In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, host Jackie Mattox (Founder & CEO, WE United) sits down with Michael Levin, President & CEO of Custom Solutions, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur who has built four multimillion-dollar companies across sectors.

They explore what it takes to build an entrepreneurial, ownership-driven culture from the front lines to the boardroom.

You’ll hear insights on:
- Bottom-up vs. top-down leadership
- Leading through change and uncertainty
- Why vulnerability builds stronger teams
- How to navigate generational differences and the rise of AI
- Creating politically neutral, inclusive workplace cultures

Whether you're a CEO or an emerging leader, this conversation will challenge how you think about control, culture, and connection.

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In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, Dave Doherty, Chief Executive Officer of DigiKey, joins us live from the 2025 WE United Leadership Summit to examine the role of influence in driving meaningful, enterprise-level change.

Dave shares insights from decades of executive leadership, highlighting the strategic value of trust, humility, and systems thinking in today’s complex business environment. He challenges conventional models of leadership, emphasizing the long-term impact of values-driven decision-making and organizational alignment.

Key themes in this episode include:

· Influence as a core lever for sustainable change

· Building systems that reinforce accountability

· Leading with humility in high-performance cultures

· Earning trust across internal and external stakeholders

· Aligning leadership behavior with organizational outcomes

Subscribe to WE Lead: Voices of Innovation for forward-looking conversations with executives shaping the future of leadership, strategy, and innovation.

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In this episode of Voices of Innovation, we explore the intersection of personal resilience and professional leadership with Lauren Sloan, a senior leader at Newark (an Avnet company). Diagnosed with breast cancer at 38, Lauren shares her experience navigating treatment, recovery, and identity while continuing to lead at work and at home.

She speaks candidly about the challenges of self-advocacy within the medical system, the physical and emotional realities of reconstruction, and the power of community support. Through her journey, Lauren offers perspective on what it means to lead with vulnerability, courage, and clarity in the face of life-changing circumstances.

Key themes in this episode include:

• The importance of early detection and self-advocacy
• Balancing career leadership with cancer treatment and recovery
• The emotional impact of surgery and reconstruction
• Reclaiming identity and confidence after illness
• The role of community in building strength and resilience
• Practical advice for those newly diagnosed or supporting a loved one

Whether you're navigating your own health journey or supporting others through theirs, this episode offers insight into how women lead with strength.

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In this WE Live webinar, AI strategist Nicole Yue empowers professionals and teams to confidently integrate AI into daily work without needing a technical background.

Nicole walks through how to use AI safely and ethically, protect sensitive data, create simple AI policies, and design effective workflows that save time and increase impact. Whether you're brand new to AI or looking to scale across your organization, this session gives you the tools to start smart and start now.

Learn how to:

• Use AI without risking sensitive data
• Create structured, role-based workflows
• Build a simple, team-friendly AI policy
• Draft high-quality content and analyze data faster
• Unlock ROI by automating low-value tasks

Special thanks to our WE United community, volunteers, and event partners for making this possible.

#WEUnited #AIAtWork #DigitalTransformation #AILeadership #WomenInTech #SecureAI #AIProductivity #FutureOfWork #AIWorkflows #EthicalAI #WELive

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In this Voices of Innovation episode, WE United presents an empowering Women’s Leadership Panel hosted at DigiKey, featuring Lisa Pittman, Teri Ivaniszyn, and Tiffani Harding, moderated by Jackie Mattox.

Hear real-world insights on navigating conflict with confidence, leading with courage, advancing your career, strengthening emotional intelligence (EQ), and creating work-life balance.

This inspiring conversation reflects WE United’s mission to support, connect, and empower women leaders in every stage of their journey.

Special thanks to Cori Bregier for organizing and to Linda Johnson for serving as executive sponsor of this impactful event.

#WEUnited #WomensLeadership #Leadership #ConflictResolution #WorkLifeBalance #EQ #CareerGrowth #VoicesOfInnovation

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At the intersection of innovation, leadership, and responsibility, this powerful WE Live conversation brings together influential voices from the tech and manufacturing sectors to explore how mission-aligned companies are shaping a future where profitability and purpose go hand in hand.

Featuring:

• Jackie Mattox: Founder and CEO, WE United
• Jay Sebastian: Senior Director & ECO of Human Resources and General Affairs, TDK
• Anne Taylor: Senior Vice President, Vishay
• Andjela Pasi: Global Director of Marketing, Waldom

Together, these leaders unpack the evolving landscape of corporate responsibility, starting with the shift from Affirmative Action and traditional DE&I toward more integrated, organization-wide ESG frameworks. They explore how practical, cross-functional strategies are being used to embed ESG principles directly into leadership and operations, moving beyond checklists to meaningful transformation. Most importantly, they examine what’s truly at stake for the communities we serve, the stakeholders we answer to, and the next generation of talent counting on today’s leaders to build a more equitable and sustainable future.

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In this episode of WE Lead: Voices of Innovation, we explore the power of sustainable leadership from Andrea Klein, Founder and CEO of RAND Technology. Recorded live at the 2024 WE United Leadership Summit, this session offers a candid look at how Andrea built the only 100% woman-owned global independent distribution company in the electronics supply chain.

She shares key lessons from her early career in the male-dominated tech industry, revealing how customer focus, transparency, and ethical decision-making became the foundation of her leadership philosophy. From defining her value proposition to leading with integrity under pressure, Andrea outlines what it takes to build a business that lasts.

Key themes in this episode include:

• Sustainable leadership rooted in values and discipline
• A customer-first mindset that builds long-term trust
• Creating a high-integrity culture and hiring for character
• The unique strengths women bring to tech and supply chain roles

Whether you're building your influence or leading at scale, this episode will challenge and inspire you to think long-term, act with intention, and lead sustainably.

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Join us for our first-ever WE Live discussion with Michael Knight, CEO Endries Industrial and Allison Sabia, CEO Galco Industrial Electronics, as we explore the dynamic and complicated topic of tariffs and the impact on our supply chain.

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