Leading Innovation From Inside One of the Industry's Oldest Institutions | Always Lifting Episode 13

In this episode of the Always Lifting Podcast, host Karen Norheim sits down with Rachel Zepernick, General Manager at Thomas (ThomasNet.com), the 128-year-old trusted platform for connecting North American manufacturing suppliers and buyers. From that front-row seat, Rachel sees the trends shaping manufacturing before most people even feel them.⏱️ Chapters:00:00 – Introduction00:58 – What is Thomas and its 128-year history03:20 – Rachel's career journey: from consulting to manufacturing11:28 – Manufacturing's image problem & the skills gap15:04 – Women in manufacturing: where we are & where we need to go19:34 – High school to factory floor: changing the pipeline25:17 – Automation trends: what the survey data shows27:17 – "It's not AI taking your job…"31:57 – Supply chain resiliency & reshoring34:09 – Leadership evolution & Rachel's hacks40:24 – Remote & hybrid leadership tips42:15 – What excites Rachel about manufacturing's future44:25 – Legos, family time & unpluggingWhether you're leading a manufacturing company, recruiting for one, or trying to understand where the industry is headed, this conversation is packed with real data, real stories, and real strategies.Rachel Zepernick's LinkedIn Profilehttps://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-zepernick📌 Connect with Karen & Always Lifting:🌐 https://www.karennorheim.com/📱 https://www.linkedin.com/in/karennorheim/Subscribe for more episodes and remember to always lift.