Erica Baird, Executive Director of Global Sales and Service, Cummins, Real Leadership

What happens when an open mic poet, a foster mom to more than 14 kids, and the daughter of Muhammad Ali's bodyguard becomes a top executive in the global heavy industrial sector? You get Erica Baird — Executive Director of Global Sales and Service at Cummins, the Fortune 150 power solutions leader. Erica oversees more than 1,200 employees worldwide across sales, service, customer experience, data center installation and commissioning, aftermarket parts, field service, design engineering, and compliance.  Before Cummins, she spent 15 years at Caterpillar leading initiatives that quadrupled sales and building the business risk and governance framework used by the executive team and board of directors. She holds a degree in mining and mineral engineering from the University of Arizona, sits on the board of the Association of Equipment Manufacturers as chair of the construction sector, and is a member of C200. But Erica's leadership philosophy didn't come from a boardroom. It came from being a biracial kid bullied for being different, from a mother who was disowned for having her, from blue-collar people who raised her, and from a teacher who discovered she could write poetry. It came from being the first Black woman in nearly every role she took, navigating an industry that wasn't built for her, and refusing to leave when it would have been easier to. In this episode of Real Leadership, Erica gets honest about the sponsor who fought for her behind closed doors, the "sidestep" role meant to slow her down that became her global breakout, and the boss who once told her she was "too direct" — and the conversation that changed his mind. She also shares how her engineer's love of structure became the foundation for fostering 14 children, and why she believes the industrial talent of tomorrow has to come from high school trade programs we've spent decades dismantling. In this episode, we cover: How growing up among blue-collar people shaped the way she leads on the factory floor and in the boardroom The white male sponsor who told her, "If you keep delivering, I'll keep sponsoring," and how it changed her career Why she learned to take her power back in meetings — and the line she uses when men repeat her ideas How a role she thought was a setback became the strategic, global breakthrough of her career The story of being called "too direct" — and the conversation that flipped the script How she connects foster parenting and corporate leadership through one shared engine: structure Why "busy doesn't equal impact" — and the goal-tree discipline she uses with her team Her honest take on AI in industrial work: "AI doesn't turn a wrench" Why the skilled-trades pipeline starts in high school — and what industry has to do about it This conversation isn't about engines or equipment. It's about what real leadership looks like when you've had to fight to exist in the room — and you build everyone else a seat once you're inside. Key Moments 02:37 – Living her mother's dream: how engineering chose Erica 03:34 – The Muhammad Ali bodyguard story 05:20 – Why a blue-collar upbringing shaped how she leads 08:47 – The white male sponsor who said "if you keep delivering, I'll keep sponsoring." 10:26 – "Thank you, John, for validating what I just said" — taking her power back 19:47 – The role meant to set her back that became her career breakthrough 24:49 – Connecting foster parenting and corporate leadership 29:52 – Called "too direct" — and the conversation that changed everything 36:52 – The goal-tree discipline: why busy doesn't equal impact 41:03 – AI, skilled trades, and the future of industrial talent 46:16 – The high school trade programs we have to bring back 50:06 – Poetry as healing: the open mic story Show Notes Erica Baird — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erica-k-baird/  Cummins: cummins.com  Cummins — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cummins-inc/  Jim Weaver — LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jim-weaver-36457418  Real Leadership Podcast: realleadership.oningroup.com  Real Leadership — LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104897916/  The Ōnin Group: oningroup.com/clients