by Hank Ackerman
Chain Mountain - the podcast for leaders who move fast and think deep. Hosted by Hank Ackerman—Co-founder of Chain Mountain and a seasoned leader in operational transformation—the show delves into the high-stakes, high-impact world of industrial operations and technology through the voices of those leading the charge. Tune into weekly episodes featuring current and emerging operational executives who are transforming industry from the inside out.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/28/2025
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July 16, 2026
<p>In this episode of the Chain Mountain Podcast, Henry sits down with Eric Fromal, manufacturing operations leader at Wedgewood, to discuss leadership, team building, supply chain transformation, continuous improvement, and the future of veterinary pharmaceuticals.</p><p>Eric shares how competitive sports shaped his leadership philosophy, why great teams outperform collections of superstars, and how leaders can create cultures that reward performance, innovation, and accountability.</p><p>The conversation also explores:</p><p>✅ Leadership lessons from sports and manufacturing<br>✅ Building high-performance teams<br>✅ Why understanding employee motivation matters<br>✅ Managing risk and driving innovation<br>✅ Creating a "fail fast, learn faster" culture<br>✅ Continuous improvement and operational excellence<br>✅ Supply chain transformation strategies<br>✅ The future of automation in manufacturing<br>✅ Veterinary pharmaceutical growth and market trends<br>✅ Balancing customer service, inventory, and operational efficiency</p><p>Eric also discusses his experience leading large-scale operational transformations, developing future leaders, and preparing organizations for the next generation of manufacturing technology.</p><p>Whether you're a supply chain professional, operations leader, manufacturing executive, or someone interested in leadership and organizational performance, this episode is packed with practical insights and real-world examples.</p><p>Connect with Eric here : https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericfromal/</p><p>🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with supply chain, manufacturing, and operations leaders.</p><p>#SupplyChain #Leadership #Manufacturing #OperationsManagement #ContinuousImprovement #LeanManufacturing #Automation #VeterinaryPharma #SupplyChainManagement #LeadershipDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #TeamBuilding #PharmaceuticalIndustry #OperationalExcellence #ChainMountainPodcast</p><p><br>We hope you enjoyed this episode! <br>- Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :)</p><p>Website Link: www.chainmtn.com <br>Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/</p><p>Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:<br>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNq<br>Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366<br>Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain</p><p>#Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations</p>
July 2, 2026
<p>What does it take to evolve from an electrical engineer into a global operations executive leading teams across multiple countries?</p><p>In this episode, Marcos Pustilnik shares lessons from a remarkable career spanning engineering, operations, supply chain management, operational excellence, and executive leadership. Growing up in Brazil and later studying engineering in the United States, Marcos developed a unique perspective on leadership, culture, accountability, and business performance.</p><p>Throughout the conversation, Marcos explains how engineering thinking shaped his approach to leadership, why understanding profitability is critical for operations professionals, and how the best leaders use KPIs to drive improvement—not fear.</p><p>We also discuss:</p><p>✅ Leadership lessons from managing teams across Latin America and the United States<br>✅ The transition from engineering to operations and executive leadership<br>✅ Operational Excellence (OpEx), Lean Thinking, and Continuous Improvement<br>✅ How to use KPIs effectively to improve business performance<br>✅ Supply chain strategy and customer-focused innovation<br>✅ The importance of courage, humility, and accountability in leadership<br>✅ Why face-to-face interaction still matters in the age of remote work<br>✅ Building trust across cultures and global organizations<br>✅ Career advice for engineers who want greater business impact<br>✅ The future of work, technology, and organizational culture</p><p>Whether you're an engineer, operations manager, plant leader, executive, or aspiring business leader, this episode is packed with practical insights on improving performance, developing people, and creating sustainable growth.</p><p>Connect with Marcos here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcos-pustilnik-63b9471/</p><p>💬 What KPI or leadership lesson has had the biggest impact on your career? Let us know in the comments.</p><p>🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with manufacturing, operations, engineering, and business leaders.</p><p>#Leadership #OperationalExcellence #EngineeringLeadership #Manufacturing #LeanManagement #ContinuousImprovement #SupplyChain #OperationsManagement #BusinessLeadership #KPI #LeanManufacturing #ExecutiveLeadership #Management #IndustrialEngineering #CareerGrowth</p><p><br>We hope you enjoyed this episode! <br>- Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :)</p><p>Website Link: www.chainmtn.com <br>Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/</p><p>Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:<br>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNq<br>Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366<br>Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain</p><p>#Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations</p>
June 18, 2026
<p>What does it take to transition from military service to executive leadership? In this episode, Kent Mann shares powerful lessons from his journey through the U.S. Navy, leadership roles in the civilian world, and the evolving winemaking industry.</p><p>Kent discusses how emotional intelligence, mentorship, adaptability, and continuous learning have shaped his leadership philosophy. He explains why trust is the foundation of high-performing teams, how leaders can create cultures of safety and engagement, and what it takes to advance into executive leadership roles.</p><p>The conversation also explores innovation in winemaking, lean methodology, operational excellence, and the future impact of AI on the wine industry. Whether you're an aspiring leader, experienced executive, entrepreneur, or operations professional, this episode is packed with actionable insights for career growth and organizational success.</p><p>🎯 In this episode, you'll learn:<br>• Leadership lessons from the Navy<br>• How emotional intelligence improves leadership effectiveness<br>• The importance of mentorship and career development<br>• Building trust and high-performing teams<br>• Strategies for career advancement and executive leadership<br>• Lean methodology and continuous improvement<br>• Creating a strong safety culture<br>• Innovation and technology in winemaking<br>• The future of AI in business and manufacturing<br>• Why adaptability is a critical leadership skill</p><p>⏱ Chapters:<br>00:00 Navigating Change: The Impact of a Mobile Childhood<br>02:56 Leadership Lessons from the Navy<br>05:52 Setting Goals: The Importance of a North Star<br>09:00 Transitioning to Civilian Leadership<br>11:56 The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership<br>17:01 Wine and Leadership: Finding Joy in the Journey<br>21:03 Innovations in Winemaking: The Future of the Industry<br>23:58 Striving for Perfection: Lean Methodology in Operations<br>28:56 Mentorship and Emotional Intelligence: Developing Future Leaders<br>33:22 Navigating New Leadership Challenges<br>37:57 The Importance of Trust and Performance<br>40:07 Keys to Success in Career Advancement<br>46:05 Bridging the Gap to Executive Leadership<br>48:59 Cultivating a Safety Culture in Organizations<br>52:48 The Future of Winemaking and Consumer Trends</p><p>💡 Memorable Quotes:<br>"You have to be a facilitator."<br>"Humility is one of the most important things."<br>"You need to understand the gaps in yourself."<br>"You have to be adaptable."<br>"Having good quality is super important."</p><p>Connect With Kent Here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kent-mann-7792307/</p><p>If you enjoyed this conversation, like, subscribe, and share it with leaders, managers, entrepreneurs, and professionals looking to elevate their careers.</p><p>#Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowth #ExecutiveLeadership #Management #Mentorship #LeadershipDevelopment #NavyLeadership #TeamBuilding #OperationsManagement #LeanMethodology #Winemaking #Innovation #CareerAdvancement #BusinessLeadership</p><p><br>We hope you enjoyed this episode! <br>- Hank and the Chain Mountain podcast team :)</p><p>Website Link: www.chainmtn.com <br>Connect with Hank: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hank-ackerman-8143bb2/</p><p>Listen to Chain Mountain on these podcast platforms:<br>Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3A3vwENbZnUnkGh00AxLNq<br>Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chain-mountain/id1836133366<br>Amazon Podcasts: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/bd33179f-6574-4953-a428-9113f740a49c/chain-mountain</p><p>#Podcast #Podcastshow #foryou #ChainMountain#Explorepage #Business #BusinessOwner #Entrepreneur #ReturnRate #SupplyChain #manufacturing #Businessoperations</p>
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Chain Mountain - the podcast for leaders who move fast and think deep.
Hosted by Hank Ackerman—Co-founder of Chain Mountain and a seasoned leader in operational transformation—the show delves into the high-stakes, high-impact world of industrial operations and technology through the voices of those leading the charge. Tune into weekly episodes featuring current and emerging operational executives who are transforming industry from the inside out.
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