Episode 2 of The Manufacturing Shake-Up and our first with a woman in manufacturing! We welcome the fabulous Sara Fradette, Production Planner at Bead Electronics. Sara shares her journey from studying economics to thriving in manufacturing. Find out how her role in production planning keeps her days dynamic and exciting.

In this episode, Sara tells us all about the supportive culture at Bead Electronics, where female leadership and core values make a massive difference in employee happiness.

Sara shares a few key tips for young women in manufacturing - like 'don't be afraid to ask questions'. It's this inquisitiveness and fearlessness that brought her to where she is today. She says you need to stay open-minded – she started off knowing very little about manufacturing, and now loves what she does.

Learn more about how Sara balances professional growth with her personal life and how Bead Electronics has fostered her development through mentorship and opportunities.

Mentioned in this episode:

• Vistage's Emerging Leaders program: https://www.vistage.com/membership/programs/emerging-leader-program/
• Entrepreneurial Operating System: https://www.eosworldwide.com/

Where to find Sara:

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-fradette-0b6656159/
• Bead Manufacturing: https://www.beadelectronics.com/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/

Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/

Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Welcome to the very first episode of the Manufacturing Shake-Up! We're so glad you're here! None of us would be here listening to this podcast right now if it weren't for today's podcast guest, Paul Lavoie, CT's Chief Manufacturing Officer.

After realizing that some of the smartest people he knows in manufacturing are women, Paul knew he had to do something to make sure that women had more opportunities to develop and grow in their manufacturing careers. And so the idea for the podcast began...

There are so many incredible women working in this field – listening to their experiences is like a masterclass in how to build, develop and grow your career.

To round out the episode, Paul shares a bit of his own journey in manufacturing and some lessons he's learned along the way.

Finally Paul turns the tables on our hosts, Jenny and Ellen, to discover why they are so passionate about the podcast and about helping women develop in their manufacturing careers.

We are so excited to get started with this podcast...there are many more great stories to come!

Make sure to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss any great episodes, and follow us on social media to join other women in manufacturing with thoughtful conversations on each episode.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-manufacturing-shake-up/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61560427737775

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mfgshakeup/

Follow Paul Lavoie or the CT Office of Manufacturing to get the scoop on everything happening in the manufacturing ecosystem:

Paul's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulslavoie/ Office of Manufacturing website: https://manufacturing.ct.gov/ Office of Manufacturing Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CTManufacturing Office of Manufacturing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ctmanufacturing/

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Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/

Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/

Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

What are we doing and why are we here?

Manufacturing needs a shake-up! A recent 2024 study forecasted that the US manufacturing industry needs up to 3.8 million jobs filled within the next decade. At the same time, women represent only 29% of the manufacturing workforce. With such a large gap now and into the future, there are massive growth opportunities for women in manufacturing!

The Manufacturing Shake-Up is dedicated to transforming the manufacturing landscape for women and other under-represented groups. Not just filling the gaps but creating real opportunities for growth and development. More than a call for change; it's a means of empowerment. This podcast shares compelling journeys, valuable insights, and lessons learned from women in manufacturing while building a community that relates to their stories, learns from shared knowledge, and is inspired to forge their own path in manufacturing.

Join hosts, Jenny Drescher and Ellen Feldman Ornato, as they speak to women at all levels of their manufacturing careers. In addition to uncovering their guests’ educational and career journeys, they’ll pull out key lessons learned along the way: tips for a stronger career, strategies for creating thriving and inclusive work cultures, ideas for personal and professional development, and advice for building career-advancing networking skills.

Jump into the Manufacturing Shake-Up and discover your own path to a successful and fulfilling career in manufacturing!