In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vivek Sharma speaks with Brish Bhan Vaidya, Global Procurement Executive at Uber, on how procurement is evolving from a cost function to a strategic growth enabler. Brish highlights the shift toward multi-tier supplier diversification, AI-driven intelligence, ESG integration, and proactive scenario planning to build resilient, agile sourcing models aligned with business objectives.

Brish leads APAC Strategic Sourcing and the Global Buying Center at Uber, bringing 20+ years of experience across BT, Accenture, and American Express. He has driven large-scale procurement transformations, strengthening supplier partnerships, embedding digital and AI capabilities, and building world-class sourcing frameworks to deliver sustained value across complex global supply chains.

Discussion Points

• (00:00) Procurement’s evolution: Shift from cost center to strategic value driver, requiring proactive planning amid tariffs and geopolitical disruption.
• (6:27) Managing sourcing risk: Multi-tier supplier diversification is now the baseline to address ESG, insolvency, and geopolitical uncertainty.
• (13:21) Building resilience: Effective sourcing hinges on supplier optionality, performance tracking, and co-creation, with TCO factoring in disruption risk.
• (17:39) AI in procurement: AI accelerates category intelligence, supplier risk analysis, and contract lifecycle management.
• (32:03) Future-ready leadership: Procurement leaders must blend ESG rigor with commercial acumen and digital fluency.

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode - Vivek Sharma is a President at Ayna.

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Ayna’s Mohit Jaju interviews Ed Dowling, CEO of Compass Minerals, on how 2025 tariff regimes are reshaping industrial supply chains. Ed notes that while Compass achieved USMCA compliance exemptions, secondary effects disrupted inbound supply chains, prompting a shift from sole- to multi-source strategies. He highlights market differentiation—high-value industrial products allowed tariff pass-through, while bulk municipal contracts resisted price changes, creating millions in opportunity costs. Ed calls for policy consistency, arguing that volatility deters investment while known risks can be managed—underscoring the need for constructive CEO–policymaker engagement and resilient supply chains.

Ed Dowling, CEO of Compass Minerals, brings 30+ years of global mining and minerals leadership, including CEO roles at SSR Mining and Meridian Gold, senior positions at De Beers and Cleveland-Cliffs, and board chair roles at Polyus and Copper Mountain Mining. He currently serves on Teck Resources’ board. A former U.S. Navy Petty Officer, Dowling holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in mineral processing from Penn State, grounding his leadership in deep technical expertise across salt, lithium, magnesium, and plant nutrition markets.

Discussion Points

• (00:00) Compass Minerals Overview – Ed Dowling leads Compass Minerals, producing salt, lithium, magnesium, and plant nutrition critical to infrastructure.
• (01:39) 2025 Tariff Impact – Tariff uncertainty delayed expansion, though USMCA compliance exempted core products from direct exposure.
• (04:32) Supply Chain Restructuring – Shifted from sole-source to multi-source networks to manage tariff-driven inbound disruptions.
• (08:33) Cost Pass-Through Dynamics – High-value industrial products absorbed tariff costs; bulk municipal contracts resisted price changes.
• (15:57) Policy and Leadership Insight – CEOs should engage policymakers for trade clarity; policy consistency enables investment and risk management.

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Mohit Jaju is a President at Ayna.

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Compass Minerals Ed Dowling

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Mohit Jaju

In this episode of AYNA Insights, host Dinesh Chopra, President of AYNA, speaks with Bob Merrill, a veteran building products executive with over three decades of leadership experience. Merrill shares his outlook on the industry, noting that housing starts remain below replacement levels despite signs of recovery. He discusses the impact of tariffs on pricing, especially for hardware and capital equipment—and stresses the need for execution excellence and operational discipline in volatile markets. Merrill also explains how recognizing “material arcs”—such as the rise of vinyl windows and fiberglass doors—can unlock growth opportunities. The conversation touches on leadership, talent development, and the increasing relevance of digital and direct-to-consumer channels.

Bob Merrill brings 30+ years of leadership in building products and industrial distribution. As CEO of Craft Master Manufacturing, he guided the company through the 2008–09 downturn before its sale to Jeld-Wen, where he later led a $2.4B North American sales and marketing organization. Today, he serves on the boards of Quaker Windows & Doors and North American Specialty Laminations, advising growth-focused firms through REM Consulting. His career reflects deep expertise in strategy, operations, and navigating market cycles.

Discussion Points

• (00:00) Market Overview: Housing starts remain cyclical, oscillating between survival and growth, with demand holding steady despite high interest rates
• (02:13) Industry Cycles & Demand Drivers: Sector recovery follows demographic trends, pointing to gradual growth toward replacement-rate levels
• (07:08) Tariffs & Supply Chain Impact: Tariffs drive cascading price hikes across materials, while rising equipment costs strain project economics
• (12:12) Leadership in Volatile Markets: Execution excellence and focus on controllable fundamentals define outperformers during downturns
• (16:01) Material Innovation & Growth: Shifts in core materials—like vinyl and fiberglass—create new growth curves for early adopters

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Dinesh Chopra is a President at Ayna.

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Bob Merrill LinkedIn

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In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Mike Slessor, President and CEO of FormFactor, about the transformation of semiconductor testing and innovation at the frontier of AI, photonics, and advanced packaging. Mike shares how FormFactor’s deep customer integration—where over a third of employees work directly with partners like Samsung, TSMC, Intel, and NVIDIA—drives precision, speed, and collaboration. He highlights key inflection points such as silicon photonics for energy-efficient data centers, high-bandwidth memory testing for AI, and the role of advanced packaging in extending Moore’s Law. He also discusses the company’s strategic U.S. expansion through a Texas brownfield acquisition following its divestiture of China operations, underscoring how geopolitics is reshaping the semiconductor value chain.

Mike Slessor has led FormFactor since 2014, guiding it to a $750M global leader in semiconductor test and measurement with 2,200 employees worldwide. A former CEO of MicroProbe (acquired by FormFactor), he began his career at KLA-Tencor. Mike holds a PhD in Aeronautics and Physics from Caltech and a BSc in Engineering Physics from the University of British Columbia. Under his leadership, FormFactor continues to pioneer next generation testing solutions powering the semiconductor industry’s most complex challenges.

Discussion Points

• (01:37) Market Position & Portfolio: FormFactor’s probe cards enable wafer-level testing, while its systems business supports lab-to-fab transitions for next-gen technologies like quantum computing.
• (03:29) Innovation & Customer Collaboration: Deep alignment with key customers drives sustained R&D investment. Engineering teams maintain daily collaboration with global semiconductor leaders.
• (06:49) Technology Trends: 5G/6G, silicon photonics, and advanced packaging are reshaping the industry—improving data center efficiency and pushing Moore’s Law forward.
• (15:25) Geopolitics & Manufacturing Strategy: Following its China divestiture, FormFactor is expanding U.S. production with a Texas facility to strengthen resilience amid shifting trade dynamics.

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode is Ayna's Vineet Gupta.

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Mike Slessor LinkedIn

Titanium Economy

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Vineet Gupta

In this episode, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Gerald Kafer, Solutions Manager and Technical Fellow at Siemens, on the practical realities of scaling AI in industrial operations. Kafer stresses the importance of pairing quick proof-of-value projects with enterprise-level infrastructure investments. He highlights that successful AI deployment hinges on strong OT-IT integration, continuous model management, and federated data governance. Viewing AI as a competitive advantage, Kafer believes empowered teams using AI tools will outperform those resisting change. His advice: start small with real use cases but build the standardized data foundations needed for long-term scale.

Gerald Kafer, Solutions Manager and Technical Fellow at Siemens, has over two decades of leadership in industrial digital transformation. From early research in neural networks and autonomic computing to pioneering Siemens’ corporate cloud journey with Microsoft Azure, Kafer has consistently bridged advanced technology and industrial applications. He helped establish Siemens’ edge computing frameworks within the Digital Industries CTO Office and now leads U.S. initiatives in AI deployment, edge infrastructure, advanced scheduling, and virtual commissioning for global manufacturing clients.

Discussion Points

• (00:00) Gerald’s Journey at Siemens: Kafer reflects on his 20-year career at Siemens, evolving from early neural network research to cloud computing and now AI-driven industrial transformation.
• (06:45) Implementing AI in Industrial Operations: He shares lessons on OT-IT convergence, continuous model management, and the need for strong data and cybersecurity foundations to scale AI effectively.
• (12:11) Adoption Patterns and Post-COVID Shifts: Manufacturing adoption varies by equipment age and regulation; COVID-19 accelerated digitalization and refocused priorities on supply chain resilience.
• (15:16) ROI and Emerging AI Applications: Predictive maintenance cuts unplanned downtime by 20% and maintenance costs by 25%. New frontiers include additive manufacturing, agentic systems, and production copilots.
• (21:09) Scaling Beyond Pilots: Proof-of-value pilots using real data drive faster adoption. Sustainable success pairs quick wins with enterprise-wide infrastructure investment.

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Vineet Gupta is a President at Ayna.

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In this episode of Ayna Insights, host Dinesh Chopra, President of Ayna, speaks with Joe Peilert, President and CEO of Veka Inc., on the challenges and opportunities shaping the building products sector. Peilert shares how interest rates, tariffs, and labor costs are impacting the industry, and highlights the need for long-term strategy, customer alignment, and operational agility. The conversation also explores product trends such as color preferences, impact performance, and outdoor living solutions, as well as the role of automation and geographic diversification in driving recovery and growth.

Joe Peilert has led Veka Inc., a global leader in window and door systems, since 2010, steering its North American operations through post-crisis recovery and beyond. His career includes CEO of TMI, senior roles at Freberg, and EVP at Ardex, a global specialty building materials company. With an MBA from Ruhr University Bochum, Peilert has guided Veka through economic cycles while sustaining market leadership and advancing diversification initiatives.

Discussion Points

• (00:00) Market conditions and interest rates weigh heavily on the building sector, demanding strategic responses.
• (02:26) Tariffs shape capex and sourcing, while rising labor costs outpace material pressures.
• (05:23) Diversification across geographies and products balances construction vs. renovation cycles.
• (08:43) Capital goes to regional support and automation, with customized solutions driving differentiation.
• (13:27) Leadership calls for long-term focus, customer closeness, and operational agility in crises.

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode is Ayna’s Dinesh Chopra.

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"Contrary to a lot of people's beliefs, I do believe that financial gain and strategic benefits - they go hand in hand." - Dong-Su Kim

Host Vineet Gupta sits down with Dong-Su Kim, CEO of LG Technology Ventures, to discuss corporate venture capital and emerging tech investments. Kim stresses that corporate VCs must deliver financial returns as well as strategic value, pushing back against the view that strategy comes at the expense of profitability. He highlights opportunities in enterprise AI for verticals, semiconductor infrastructure for AI, and the electrification wave beyond EVs. He also cautions against hype in consumer AI and LLMs, predicting consolidation ahead.

Dong-Su Kim leads LG Technology Ventures, managing nearly $900M across AI, biotech, cleantech, consumer, and enterprise tech. A Caltech physics graduate with a PhD in electrical engineering from Princeton, Kim has over 20 years in venture capital. He previously invested in 30+ companies at Samsung Ventures before founding LG Technology Ventures in 2018, bringing a rare blend of strategic and financial discipline to corporate VC.

Discussion Points

• (00:00) Kim shares his journey from physics and semiconductor research to corporate venture capital
• (00:03:18) Corporate VC eases fundraising and opens strategic partnerships while targeting solid returns
• (00:09:47) Early-stage semiconductor bets hinge on market size and execution, with AI valuations both promising and risky
• (00:15:11) Enterprise AI in verticals offers stronger upside than consumer apps, as LLM cost drops enable specialized solutions
• (00:21:13) Electrification beyond EVs—spanning homes, industry, and infrastructure—presents the next big wave of opportunities

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Vineet Gupta is President and Head of Semiconductors Practice at Ayna.

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LG Technology Ventures

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Vineet Gupta

In this episode, Vineet Gupta, President and Head of Semiconductor at Ayna, speaks with Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President & CEO of AeroVironment, on how the company is redefining defense tech through innovation and customer focus. Wahid highlights AeroVironment’s portfolio of unmanned systems, the Blue Halo acquisition, and advances in AI-driven autonomy. The conversation also touches on leadership, product development speed, and military-grade quality, with Wahid sharing his decade-ahead vision for the industry.

Wahid Nawabi has led AeroVironment for 15+ years, building it into a full-spectrum defense technology prime. With prior leadership roles at American Power Conversion, he brings cross-sector experience. Under his watch, AeroVironment has driven new categories like loitering munitions, executed strategic acquisitions, and sustained innovation investments of 12–13% of revenue while scaling production.

Discussion Points

• AeroVironment’s Defense Leadership – Established as a leading multi-domain defense technology provider, with a focus on integrating unmanned systems and AI capabilities
• Engineering Legacy & Innovation – With seven vehicles in the Smithsonian, AeroVironment combines heritage with rapid development cycles and sustained R&D investment
• Building High-Performing Teams – Success comes from balancing freedom to experiment with mission-driven discipline, while preserving culture and employee engagement
• Comprehensive Solutions – From underwater robotics to space communications and cyber, strategic acquisitions close capability gaps and strengthen the tech portfolio
• Military-Grade Reliability – Meeting exponentially higher standards than consumer tech, with advanced autonomy powered by proprietary annotated datasets in computer vision

Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode Vineet Gupta is a President at Ayna.

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Aerovironment

Wahid Nawabi LinkedIn

Titanium Economy

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Vineet Gupta