiencing a significant evolution. This episode explores the trends driving these changes and the implications for vehicle architecture.

What does the future hold for vehicle design? How are technologies like autonomous driving reshaping the landscape? These questions and more are tackled in this engaging discussion.

• Advancements in Vehicle Electrification: Lamar discusses the rapid pace of innovation in electric vehicles and the shift towards standardized and modular electronic systems.

• Zonal vs. Domain-Centralized Architectures: An in-depth comparison of the benefits and challenges of zonal architecture, including cost reduction, improved reliability, and enhanced cybersecurity.

• Future of Software-Defined Vehicles: Insight into how software development is becoming central to vehicle design, driving a shift from hardware-centric to software-centric systems.

In this episode of Our Connected World by TE Connectivity, Michelle Dawn Mooney speaks with two TE Connectivity experts in eVTOL architectures and aerospace technologies: Martin Cullen, Senior Manager for Business Development and Matt McAlonis, Engineering Fellow, Aerospace. Their insights are grounded in years of experience and participation in key industry events like the 2024 Vertical Flight Society show.

During this conversation, they discuss the advancements, challenges, and future outlook of Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing (eVTOL) technologies. They also cover the importance of battery technology for eVTOLs, the operational and maintenance requirements for these aircraft, and the need for regulatory and infrastructure standardization to facilitate global adoption.

Key Takeaways:

• The prime source of innovation in eVTOLs lies in battery technology, including cell chemistry and packaging.

• Addressing eVTOL's operational and maintenance needs is crucial, particularly in terms of infrastructure and serviceability at remote locations.

• The need for standardized regulations and infrastructure, especially for charging systems, to ensure the global adoption of eVTOL technologies.