Jacqueline Gallo’s career path in manufacturing is nothing short of inspiring. From a small town in Rhode Island to EVP at Pursuit Aerospace, she climbed the ranks by saying “yes” to the toughest challenges. Then she built a leadership style grounded in compassion and continuous improvement.

In this episode, Jacquie shares how her team pioneered second chance employment programs that provide training and jobs to formerly incarcerated individuals, which cuts recidivism rates dramatically. Her work is a bold example of what’s possible when manufacturing leaders look beyond traditional pipelines.

Jacquie also explains how Kaizen and people-first process improvements are making Pursuit’s shops cleaner, safer, and more welcoming places to work.

This conversation is a must-listen for anyone passionate about building inclusive teams, rethinking workforce development, and leading with purpose.

Where you can find Jacqueline: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacqueline-gallo-25220912/ Company: https://pursuitaero.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Jennifer Anderson, Vice President of Human Resources at Whelen Engineering, is proof that HR can be as innovative and essential as any technology. With Whelen boasting a workforce that’s 39% women - well above the national average - Jen joins Ellen and Jenny to share the human-centered strategies that are reshaping the workplace.

This episode dives into Jen’s journey as an HR innovator, and how Whelen’s deep culture of inclusion, connection, and long-term employee investment has built more than just a loyal workforce, a thriving one.

You’ll hear how Jen reintroduced engagement surveys that have worked…leading to meaningful changes that are simple yet effective at boosting morale. She also shares her commitment to psychological safety, leadership support, and making changes with a crawl-walk-run mentality built on trust.

Where you can find Jennifer: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennifer-anderson-2371603b/ Company: https://www.whelen.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/

Marietta Lee never imagined she’d one day run the family business. With a law degree and a thriving career in legal journalism, manufacturing was nowhere on her radar. But when she moved back to Connecticut to be closer to family, the opportunity to join the Lee team changed her path.

In this episode, Marietta shares how The Lee Company has remained innovative by being intentional about its future. She details their unique family employment policy, which sets rules for family members coming into the business. It’s about protecting and respecting the business, its employees, and its culture.

Marietta dives into how Lee is developing talent from within. They have a generous tuition reimbursement program and an in-house, paid training program for employees at all levels, Lee University. They are well-situated to build a workforce that’s skilled, loyal, and ready to grow.

Finally, Marietta talks about the Innovation Center currently under construction and why it was important to their company.

The Lee Company is proof that thoughtful planning and people-first development can keep a legacy business alive and thriving.

Where you can find Marietta: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marietta-lee-17729410a/ Company: https://www.theleeco.com/

------- Podcast hosted by The Bolder Company: https://www.theboldercompany.com/ Podcast executive production by Gael Communications: https://www.gaelcommunications.com/ Podcast technical production by Miceli Productions: https://miceliproductions.com/