Best Polaris General Podcasts (2025)

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#259 – Sean McCormack | First Student – Technology, Safety, and Real-World Innovation in Student Transportation 48:36

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5d ago48:36

48:36

Big innovation doesn’t always mean big headlines. Sometimes it looks like improving how 5.5 million students get to school every day. In this episode of Building Better, Brandon Bartneck talks with Sean McCormack, Chief Information Officer at First Student. They dive into the challenges of routing 45,000 school buses, the role of AI and EVs in impr…

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#258 – The Truth About Transparency: Leading Through the Gray Areas 17:43

19d ago17:43

17:43

In this solo episode, Brandon Bartnick explores the messy reality behind transparency and authenticity in leadership. These are buzzwords in many settings, but the day-to-day application is far more complex. Drawing from recent experiences in a manufacturing and audit context, Brandon reflects on: Why total transparency isn’t always helpful The ris…

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#257 - Marta Anadón Rosinach | Upway - Scaling Micromobility: How Upway is Changing the E-Bike Market in the US 37:35

1M ago37:35

37:35

Electric bikes are more than a trend—they’re a key part of a more sustainable, accessible, and human transportation ecosystem. But the market is still early, and big challenges stand in the way: trust, affordability, infrastructure, and shifting consumer behavior. In this episode, Brandon Bartneck talks with Marta Anadón, Head of US at Upway, the l…

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#256 – From Generalities to Clarity: How We Actually Solve Problems 9:50

2M ago9:50

9:50

In this solo episode, Brandon unpacks a powerful idea that keeps surfacing in his work and personal life: we can’t solve problems we don’t understand. And we can’t understand problems until we stop speaking in generalities and start getting specific. The spark came from a bedtime story with his son—What Do You Do With a Problem? by Kobi Yamada—but …

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#255 – Jim Liefer | Ambi Robotics - Real-World Robotics and the Future of Logistics Warehouse Automation 45:00

2M ago45:00

45:00

In the world of logistics, automation is no longer a future concept—it’s happening now. But rolling out robotics in high-volume warehouse environments isn’t as simple as plugging in a machine and walking away. In this episode of Building Better, Brandon sits down with Jim Liefer, CEO of Ambi Robotics, to talk about what it actually takes to build a…

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#254 – Mark Reich | Managing on Purpose with Hoshin Kanri and Lean Leadership 50:19

2M ago50:19

50:19

Strategic planning too often becomes an annual ritual that loses meaning as soon as the binders hit the shelf. Mark Reich is on a mission to change that. In this episode of Building Better, Brandon Bartneck sits down with Mark Reich, author of Managing on Purpose and one of the foremost experts on hoshin kanri—a strategy deployment system rooted in…

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#253 – Reflections on Q1: Operational Leadership, Learning, and Building Better in the Real World 16:50

2M ago16:50

16:50

In this solo episode of Building Better, host Brandon Bartneck reflects on the first quarter of 2025. Drawing from recent episodes and his own evolving role leading engineering at PJ Wallbank Springs, Brandon shares the four themes that defined Q1: intentional innovation, operational leadership, learning and growth, and strategic problem-solving. T…

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#252 – Xiaodi Hou | Bot Auto - Operational Excellence and the Future of Autonomous Trucking 45:19

2M ago45:19

45:19

Autonomous trucking has long promised a more efficient, scalable future for freight. But making it real requires more than bold ideas—it takes precision, discipline, and a deep understanding of operations. In this episode of Building Better, Brandon Bartneck talks with Dr. Xiaodi Hou, founder and CEO of Bot Auto. They explore how Bot Auto is approa…

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#251 – Tony Kinsman | Polaris - Driving the Right Innovation in Powersports 47:12

3M ago47:12

47:12

Polaris is at the forefront of innovation in powersports, with a portfolio that spans off-road vehicles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, and more. But what does it take to lead technology development in such a dynamic industry? In this episode of Building Better, Tony Kinsman, Chief Technology Officer and Vice President of Off-Road Engineering at …

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#250 – The Value of Doing Hard Things: Learning Through Challenge 15:07

3M ago15:07

15:07

This week, I’m exploring an idea that’s been on my mind a lot lately: what happens when we push ourselves through something hard? Recently, I set a tough fitness goal, breaking 6:20 on a 2,000-meter row. I've trained for months. I prepped. Then, on test day, everything felt off. My body wasn’t cooperating, my mind was telling me to quit, and every …

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#249 - Ahmad Ghahreman | Cyclic Materials - Revolutionizing Rare Earth Recycling and Sustainable Materials 40:26

3M ago40:26

40:26

Rare earth elements are essential to electrification, decarbonization, and modern technology, yet only 1% of these materials are currently recycled globally. Cyclic Materials is changing that. In this episode of Building Better, Ahmad Ghahreman, CEO of Cyclic Materials, shares how his company is pioneering rare earth element recycling to create a c…

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#248 – Ross Blum | Skyline Robotics - Automated Skyscraper Window Cleaning, Facade Management & More 49:26

3M ago49:26

49:26

For more than a century, window cleaning for skyscrapers has been a dangerous, labor-intensive job. Skyline Robotics is changing that. In this episode of Building Better, Ross Blum, President and COO of Skyline Robotics, discusses how their flagship robotic system, Ozmo, is transforming facade maintenance through automation. Ozmo cleans windows thr…

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President Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya - Belarus: Europe's last dictatorship 28:13

4M ago28:13

28:13

In 2020, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya led the largest popular uprising in the history of Belarus, defeating authoritarian dictator Alexander Lukashenko in a landslide victory before being chased out of the country. Today, she leads Belarus' democratic alternative government in exile. We sat down in Vilnius to discuss the Ukraine war, and the outlook fo…

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#247 - The Skill That Changes Everything: How to Learn Faster and Smarter 18:38

4M ago18:38

18:38

The ability to learn on your own is one of the most valuable skills you can develop. The world is moving too fast to rely only on formal education or structured training. If you want to stay ahead, you need to take control of your own learning. In this solo episode, Brandon Bartneck breaks down three key pillars of effective learning: Depth & Bread…

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#246 – Tony Olivo & Ken Rahn | FlexGen - Revolutionizing Energy Storage with Better Software 48:48

4M ago48:48

48:48

Tony Olivo and Ken Rahn from FlexGen join the conversation to discuss the evolution of energy storage and its role in grid stability. FlexGen has transitioned from a hardware-focused company to a software-first approach, helping utilities and developers optimize energy storage solutions. The discussion covers the challenges of communicating value i…

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#245 – Kacie Freeberg | The Power of Returnable Packaging in Automotive Manufacturing 50:07

4M ago50:07

50:07

In this episode of Building Better with Brandon Bartneck, Kacie Freeberg, a leader in automotive returnable packaging, joins the conversation to discuss the critical role of sustainable packaging solutions in the supply chain. Kacie is Senior Director, Industrial at ORBIS Corporation. With a deep understanding of returnable packaging, Kacie shares …

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#244 – Trevor Blondeel | Transforming Manufacturing Leadership 48:09

4M ago48:09

48:09

In this episode of Building Better with Brandon Bartneck, Trevor Blondeel, founder of Manufacturing Greatness, joins the conversation to explore the evolving landscape of manufacturing leadership. Trevor brings over 25 years of experience in the manufacturing industry, sharing insights on bridging the gap between expectations and reality in leaders…

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#243 – Tim Huntzinger | XOTO - Redefining Motorcycle Safety and Joy 46:22

5M ago46:22

46:22

In this episode of Building Better with Brandon Bartneck, Tim Huntzinger, founder of California-based XOTO, shares his journey from designing in the aerospace and automotive industries to creating a revolutionary three-wheeled vehicle. With over 20 years of experience working for top companies like NASA, Boeing, Fisker, Rivian, GM, and Kittyhawk, T…

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#242 – Felix Leach & Nick Molden | Why Mass and Distance Are the Most Important Variables for Sustainable Transportation 53:49

5M ago53:49

53:49

In this episode of Building Better with Brandon Bartneck, Felix Leach, Associate Professor at the University of Oxford, and Nick Molden, CEO of Emissions Analytics, join the discussion on sustainable transportation. The conversation emphasizes the critical role of mass and distance in determining the environmental impact of transportation, highligh…

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#241 – Bridget Grewal & Kellen Mahoney | Sustainability in Automotive Packaging: Challenges, Innovations, and Collaboration 52:23

5M ago52:23

52:23

In this episode of Building Better with Brandon Bartneck, we explore the multifaceted nature of sustainability in the automotive industry with two guests: Bridget Grewal, Director of Packaging Continuous Improvement at Magna International, and Kellen Mahoney, Director at the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SP). The discussion highlights …

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#240 – 2024 Year in Review 26:04

5M ago26:04

26:04

In this reflective episode, Brandon Bartneck reviews the year 2024, discussing the evolution of his podcast, what he has learned about his core values, and the lessons learned throughout the year. He emphasizes the significance of love, growth, and joy in his life and work, while also sharing insights on systems engineering, problem-solving, and th…

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#239 – Hiten Sonpal | RISE Robotics – A Better Alternative to Hydraulics & Building an Industrial Technology Company 47:44

6M ago47:44

47:44

Hiten Sonpal is the CEO of RISE® Robotics, an industrial technology company headquartered in Somerville, Massachusetts, specializing in sustainable motion control solutions for heavy machinery. He discusses the innovative technology behind their electric actuation system, Beltdraulic™, which offers significant advantages over traditional hydraulic …

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#238 – Kevin Damoa | Glid Technologies – Revolutionizing Rail, Multimodal Transportation, Impact & Values 54:51

6M ago54:51

54:51

Kevin Damoa is founder and CEO of Glid Technologies, revolutionizing transportation with its Multi-Modal Autonomous Road to Rail Glider technology. Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/kevindamoa Edison Manufacturing Exchange: https://brandonbartneck.substack.com/publish/home\ linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/ https://glidrai…

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#237 – Abey Abraham | Ducker Carlisle – Impact of the 2024 US Elections & Good Strategy 51:23

6M ago51:23

51:23

Abey Abraham is a Managing Principal at Ducker Carlisle where he leads Ducker’s automotive and materials practice, specializing in transportation, mobility, and electrification related client needs. He joins to discuss the complexities of the automotive industry, particularly focusing on electrification, regulations, and the future of internal comb…

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#236 – Colin Godby | Dust Moto – Electric Dirt Bikes, Impact & Self Actualization 56:46

6M ago56:46

56:46

Colin Godby is CEO and co-founder of Dust. He joins shares his journey from mechanical engineering to creating electric dirt bikes, discussing the importance of recreation for mental health, the mission of Dust to make dirt biking more accessible, and the advantages of electric bikes over traditional internal combustion models. Colin emphasizes the…

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#235 – Patrick Hunt | New Industry VC – Narrative Command & Operational Mastery 54:15

6M ago54:15

54:15

Patrick Hunt is a GP at New Industry VC. He joins to discuss the critical concepts of narrative command and operational mastery in the context of building deep tech hardware startups. He shares insights from his experience at Rivian and Our Next Energy, emphasizing the challenges of managing change, the importance of structured risk management, and…

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#234 – Suman Sehra | HARMAN – Connected Vehicles, New Opportunity with Data & Future Proofing 50:23

7M ago50:23

50:23

Suman Sehra is the Global Vice President of Automotive Product & Platform Portfolio Management within HARMAN’s Automotive Connectivity business unit. He joins to explore the evolving landscape of connected vehicles and the role of connectivity in modern automotive technology. Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/sumansehra E…

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#233 – Aseem Kapur | GM Energy – Expanding and Accelerating a Holistic Energy Ecosystem 47:04

7M ago47:04

47:04

Aseem Kapur is Chief Revenue Offer at GM Energy. He joins to discuss the company's commitment to an all-electric future and the various strategies they are implementing to drive EV adoption. He highlights the importance of customer value propositions, home energy management systems, and commercial solutions for fleet electrification. The conversati…

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#232 – Lowell Mora | Impact CFO – From Controller to Strategic Partner: The Evolving Role of Finance 53:50

7M ago53:50

53:50

Lowell Mora joins to discuss the critical role of finance in business strategy, particularly for family-owned businesses. Lowell shares his extensive experience as a CFO, emphasizing the importance of financial planning, analysis, and the need for businesses to adapt and prepare for transitions. The conversation explores the nuances of financial fu…

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#231 – Building a Stable, Impactful Company – A Systems Engineering Challenge 19:24

7M ago19:24

19:24

This episode is focused on the intersection of systems engineering and business building, emphasizing the importance of creating a sustainable and impactful company culture. It explores the complexities of product development, strategy, sales, marketing, and recruiting, highlighting the need for all functions within a business to work collaborative…

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#230 – Santosh Kottalgi | Ansys – Simulation for Improved NVH Performance 51:52

8M ago51:52

51:52

Santosh Kottalgi discusses the critical aspects of Noise, Vibration, and Harshness (NVH) in automotive engineering, emphasizing its growing importance in vehicle design. He explains the core principles of vibration and acoustics, the various sources of noise in vehicles, and how engineers approach optimization. The discussion also covers the role o…

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#229 – Tim Noonan | Evertrak – Sustainable Railroad Ties & Making a Positive Impact 46:08

8M ago46:08

46:08

Tim Noonan is the founder and CEO of Evertrak, a company dedicated to revolutionizing the railway industry with sustainable, high-performance solutions. Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/timnoonan Edison Manufacturing Exchange: https://brandonbartneck.substack.com/publish/home\ linkedin.com/in/brandonbartneck/⁠ https://ev…

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#228 – Dr. Robert Prucka | Clemson Deep Orange – Real Project Experience for Future Automotive Engineers 53:41

8M ago53:41

53:41

Rob Prucka the Professor of Motorsports Engineering within the Department of Automotive Engineering at the Clemson University and director of the Deep Orange program. He joins to discuss the importance of real-world experience in engineering education, the role of systems engineering and problem-solving skills, and how understanding customer needs …

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#227 – Broc TenHouten | Intrinsic Power – A Better Level 2 Charger & Improved Energy Management for EV Charging 43:18

8M ago43:18

43:18

Broc TenHouten is Co-founder and CEO at Intrinsic Power, a company that actively manages infrastructure in real time allowing for more chargers to run at higher power without expensive infrastructure upgrades. Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/buildingbetter/broctenhouten Edison Manufacturing Exchange: https://brandonbartneck.substack.c…

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#226 – Andy Bennett | EVolve (Vontier) – Energy Management for Scaling EV Charging Infrastructure 44:06

9M ago44:06

44:06

Andy Bennett is CEO of EVolve, a Vontier Company featuring Driivz and Sparkion. Takeaways EVolve focuses on software for vehicle electrification. Energy management is crucial for optimizing charging infrastructure. Customer experience in EV charging is complex but essential. Active energy management can significantly increase charging capacity. The…

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#225 – Billy Evers | Hesai Technology – Reliable & High-Performance LiDAR for Autonomous Driving 41:28

9M ago41:28

41:28

Billy Evers is Head of Robotics for the Americas at Hesai Technology, a leader in LiDAR solutions. They discuss the evolution of LiDAR technology, its critical role in autonomous vehicles, and the importance of performance and reliability. Billy shares insights on manufacturing challenges, geopolitical risks, and the future of autonomous driving. T…

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Introducing "Building Better with Brandon Bartneck" 6:01

9M ago6:01

6:01

The Future of Mobility podcast has been renamed to Build Better. This special episode explains why.

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#224 – Nikita Bridan | Oilstainlab – Impactful Automotive Design & A Car for Maniacs 44:41

9M ago44:41

44:41

Nikita Bridan, co-founder of Oilstainlab, discusses their approach to shaking up the automotive industry and creating unique luxury performance vehicles. They focus on excellent design, emphasizing driving pleasure, emotion, and simplicity. Oilstainlab is working on building a boutique sports car company and is currently developing a vehicle with a…

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#223 – Better Problem Solving to Improve our Transportation Ecosystem 26:14

9M ago26:14

26:14

This episodes features clips from interviews with Alex Roy, Martin Cardell, and Glenn Sommerville, centered around the effort to improve problem solving abilities within individuals and teams. This is a critical skillset as we push to create a better transportation ecosystem, and these three individuals have unique and valuable perspectives to shar…

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#222 – Yaron Saghiv | UVeye – Automated Vehicle Inspection, AI & Predictive Maintenance 46:41

9M ago46:41

46:41

Yaron Saghiv is Chief Marketing Officer at UVeye, the world's first fully automated suite of vehicle inspection systems. Takeaways: UVeye is revolutionizing the vehicle inspection process with their fully automated suite of AI-powered drive-through systems. Their technology can quickly detect external or mechanical flaws, damages, modifications, or…

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#221 – Jeffrey Kinsey | EverCharge – The Importance of L2 Charging for EV Fleets & Robust Product Design 55:30

10M ago55:30

55:30

Jeffrey Kinsey is the VP of Engineering at EverCharge. He joined the company in 2022 to support the acceleration of operations after their acquisition by SK Group. EverCharge is a manufacturer and provider of turnkey hardware and software EV charging solutions for fleets, workplaces, multi-unit, and single-family homes. Key topics in this conversat…

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#220 – Barry Jones | Provizio - Commercializing an Innovative Mobility Technology & 4D Imaging Radar 50:29

10M ago50:29

50:29

Barry Jones, strategic sales lead at Provizio, shares his insights on navigating the automotive industry and building successful businesses. He emphasizes the importance of understanding customer needs and solving multiple problems with one solution. Jones discusses the value proposition of Provisio's 4D imaging radar technology, which offers super…

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#219 – Quincy Lee | Electric Era – Reliably Scaling a High-Performance Charging Business 40:11

10M ago40:11

40:11

Quincy Lee is the CEO and Founder of Electric Era. He joins for a Round 2 discussion (see Episode 168 for Round 1), to discuss the operational challenges of scaling a business, building a reliable product, and the importance of execution. Quincy shares his insights on recruiting a team with a passion for the mission, fostering a culture of excellen…

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Bonus - Michael Wiesinger | Kodiak Robotics – Driverless Deliveries & Breaking Down the Recent Autonomous Partnership with Atlas Energy Solutions 16:04

10M ago16:04

16:04

Kodiak recently made news, with their our first driverless delivery, in partnership with Atlas Energy Solutions Inc., the leading provider of proppant and proppant logistics in West Texas’s Permian Basin. This is a big development for Kodiak, as well as the greater AV industry. Michael Wiesinger (Future of Mobility Episode 157 Guest) joins for this…

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#218 – Glenn Sommerville | High Performance Leadership, Successful Product Launches & How to Trust but Verify 1:04:08

10M ago1:04:08

1:04:08

Glenn Sommerville is a lean and continuous improvement professional in the practices and philosophies of the Toyota Production System (TPS), trained and mentored on the shop floor in Japan by Toyota Senseis. Glenn has over 25 years of applied hands-on operational experience in executive leadership positions at companies such as Honeywell, Toyota, B…

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#217 – Common Pitfalls that Prevent New Technology Implementation 20:44

11M ago20:44

20:44

Improving transportation requires more than developing new technology. That technology must be applied in the real-world, at scale, to make an impact. Here are some of the most common pitfalls that trip up some of the best attempts to improve our transportation ecosystem: Missing the implementation phase (building the product, building the company,…

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#216 – Bob Purcell | Purcell Advisory Group – Launching the EV-1, Low Volume Production & First Principles 1:05:17

11M ago1:05:17

1:05:17

Bob Purcell has over 30 years of experience in the highly competitive world automotive industry creating and launching new technologies, business models and organizations. He is a recognized expert in strategic planning and a pioneer in electric drive technology and vehicle development, manufacturing, and commercialization. Takeaways Problem-solvin…

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#215 – How to Improve Our Transportation Ecosystem 12:16

11M ago12:16

12:16

How do we improve our transportation ecosystem? By designing the technology we need, and taking intentional steps to build the products, companies, and ecosystem we need to deploy these technologies. Takeaways The Future Mobility Podcast focuses on the intersection of the guest's expertise, passions, and my personal interests. There’s more to it bu…

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#214 – Martin Cardell – EY | Driving Innovation in Products, Business Models, and Customer Understanding 52:57

11M ago52:57

52:57

Martin is the Global Mobility Solutions Leader within EY’s Consulting practice. He joins to discuss the key shifts in the mobility sector, and how companies can position themselves for success. Takeaways The mobility industry is undergoing a significant shift, and companies need to strategically position themselves to adapt to the changes. Understa…

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#213 – Alex Roy | Making Sense of the EV/AV Chaos, Effective Strategy & Learning from History 1:09:20

12M ago1:09:20

1:09:20

Alex Roy is a well-known thought leader and expert in the mobility space. He joins to explore what’s real in the autonomy space, the importance of effective strategy and discernment, the challenges of effectively communicating and marketing new technologies, and more. Links: Show notes: http://brandonbartneck.com/futureofmobility/alexroy Edison Man…