Hardware Podcasts

Electro Soft CEO Karla Trotman, on Reaching the Top

EE Times Current · 15 Aug 2023 · 27m

What this episode covers

Electrosoft CEO Carla Trotman discusses her journey leading the electronics contract manufacturing (ECM) firm, highlighting challenges in supply chain de-risking, semiconductor lead times, and the systemic barriers faced by minority-owned businesses in securing investment. She details how Electrosoft navigates component shortages by collaborating with clients on redesigns using stocking distributors, while avoiding direct design engineering to maintain ISO certification. Trotman also reflects on the racial and gender biases in the industry, the importance of the Black Women’s Collective (BOW Collective), and her strategy of visible mentorship to inspire the next generation of diverse engineers.

Most relevant to

companies scaling up

Topics

Mentioned

Companies
Electrosoft, IKEA, Intel, TSMC, Samsung, Gap, Honeywell
Also
BOW Collective, ISO 9001, Penn State, Drexel University

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