What separates high-performing manufacturing leaders from everyone else? It’s not just automation, AI, or bigger facilities. It’s the ability to build disciplined systems, develop strong teams, and make decisive moves under pressure.

In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Meher Billimoria, a manufacturing leader with over 27 years of experience spanning enterprise leadership, entrepreneurship, consulting, and large-scale operational expansion. From launching early automated production lines in India to scaling facilities from 5,000 to 100,000 square feet, Meher shares practical insights forged on the shop floor and tested through volatility.

This conversation dives deep into why structure creates freedom, how discipline consistently outperforms raw brilliance, and why automation should amplify strong processes, not fix broken ones. Meher explains how delayed decisions silently erode performance, why culture fit outweighs skill gaps, and how strengthening the weakest link builds truly resilient teams.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

𝐌𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚
https://www.linkedin.com/in/meherbillimoria/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/clarioncosmetics/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife #businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #meherbillimoria #ai

In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Salman A. Rahman, Chief Technology Officer of Decorate AI, to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the $290 billion interior design industry.

Salman shares how his background in technology and textiles led to the creation of Decorate AI, a platform built to eliminate guesswork, reduce costly design mistakes, and give users the confidence to make decorating decisions before spending a single dollar. Instead of relying on expensive traditional designers or chaotic Pinterest boards, Decorate AI uses computer vision and generative AI to analyze your space, understand your preferences, and generate realistic, personalized design recommendations in seconds.

The conversation dives into the emotional side of home design, why people struggle with regret, decision fatigue, and budget anxiety and how AI can bridge the gap between inspiration and action. You’ll also hear how the platform integrates real-time product availability, pricing, and “shop-the-look” functionality to make designs instantly purchasable, saving users time and frustration.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐀 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐦𝐚𝐧
https://www.linkedin.com/in/gourob/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ova-solutions/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife#businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #salmanarahman #innovation #ai

In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Lisa Voronkova, CEO of Ova Solutions and author of Hardware Bible: Build a Medical Device from Scratch, to unpack the real reasons medical devices fail, not in the lab, but in the real world.

Lisa shares hard-earned lessons from her own founder journey, including the classic trap of building around “cool tech” instead of solving a real clinical and commercial problem. Together, they explore what founders consistently underestimate: manufacturing realities, clinical adoption, reimbursement strategy and what truly happens after FDA clearance.

This conversation dives into why FDA approval is a milestone, not the finish line and how many startups get stuck in the “valley of death” between prototype and real revenue. Lisa explains the difference between building a prototype and designing for manufacturability, why hospital purchasing decisions are more complex than most founders realize, and how reimbursement can determine whether a breakthrough device ever reaches patients. They also discuss when outsourcing R&D makes sense, where AI is creating meaningful opportunity in medtech, and the single most important question every founder must answer before building anything: Who will pay and why?

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

Lisa Voronkova
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-voronkova/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/ova-solutions/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife#businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #lisavoronkova #innovation #medicine #medicaldevice

Hydrogen is often talked about as the fuel of the future, but what does it actually look like in practice?

In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Salim Rahemtulla, President and CEO of PowerTap Hydrogen Fuel Corp, to break down how hydrogen fuel cell vehicles work, where they make sense, and where they don’t. From 20-minute heavy-duty refueling to water-only tailpipe emissions, this conversation cuts through the noise and gets into real-world infrastructure, not science fiction.

Salim explains why hydrogen may not be the best solution for every vehicle, but could be transformative for long-haul trucking, transit buses, forklifts and industrial applications where downtime and payload matter. He also addresses safety concerns head-on, explaining how modern hydrogen storage and fueling systems are designed, regulated and deployed today.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐦 𝐑𝐚𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐥𝐚
https://www.linkedin.com/in/salimrahemtulla/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/powertap-hydrogen-fueling-corp/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife#businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #salimrahemtulla #innovation

What if the most misunderstood part of a product category isn’t the product people obsess over, but the one that actually determines performance?

In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Gary Ramey, CEO of Liberty Ammunition, for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, brand strategy, innovation and what it takes to grow in highly regulated, high-stakes industries.

Gary shares his unusual career arc, from classic CPG brand leadership to building major retail partnerships, leading turnarounds and now reinventing how people think about ammunition performance.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

Gary Ramey
https://www.linkedin.com/in/garyramey/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/liberty-ammunition/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife#businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #garyramey #innovation

What does it really take to turn breakthrough medical innovation into real-world impact when lives are on the line and the system isn’t built for speed?

In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Joseph Rafferty, CEO of Vestec, a seasoned medtech leader who has spent decades operating at the intersection of innovation, commercialization, and clinical reality.

Joseph shares his unconventional journey from journalism to medtech, revealing how curiosity, deep listening, and humility became his greatest leadership advantages. Together, they unpack what it takes to build durable medical technologies, scale complex organizations, and survive the infamous “valley of death” between innovation and FDA clearance.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

Joseph Rafferty
https://www.linkedin.com/in/joseph-w-rafferty-a5579b4/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/vesteck-inc/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife#businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #josephrafferty #innovation

What does it take to turn an idea into a life-changing medical device? Peter Bonutti, MD explains how mentorship, curiosity and patient-driven innovation led to over 500 patents and 700 licensed products. Learn the importance of persistence, problem-solving, and ethical innovation in medicine.

Discover how Peter Bonutti is pushing the limits of medicine. From early orthopedic innovations to opening the blood-brain barrier for neurorestoration, he shares his vision for safer, patient-centered, biologically driven solutions. Explore the intersection of technology, ethics, and healthcare innovation.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

𝐏𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐢, 𝐌𝐃
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-bonutti-md-facs-3758b7130/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/realeve-llc/

#podcasts #podcasts #podcastshorts #podcastinterview #podcastlife #businessgrowth #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #peterbonutti #medicaldoctor #medicine #innovation

In this episode of Industry Ignited, host Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Jordan Pollack, CEO and co-founder of Sub-Q Bionics, to explore breakthrough innovations in medtech that are transforming the lives of cancer survivors.

Jordan, a biomedical engineer and medical device entrepreneur, shares his journey from Boston Scientific to founding SubQ Bionics, a company developing implantable bionic solutions for lymphedema, a chronic and often overlooked condition affecting millions worldwide. Learn how Jordan and his team are tackling unmet needs in healthcare with resilience, innovation and a patient-first approach.

𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐈𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 https://industryignited.com/
𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 https://www.instagram.com/industryignited/
𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤 https://www.facebook.com/industryignited/
𝐋𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐝𝐈𝐧 https://www.linkedin.com/company/industry-ignited
𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐲 https://open.spotify.com/show/3TX1L5LPr4lt1UtcSpSvlN?si=7037433a58c54162
𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐝𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐭 https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/industry-ignited-podcast/id1824619671

𝐉𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐧 𝐏𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐤
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordan-pollack-81464827/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/sub-q-bionics/

#podcast #podcastinterview #industryignited #drleeanneaguilar #jordanpollack #Lymphedema #CancerSurvivors #BionicDevices #MedicalDevices #BiomedicalEngineering #FemTech #HealthcareInnovation #LifeChangingTech #PatientCare #MedTechStartup