In December 2024, Joe Zak acquired Fonda Flexible Manufacturing, a precision sheet-metal fabrication and component manufacturing company. Now leading both Fonda and Zentrypoint, he’s driving both businesses to stay at the cutting edge of design and manufacturing technology.

A key focus for Joe is sustainability. He’s positioning Fonda for B Corp certification, exploring opportunities in climate tech, and balancing startup support with long-standing partnerships for clients like Assa Abloy.

Joe is also modernizing Fonda’s operations with Autodesk Fusion 360 and generative AI tools to develop proprietary systems that boost efficiency. And unlike many consultancies that stop at design, Fonda goes further – helping startups with early-stage manufacturing to bring their ideas to life.

On this episode of The Art of the (Im)Possible, Joe shares his vision for the future of sustainable, tech-enabled manufacturing.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

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Meng Zhu, former blue-chip consultant with IBM, Accenture, and Deloitte, has driven digital transformation for global leaders including Meta, Pfizer, PVH, Hilton, and aerospace innovator Blue Origin. She reveals how Organizational Change Management (OCM), AI, and a people-first strategy can turn ambitious visions into measurable results – from boosting adoption and streamlining processes to significantly cutting rocket engine production cycles from double-digit to single-digit weeks – and why leadership alignment is key to making transformation stick.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tom Jarvis, Head of Industrial Design at Kingfisher plc, is exploring how generative AI can reshape product design. Leading a small team of seven UK-based designers, he discovered that pairing AI with CGI creates rapid prototypes for stakeholder feedback – streamlining decisions and accelerating the production of hundreds of products each year.

By iterating designs in Photoshop, Tom’s team has proven that new technology can scale even within large manufacturing organizations.

In this episode of Art of the (Im)Possible, host Asif Moghal and Tom discuss flat-hierarchy teamwork, rapid prototyping, and the role of AI in transforming design and manufacturing.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As Head of Design at IBM, Phil Gilbert helped over 400,000 employees adopt new workflows by introducing design thinking – shifting focus from products to customers. The result? Faster time to market, reduced costs, and higher employee engagement.

Now Founder of Gilbert Workshop and Managing Partner at Ten X Labs, Phil has spent his career – from start-ups to global enterprises – proving how lasting transformation at scale can be successfully achieved. He has authored a new book on the subject, titled Irresistible Change.

In this episode of Art of the (Im)Possible, Phil shares how to hardwire digital transformation into every level of a business – and why lasting results start with a new perspective on change leadership.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joanna Cooper, General Manager at Daimler Truck North America, is proving that people-led leadership drives measurable results. Her approach has already delivered more than $13 million in operational efficiency improvements across the organization.

Starting as a Procurement Specialist, Joanna rose through the ranks by embracing digital transformation and leading change with her teams. She grounds her leadership in the ACTIVE framework: Authenticity, Courage, Trust, Integrity, Vision, and Empathy – believing that when people are trained, trusted, and empowered, business success follows.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Digital transformation is reshaping the design and manufacturing industry, no matter the speciality. Few know this better than Emma Alexander, Chief of Staff (Engineering) at Relativity Space. 

After starting her career at John Deere, Emma has leveraged her expertise from farm vehicles to aerospace, demonstrating that innovation can be applied across diverse industries.

Emma champions iteration over perfection. Rather than delaying change with endless tweaks, she believes in launching, testing, and refining with her team until new practices truly work.

In this episode of Art of the (Im)Possible, host Asif Moghal and Emma explore staff-led decision-making, lessons from moving between industries, and how digital transformation will shape the future of engineering.

Shaping what comes next

Autodesk gives design and engineering teams the tools to innovate faster, work more sustainably, and go to market with confidence.

Explore our manufacturing ecosystem

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Space exploration is in a constant state of innovation and development. As we advance understanding of it, astronauts are able to go further, and stay longer, in space. An inevitable step in this evolution is to explore how human habitats can exist in space and beyond. 

Sebastian Aristotelis is doing just this. As founder of SAGA, an architectural firm specialising in space architecture, he uses his terrestrial experience in extreme environments like the Arctic to build structures fit for elsewhere in the galaxy. With such an impressive goal, Sebastian started SAGA with a clear plan of action: to put human wellbeing first.

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The automotive industry thrives on the pursuit of innovation—newer, bigger, and better. Vayve Mobility approaches this demand with a unique vision, focusing on agility and sustainability at the core of its vehicle designs.

With two models currently on the market, Vayve Mobility creates next-generation cars powered by electric charging and solar energy, aligning performance with environmental responsibility. Headquartered in India, the company designs vehicles specifically tailored to withstand high temperatures and navigate dense traffic seamlessly.

Nilesh Bajaj, CEO of Vayve Mobility, has leveraged his expertise in electronics design to spearhead the development of the company’s groundbreaking vehicles. Vayve made history by introducing India’s first line of eCars and earned the 2024 Global Startup Award for Best Greentech of the Year. In this episode, Nilesh delves into Vayve’s digital transformation journey and its vision for shaping the future of the automotive industry.

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Digital transformation is a constantly evolving process, with new technology rapidly entering the fray. Currently, the biggest buzz centres around artificial intelligence (AI), which offers several opportunities – although some can be controversial. 

Riddhi Karambelkar is Head of Manufacturing Engineering at Brompton Bicycle and strives to make AI and humans work together. With the belief that new technology should enhance jobs, not replace them, she is streamlining Brompton’s workflow by allowing AI machinery to perform everyday tasks, enabling more time to focus on profound creativity. 

In this episode, Riddhi shares insights into how to ethically implement digital tools all while valuing the skills of employees.

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Druck has taken a very manual industry and turned it into something very digital. The company specialises in highly-configured pressure sensors developed for a range of applications–from nuclear engineering to aerospace. 

Claire Aitchison is Druck’s Executive Operations Leader. During her time at the company, she noticed that many customers needed Druck’s products, but didn’t have the resources or budget to go through an extensive trialling process. This led Claire to forming a data-driven solution for Druck customers. She breaks down her approach in the next episode of The Art of the Impossible.

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