Female Leaders in the DisruptED World of Advanced Manufacturing with Rachel Potee
This episode of DisruptED features Rachel Potee discussing the challenges and opportunities for women in advanced manufacturing, an industry where female representation remains below 30%. The conversation explores how female leaders are breaking barriers and driving change in a traditionally male-dominated field. It highlights the broader disruption occurring in manufacturing through both technological advancement and evolving workplace culture.
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Key takeaways
Women represent less than a third of the advanced manufacturing workforce, yet leaders like Rachel Potee are driving meaningful change.
Female leadership in manufacturing brings diverse perspectives that can accelerate innovation and operational improvement.
Breaking barriers in advanced manufacturing requires both cultural shifts within organizations and systemic support for women entering the field.
The manufacturing industry is undergoing rapid transformation, with automation, AI, and cutting-edge technology redefining how products are made and distributed. Despite these advancements, one challenge remains: gender diversity. Women still hold a disproportionately low number of leadership positions in manufacturing, making stories of female leaders all the more essential. In fact, according to a Deloitte report, women make up only 27% of the manufacturing workforce. What does it take to rise in this male-dominated industry, and how can women carve a path in the evolving world of advanced manufacturing?
Women make up only 27% of the manufacturing workforce.
In this episode of DisruptED, host Ron J Stefanski sits down with Rachel Potee, Manager of Brand Experience and Influencer Engagement at leading tire manufacturer Bridgestone Americas. The conversation explores Rachel's career journey, the challenges and opportunities facing women in manufacturing, and how Bridgestone is innovating in a rapidly changing landscape.
Key takeaways from the conversation:
- Breaking Barriers in a Male-Dominated Industry: Rachel shares her experiences navigating motorsports communications and making her mark in manufacturing leadership.
- The Future of Manufacturing & Sustainability: Insights into Bridgestone's approach to circularity, sustainability, and next-generation tire technology.
- Building Brand Experience in a Digital World: The evolving role of marketing in creating immersive brand experiences both online and in-person.
Rachel Potee is a strategic marketing leader with over a decade of experience managing brand communications for top global companies, including Bridgestone, Microsoft, and Samsung. She specializes in brand storytelling, influencer engagement, and experiential marketing, helping businesses break through industry noise with insight-driven campaigns. Currently, as Manager of Brand Experience at Bridgestone Americas, she focuses on building immersive consumer connections and shaping the company's marketing strategy in the world of advanced manufacturing.
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