# Hire Diverse Talent or Risk Going Out of Business Featuring Equity Machine Works Founder Justin Sherman

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2021-12-07
- Length: 47m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works
- Listen: https://manufacturinghappyhour.com/72

## Summary

Justin Sherman, founder of Equity Machine Works, explains why manufacturing companies risk going out of business by failing to hire diverse talent, citing a shrinking labor pool and a 95% male demographic in skilled roles like machining. He details his journey from a CNC machinist to launching a social enterprise that provides subsidized support (housing, food, transport) and registered apprenticeships for disadvantaged populations. Sherman argues that shifting from command-and-control leadership to person-centric, hybrid work models is essential to attract Gen Z and diverse candidates, noting that diverse companies show up to 35% better performance.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=0) Introduction and Demographic Crisis
- [8:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=485) Justin Sherman's Manufacturing Career Path
- [17:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=1058) The Origin Story of Equity Machine Works
- [24:39](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=1479) Equity Machine Works Program Model
- [31:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=1902) Building a Diverse and Inclusive Workplace
- [36:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=2167) Leadership Styles and Business Performance
- [42:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works#t=2532) Resources and Future Plans

## Topics

- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Equity Machine Works (company)
- Orion Industries (company)
- Skills Inc. (company)
- Pioneer Industries (company)
- KLW Manufacturing and Design (company)
- Intellectual Ventures (company)
- Hiring for Diversity (other)
- Arthur Woods (other)
- Quinn's Pub (other)
- Concept Systems (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Diversity in the Manufacturing Sector w/ Andrew Crowe and Justin Sherman](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2021-07-27-diversity-in-the-manufacturing-sector-w-andrew-crowe-and-justin-sherman) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [The Real Reason Manufacturers Are Missing with Gen Z w/ Jacob Sanchez](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-05-the-real-reason-manufacturers-are-missing-with-gen-z-w-jacob-sanchez) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Finding Manufacturing’s Invisible Workforce w/ Simba Jonga](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2025-12-16-finding-manufacturings-invisible-workforce-w-simba-jonga) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [A New Generation of Craftsmen with Character w/ Dave Hataj](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-07-16-a-new-generation-of-craftsmen-with-character-w-dave-hataj) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [EMS@C Panel: Navigating the Resurgence of European Manufacturing, New Challenges, and Opportunities with KATEK Group and Zollner](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2023-11-26-ems-c-panel-navigating-the-resurgence-of-european-manufacturing-new-challenges-a) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-12-07-hire-diverse-talent-or-risk-going-out-of-business-featuring-equity-machine-works. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Manufacturing Happy Hour.