The Titanium Economy Podcast

Hosted by Ayna

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May 2026

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The brains behind Ayna bring you this first-of its kind podcast series with esteemed leaders from across the industrial sector. These in-depth conversations lift the lid on how success is cultivated in The Titanium Economy. Hear their first-hand experiences, expertise, strategies, and more. Visit www.titaniumeconomy.com for more

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37 recent

May 19, 202639 min

Episode 37: Prith Banerjee

Digital twins can already predict the failure of a million-dollar industrial asset with 99% accuracy — so why are engineers on the ground still resisting adopting them, and who has to move first to break that deadlock? In this episode of the Titanium Economy podcast, host Vineet Gupta sits down with Prith Banerjee, Senior Vice President of Innovation at Synopsys, to explore the convergent forces reshaping semiconductor and systems engineering. Prith details how the $35 billion ANSYS acquisition and $2 billion Nvidia partnership position Synopsys to command the emerging chip-to-system design market. He explains how agentic AI is compressing design cycles for trillion-transistor chips, how physics-based digital twins achieve 99% predictive accuracy in industrial deployments, and why passionate pursuit of one's "true north" defines enduring innovation across academia, entrepreneurship, and global enterprise. Prith Banerjee is Senior Vice President of Innovation at Synopsys, leading the company's technology strategy across EDA, simulation, and IP. With an extraordinary career bridging elite academia, serial entrepreneurship, and Fortune 500 leadership, he has served as CTO at Ansys, EVP and CTO at Schneider Electric, EVP and CTO at ABB, and SVP of Research at HP Labs. A professor turned founder, he established AccelChip (acquired by Xilinx) and BINACHIP, authored over 350 technical papers, and supervised 37 PhD students. A Fellow of IEEE, ACM, and AAAS, Banerjee holds degrees from IIT Kharagpur and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Discussion Points Synopsys: The Invisible Backbone of Chip Design Synopsys powers chip design globally through EDA tools and IP. The ANSYS acquisition extends its reach from silicon into full-system engineering. Forty Years of EDA Evolution and the ANSYS Acquisition Four decades of semiconductor advancement drove exponential growth in chip complexity. Acquiring ANSYS unified multiphysics simulation with chip design for intelligent systems. The Nvidia Partnership and AI-Driven Design Automation A two-billion-dollar Nvidia partnership accelerates GPU-enabled industrial simulation capabilities enterprise-wide. Agentic AI systems now autonomously re-engineer complex, trillion-transistor chip design workflows. Digital Twins and the Future of Industrial Applications Physics-informed digital twins elevate predictive accuracy to ninety-nine percent for critical assets. Integrated electronic and mechanical twins validate entire complex products before physical manufacturing begins. Innovation Philosophy, Entrepreneurship, and Enduring Legacy A career spanning academia, startups, and global corporations reflects relentless, principled innovation. Banerjee urges young engineers to pursue their "true north" with unwavering passionate conviction. For More Information Prith Banerjee LinkedIn Synopsys.com Ansys.com (acquired by Synopsys; tools including Fluent, HFSS, Mechanical, Red Hawk, LSDyna, Twin Builder, SIM AI, OptiSLang) Ayna Website

April 8, 202632 min

Episode 36: Luca Savi

In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Luca Savi, President and CEO of ITT. Luca shares how ITT wins through execution, innovation, and deep customer intimacy and how the company is deliberately shifting its portfolio away from cyclical markets through disciplined M&A focused on value creation. The conversation covers leadership, culture, and what it takes to build urgency, agility, and accountability across a global organization. Luca closes with the key bets ITT is making toward its 2030 vision. Luca Savi is President and CEO of ITT Inc. He joined ITT in 2011 as President of Motion Technologies, after senior roles at Comau (Fiat Group) and Honeywell International across Italy, China, and the US. He holds a Chemical Engineering degree from Politecnico di Milano, an MBA from London Business School, and serves on the board of MSA Safety Inc. Show Notes ITT Overview: Designs and manufactures highly engineered components for harsh environments across energy, industrial, automotive, aerospace, and rail. Market Performance: ITT's brake pad business outperformed the market by 800 basis points annually over a decade, driven by 99.9% on-time delivery and parts-per-billion quality standards. Portfolio Rebalancing: Automotive's share of EBIT dropped from 60%+ to ~33%, with capital redeployed into higher-margin flow and connector businesses. The SPX Flow acquisition accelerates the 2030 target of 20% automotive exposure. Culture & Leadership: ITT's model demands deep operational knowledge at every level — from CEO to frontline — with shop-floor engagement as a universal principle across all geographies. 2030 Vision: M&A focused on fragmented flow markets and aerospace/defense connectors, supported by a transformed board that provides expert coaching and constructive challenge. For More Information ITT Luca Savi LinkedIn Ayna Website

April 1, 202619 min

Episode 35: Anand Sanghi

In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, Akshay Sethi, President and Head of Commercial Excellence at Ayna, talks with Anand Sanghi, President, Americas at Vertiv about how AI is driving changes in infrastructure, innovation, and business growth. They discuss Vertiv’s approach to scaling global operations, staying close to customers, and using R&D to stay ahead in a fast-changing tech landscape. They also discuss how the company navigates AI demand, develops reliable solutions, and plans for the future of critical infrastructure. Anand Sanghi is the Head of Americas at Vertiv, a global leader in critical digital infrastructure solutions encompassing power, cooling, and lifecycle services for data centers, telecommunications networks, and industrial environments. He was previously president for Vertiv Australia, New Zealand, Southeast Asia, Japan, South Korea and India (ASI). Sanghi holds an engineering degree from IIT and an MBA from IIM. Discussion Points Introduction & Vertiv's Business: End-to-end power and cooling for critical digital infrastructure — data centers, semiconductor plants, hospitals, and mission-critical environments globally. AI-Driven Growth & Transformation: Generative AI has pushed rack power density from single-digit to 150+ kilowatts. Vertiv has repositioned as a technology-industrial hybrid at the intersection of advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure. Strategy & AI Ecosystem: Vertiv anticipates silicon roadmaps two chip generations ahead. Customer intimacy and power-thermal convergence underpin its integrated data center and AI factory portfolio. Capital Allocation & R&D: Disciplined organic growth with selective M&A. R&D spend grows ~20% annually, compressing product cycles to 12 months. Market Metrics & Demand: Key forward indicators: qualified pipeline, silicon deployment volumes, and capacity ramp flexibility. Leadership Philosophy: Purpose-driven, humble leadership shaped by three decades of global cycles and early-career values. For More Information Vertiv Anand Sanghi LinkedIn Ayna Website

March 11, 202626 min

Episode 34: Olivier Biebuyck

In this episode, Akshay Sethi sits down with Olivier Biebuyck, President of Fabrication Technology at ESAB, to discuss how industrial companies can unlock growth through commercial excellence. Olivier shares lessons from ESAB’s acquisition journey and explains why pricing, sales effectiveness, and data have become critical levers for growth. The conversation explores how commercial integration drives post-merger value, how customer expectations in industrial markets have shifted, and why buyers now expect an Amazon-like experience. They also discuss how ESAB is approaching AI in a focused, problem-led way across sales, pricing, and digital channels, and why the biggest opportunity with AI is enabling sales teams to spend more time with customers. Olivier closes with advice for emerging commercial leaders on staying close to customers and building truly customer-centric strategies. Olivier Biebuyck serves as Global President of Fabrication Technology at ESAB, a $2.5 billion welding and fabrication technology company operating in over 100 countries. His ESAB career encompasses leading the Filler Metals division, directing the Sandvik Welding Technologies acquisition, and serving as Head of EMEA and Global Products. Previously, Biebuyck held the Chief Marketing Officer position for Honeywell's Process Technology division. He began his career as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company, where he developed expertise in consumer goods before transitioning to industrial B2B sectors. Discussion Points (00:00) Commercial Leadership Foundations and Industry Evolution - Prior consumer goods experience has shaped the way he approaches industrial B2B customers. The industrial sector increasingly embraces commercial excellence methodologies alongside traditional operational efficiency and cost competitiveness strategies. (05:20) M&A Integration Strategy and Commercial Playbook Development - ESAB executed five acquisitions across three years requiring systematic integration frameworks balancing channel management and talent retention. (13:16) Customer Experience Expectations- Industrial buyers demand Amazon-equivalent experiences including seamless ordering, real-time shipment visibility, and self-service capabilities. Companies must transform business models to meet customers' evolving standards. (18:40) AI Framework and Implementation - Focused AI deployment targeting specific pain points has helped demonstrate a measurable impact. Data transformation requires cleaning legacy systems, connecting historical information, and ensuring predictive analytics readiness across multiple ERPs. (23:20) Commercial Transformation Vision and Customer-Centric Leadership - ESAB's innovation portfolio maturity creates opportunity for systematic commercial transformation. Emerging leaders must prioritize direct customer engagement across regions to develop authentic customer-centric commercial strategies. For More Information ESAB Corp Olivier Biebuyck LinkedIn Titanium Economy Ayna Website

January 28, 202634 min

Episode 33: Steve Blanco

Steve Blanco, President and CEO of MSA Safety, joins the Titanium Economy Podcast to discuss leading a safety technology company through innovation, global growth, and digital transformation. In his wide-ranging conversation with Gaurav Batra, CEO of Ayna, Steve shares how mission driven leadership, customer intimacy, and technology shape MSA’s strategy and long-term performance. In this episode: How MSA has stayed relevant for over a century by innovating around tangible customer safety problems Why customer intimacy is the core driver of differentiation in industrial safety How connected devices, software, and AI are changing workplace safety and operations What it takes to scale globally while preserving culture, margins, and long-term growth Steve Blanco serves as President and Chief Executive Officer where he is responsible for overseeing MSA Safety’s global portfolio and the implementation of the company’s strategic initiatives. Previously (from 2017 to 2022) he was President of MSA Americas. During his tenure, revenue in the segment grew by more than 40%. Steve also helped oversee the acquisitions and integrations of Bacharach, Globe Manufacturing, and Sierra Monitor. Prior to joining MSA Safety, Steve worked for Eaton Corporation, serving as Vice President of Manufacturing for the company’s Electrical Sector, and worked for Ford Motor Company and Visteon. For More Information MSA The Safety Company Steve Blanco LinkedIn Gaurav Batra LinkedIn Ayna Website

January 9, 202642 min

Episode 32: Brish Bhan Vaidya

In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vivek Sharma speaks with Brish Bhan Vaidya, Global Procurement Executive at Uber, on how procurement is evolving from a cost function to a strategic growth enabler. Brish highlights the shift toward multi-tier supplier diversification, AI-driven intelligence, ESG integration, and proactive scenario planning to build resilient, agile sourcing models aligned with business objectives. Brish leads APAC Strategic Sourcing and the Global Buying Center at Uber, bringing 20+ years of experience across BT, Accenture, and American Express. He has driven large-scale procurement transformations, strengthening supplier partnerships, embedding digital and AI capabilities, and building world-class sourcing frameworks to deliver sustained value across complex global supply chains. Discussion Points (00:00) Procurement’s evolution: Shift from cost center to strategic value driver, requiring proactive planning amid tariffs and geopolitical disruption. (6:27) Managing sourcing risk: Multi-tier supplier diversification is now the baseline to address ESG, insolvency, and geopolitical uncertainty. (13:21) Building resilience: Effective sourcing hinges on supplier optionality, performance tracking, and co-creation, with TCO factoring in disruption risk. (17:39) AI in procurement: AI accelerates category intelligence, supplier risk analysis, and contract lifecycle management. (32:03) Future-ready leadership: Procurement leaders must blend ESG rigor with commercial acumen and digital fluency. For More Information Brish Bhan Vaidya LinkedIn Titanium Economy Ayna.AI Website Vivek Sharma LinkedIn

November 8, 202518 min

Episode 31: Ed Dowling

Ayna’s Mohit Jaju interviews Ed Dowling, CEO of Compass Minerals, on how 2025 tariff regimes are reshaping industrial supply chains. Ed notes that while Compass achieved USMCA compliance exemptions, secondary effects disrupted inbound supply chains, prompting a shift from sole- to multi-source strategies. He highlights market differentiation—high-value industrial products allowed tariff pass-through, while bulk municipal contracts resisted price changes, creating millions in opportunity costs. Ed calls for policy consistency, arguing that volatility deters investment while known risks can be managed—underscoring the need for constructive CEO–policymaker engagement and resilient supply chains. Ed Dowling, CEO of Compass Minerals, brings 30+ years of global mining and minerals leadership, including CEO roles at SSR Mining and Meridian Gold, senior positions at De Beers and Cleveland-Cliffs, and board chair roles at Polyus and Copper Mountain Mining. He currently serves on Teck Resources’ board. A former U.S. Navy Petty Officer, Dowling holds bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees in mineral processing from Penn State, grounding his leadership in deep technical expertise across salt, lithium, magnesium, and plant nutrition markets. Discussion Points (00:00) Compass Minerals Overview – Ed Dowling leads Compass Minerals, producing salt, lithium, magnesium, and plant nutrition critical to infrastructure. (01:39) 2025 Tariff Impact – Tariff uncertainty delayed expansion, though USMCA compliance exempted core products from direct exposure. (04:32) Supply Chain Restructuring – Shifted from sole-source to multi-source networks to manage tariff-driven inbound disruptions. (08:33) Cost Pass-Through Dynamics – High-value industrial products absorbed tariff costs; bulk municipal contracts resisted price changes. (15:57) Policy and Leadership Insight – CEOs should engage policymakers for trade clarity; policy consistency enables investment and risk management. For More Information Compass Minerals Ed Dowling Titanium Economy Ayna.AI Website Mohit Jaju

October 28, 202526 min

Episode 30: Mike Slessor

In this episode of the Titanium Economy Podcast, host Vineet Gupta speaks with Mike Slessor, President and CEO of FormFactor, about the transformation of semiconductor testing and innovation at the frontier of AI, photonics, and advanced packaging. Mike shares how FormFactor’s deep customer integration—where over a third of employees work directly with partners like Samsung, TSMC, Intel, and NVIDIA—drives precision, speed, and collaboration. He highlights key inflection points such as silicon photonics for energy-efficient data centers, high-bandwidth memory testing for AI, and the role of advanced packaging in extending Moore’s Law. He also discusses the company’s strategic U.S. expansion through a Texas brownfield acquisition following its divestiture of China operations, underscoring how geopolitics is reshaping the semiconductor value chain. Mike Slessor has led FormFactor since 2014, guiding it to a $750M global leader in semiconductor test and measurement with 2,200 employees worldwide. A former CEO of MicroProbe (acquired by FormFactor), he began his career at KLA-Tencor. Mike holds a PhD in Aeronautics and Physics from Caltech and a BSc in Engineering Physics from the University of British Columbia. Under his leadership, FormFactor continues to pioneer next generation testing solutions powering the semiconductor industry’s most complex challenges. Discussion Points (01:37) Market Position & Portfolio: FormFactor’s probe cards enable wafer-level testing, while its systems business supports lab-to-fab transitions for next-gen technologies like quantum computing. (03:29) Innovation & Customer Collaboration: Deep alignment with key customers drives sustained R&D investment. Engineering teams maintain daily collaboration with global semiconductor leaders. (06:49) Technology Trends: 5G/6G, silicon photonics, and advanced packaging are reshaping the industry—improving data center efficiency and pushing Moore’s Law forward. (15:25) Geopolitics & Manufacturing Strategy: Following its China divestiture, FormFactor is expanding U.S. production with a Texas facility to strengthen resilience amid shifting trade dynamics. Ayna is a premier advisory and implementation firm in the industrial technology space, leveraging a team of experienced leaders to help companies and investors drive performance improvement and value creation. The host of this episode is Ayna's Vineet Gupta. For More Information Mike Slessor LinkedIn Ayna Website Vineet Gupta

October 17, 202522 min

Episode 29: Dong-Su Kim

"Contrary to a lot of people's beliefs, I do believe that financial gain and strategic benefits - they go hand in hand." - Dong-Su Kim Host Vineet Gupta sits down with Dong-Su Kim, CEO of LG Technology Ventures, to discuss corporate venture capital and emerging tech investments. Kim stresses that corporate VCs must deliver financial returns as well as strategic value, pushing back against the view that strategy comes at the expense of profitability. He highlights opportunities in enterprise AI for verticals, semiconductor infrastructure for AI, and the electrification wave beyond EVs. He also cautions against hype in consumer AI and LLMs, predicting consolidation ahead. Dong-Su Kim leads LG Technology Ventures, managing nearly $900M across AI, biotech, cleantech, consumer, and enterprise tech. A Caltech physics graduate with a PhD in electrical engineering from Princeton, Kim has over 20 years in venture capital. He previously invested in 30+ companies at Samsung Ventures before founding LG Technology Ventures in 2018, bringing a rare blend of strategic and financial discipline to corporate VC. Discussion Points (00:00) Kim shares his journey from physics and semiconductor research to corporate venture capital (00:03:18) Corporate VC eases fundraising and opens strategic partnerships while targeting solid returns (00:09:47) Early-stage semiconductor bets hinge on market size and execution, with AI valuations both promising and risky (00:15:11) Enterprise AI in verticals offers stronger upside than consumer apps, as LLM cost drops enable specialized solutions (00:21:13) Electrification beyond EVs—spanning homes, industry, and infrastructure—presents the next big wave of opportunities For More Information Dong-Su Kim LinkedIn LG Technology Ventures Ayna.AI Website Vineet Gupta

September 8, 202534 min

Episode 28: Wahid Nawabi

In this episode, Vineet Gupta, President and Head of Semiconductor at Ayna, speaks with Wahid Nawabi, Chairman, President & CEO of AeroVironment, on how the company is redefining defense tech through innovation and customer focus. Wahid highlights AeroVironment’s portfolio of unmanned systems, the Blue Halo acquisition, and advances in AI-driven autonomy. The conversation also touches on leadership, product development speed, and military-grade quality, with Wahid sharing his decade-ahead vision for the industry. Wahid Nawabi has led AeroVironment for 15+ years, building it into a full-spectrum defense technology prime. With prior leadership roles at American Power Conversion, he brings cross-sector experience. Under his watch, AeroVironment has driven new categories like loitering munitions, executed strategic acquisitions, and sustained innovation investments of 12–13% of revenue while scaling production. Discussion Points AeroVironment’s Defense Leadership – Established as a leading multi-domain defense technology provider, with a focus on integrating unmanned systems and AI capabilities Engineering Legacy & Innovation – With seven vehicles in the Smithsonian, AeroVironment combines heritage with rapid development cycles and sustained R&D investment Building High-Performing Teams – Success comes from balancing freedom to experiment with mission-driven discipline, while preserving culture and employee engagement Comprehensive Solutions – From underwater robotics to space communications and cyber, strategic acquisitions close capability gaps and strengthen the tech portfolio Military-Grade Reliability – Meeting exponentially higher standards than consumer tech, with advanced autonomy powered by proprietary annotated datasets in computer vision For More Information Aerovironment Wahid Nawabi LinkedIn Ayna Vineet Gupta