In this episode of the Manufacturing Culture Podcast, Jim Mayer sits down with Clare Epstein, General Manager, Commercial at Vector Solutions, for a raw and grounded conversation on what it really takes to lead in manufacturing today.

Clare shares how her path—from urban planning to safety tech leadership—was anything but linear. She opens up about the hard lessons that shaped her leadership style, why empathy isn’t optional, and how treating safety like a checklist is costing companies more than they realize.

This is a story about learning to lead with humility, listening more than talking, and doing the real work of building culture from the inside out.

Whether you’re in operations, safety, HR, or the C-suite, this episode will challenge how you think about leadership—and remind you what matters most.

• Safety isn’t compliance—it’s culture.
• Empathy is a learned leadership skill, not a personality trait.
• A strong safety culture drives retention, engagement, and performance.
• Leaders must model the behavior they expect—especially when things get hard.
• Technology is a powerful tool, but it can’t replace human connection.
• Training should meet workers where they are: mobile, fast, and relevant.
• The future of manufacturing depends on leaders who prioritize people.
• Grace—for yourself and others—matters more than you think.

• 00:00 – Why Safety Isn’t Just About Rules
• 02:50 – Clare’s Unexpected Path to Manufacturing Leadership
• 06:12 – What Culture Means (and Why It’s Hard to Build)
• 09:05 – From Urban Planning to EHS Software
• 13:40 – The Evolution of a Leadership Style
• 17:00 – Lessons in Empathy and Accountability
• 20:00 – What Most Leaders Get Wrong About Safety
• 23:50 – Technology’s Role in Safety (and Its Limits)
• 26:57 – Turnover, Training, and Meeting Workers Where They Are
• 30:15 – Apprenticeship Models and Generational Shifts
• 32:00 – Outdated Mindsets That Still Hurt Manufacturing
• 33:12 – What Keeps Clare Going (And What She’s Proud Of)
• 36:41 – What the Future of Safety Training Looks Like
• 41:01 – The One Thing She Wishes She’d Done Sooner
• 42:35 – Final Thoughts and a Challenge to Leaders Everywhere

• Reserve your seat for the Lead the Change Tour
• Full archive + resources: themfgconnector.com
• Follow us: LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram (and occasionally TikTok)
• Want solutions? Watch The Manufacturing Connector on YouTube