As 2026 approaches, manufacturers are under growing pressure to move faster, operate more flexibly, and compete in an increasingly complex global landscape. At the same time, the tools to meet those challenges are finally positioned to move from promise to real-world impact.

In this year-end episode of The Optimistic Outlook, Siemens USA Interim CEO Ann Fairchild sits down with Del Costy, President and Managing Director of Siemens Digital Industries Americas, to explore what’s changing—and what’s still holding manufacturers back. Drawing on conversations with industrial leaders across the country, Del offers a clear-eyed view of today’s technology adoption curve, from the realities of deploying Industrial AI to the strategic importance of digital twins, simulation, and edge processing.

Together, they examine how technology, data, and people are converging to shape a new industrial tech sector—and what it will take for manufacturers to translate innovation into speed, resilience, and long-term competitiveness in 2026 and beyond.

America is racing to build the infrastructure for an AI-powered economy. But as this generational investment accelerates, a critical question emerges: Are organizations truly ready to deploy AI at scale?

While AI is everywhere in headlines, enterprise readiness remains uneven. Many companies are experimenting with AI, but far fewer have the data quality, governance structures, workforce skills, or sector-specific frameworks needed to adopt it responsibly and effectively. The gap between infrastructure and real-world deployment is growing — and closing it will determine whether AI strengthens competitiveness and expands opportunity across the economy.

In this episode, guest host Brie Sachse, Senior Vice President & Head of Government Affairs for Siemens USA, sits down with Victoria Espinel, President & CEO of the Business Software Alliance (BSA), to explore how AI can be responsibly integrated across every sector of the economy. Together, they discuss what it takes to accelerate AI adoption in ways that strengthen competitiveness, expand opportunity, and build public trust.

Victoria shares insights from BSA’s global work on AI and digital transformation, while Brie discusses the strong benefits of AI adoption across all sectors of industry, where AI meets the physical world. Both Brie and Victoria reflect on how policymakers, employers, and technology leaders can work together to ensure AI provides benefits to organizations of all sizes. This episode offers a practical, optimistic look at the future of AI and why readiness, not hype, is the key to unlocking America’s AI advantage.

Historic investments in manufacturing and AI data centers are creating a new wave of opportunities in skilled trades. But that opportunity isn’t always accessible, especially for workers facing barriers like childcare, housing, transportation, or financial pressures.

In this episode, David Etzwiler speaks with Rachel Korberg, Executive Director of the Families & Workers Fund, a coalition dedicated to expanding economic mobility and helping people enter high-quality, family-sustaining careers. Rachel shares how the Fund is supporting more than 1.3 million workers and learners, why wraparound services can be game-changing, and how cross-sector partnerships are reshaping workforce systems across the country.

She also discusses the Fund’s collaboration with the Siemens Foundation to expand pathways into electrical jobs — a sector poised for massive long-term growth.

Show notes

Press Release: Siemens to Train 200,000 U.S. Electricians & Manufacturers

More about the Families & Workers Fund: https://familiesandworkers.org/

Is the American Dream still Made in America? A renewed surge of interest in U.S. manufacturing has revealed a huge challenge. There are hundreds of thousands of vacant positions and a labor force that lacks the necessary skills to fill them.

While many label it a crisis, Carolyn Lee, president of The Manufacturing Institute sees an opportunity. In this episode Carolyn sits down with guest host David Etzwiler to share an upbeat, down‑to‑earth vision of a manufacturing sector that could fuel growth and generate huge new opportunities.

At the core of her mission is one thing: to remake the way talent is trained and primed for careers in industrial manufacturing. Carolyn shares some of the Manufacturing Institute’s groundbreaking initiatives built to upskill today’s employees while igniting the interest of the workers of tomorrow.

Through this conversation, you will discover a range of groundbreaking strategies that are reshaping the manufacturing workforce. Carolyn also examines how emerging technologies such as AI and automation, rather than posing threats, will actually create more jobs.

This episode is about the future of manufacturing, the future of work, and how the American Dream will be reshaped in the coming years. Whether you’re a business leader, a policymaker, an educator or simply someone with a stake in our economy’s future, this an episode you won’t want to miss.

Show notes

More about the Siemens Foundation

More about The Manufacturing Institute

Sometimes the most impactful careers are the ones we never planned. In this episode, Sidra Maryam, from Siemens Smart Infrastructure Manufacturing Hub, shares how an unexpected career pivot led her to become a leader driving innovation, digital transformation, and team culture across a large-scale manufacturing operation.

Women make up less than one-third of America’s manufacturing workforce. It’s been this way for decades. Why is this? More importantly, what can we learn from women who are thriving in manufacturing careers?

In this episode you’ll meet two leaders who have built their careers on the factory floor and beyond: Cheryl Kiolbassa, Director, Digital Transformation Solutions, Siemens Smart Infrastructure and Anna Bumpious, Engineering Manager, Siemens Smart Infrastructure. They share the moments that tested them, the mentors who bet on them, and why they’re convinced manufacturing is ripe with opportunity—for people at every stage of their careers.

Barry Powell, Regional CEO and President of Siemens Electrical Products, North America hosts this conversation about resilience, optimism, and what it truly takes to build what’s next in American manufacturing.

Since launching Siemens USA’s Optimistic Outlook podcast five years ago at the height of the pandemic, Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton, who recently announced her retirement from Siemens USA, has brought listeners inspiring conversations about the people and ideas shaping a better future. In her final episode as host of the show, journalist and Widehall Founder & CEO Steve Clemons flips the script—interviewing Barbara about the podcasting journey, her tenure as CEO, and what gives her confidence in the future. True to form, Barbara closes this milestone moment by offering her own optimistic outlook.