# How Curiosity Drives Smart Business Decisions w/ Jim Vaselopulos

- Show: [The Manufacturing Executive](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive)
- Published: 2024-03-12
- Length: 32m
- Episode: 196
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos
- Listen: https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-manufacturing-executive#episode-4be231f7-a755-46c9-a662-d33de538e75e

## Summary

Jim Vaselopulos, founder of Rafti Advisors and host of The Leadership Podcast, discusses leadership principles for manufacturing executives, drawing on his early career at Rockwell Automation. He argues that leaders must apply the same rigorous root cause analysis used in engineering to people issues, emphasizing that 'insatiable curiosity' prevents lazy assumptions and helps uncover the real reasons behind performance problems. Vaselopulos also outlines his framework for managing time through sequencing, timing, and patience, and highlights the current 'manufacturing renaissance' driven by reshoring, which creates urgent challenges in talent acquisition and retention.

## Chapters

- [0:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=38) Introduction: Jim Vaselopulos and Rafti Advisors
- [2:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=178) Vaselopulos's Engineering Background at Rockwell Automation
- [5:09](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=309) The Storytelling Approach in His Book 'Clarity'
- [9:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=559) Applying Root Cause Analysis to People Problems
- [12:23](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=743) The Power of Curiosity and the Doctor Story
- [21:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=1272) Sequencing, Timing, and Patience in Leadership
- [25:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2024-03-12-how-curiosity-drives-smart-business-decisions-w-jim-vaselopulos#t=1554) The Manufacturing Renaissance and Talent Challenges

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Hiring & workforce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/hiring-and-workforce)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- Rafti Advisors (company)
- Rockwell Automation (company)
- Gorilla 76 (company)
- Clarity (product)
- The Leadership Podcast (product)
- Industrial Marketing Live (product)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [BONUS: Exploring the Characteristics of Smart Manufacturing Leaders, Live from the 2023 Smart Manufacturing Experience](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-12-05-bonus-exploring-the-characteristics-of-smart-manufacturing-leaders-live-from-the) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [On-Demand Labor, Operations, and Finding a Co-Founder with Veryable CEO Mike Kinder](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2021-09-21-on-demand-labor-operations-and-finding-a-co-founder-with-veryable-ceo-mike-kinde) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [158: Letting Curiosity Lead and Finding Your Identity with Gray Solutions CEO Walker Mattox](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-10-24-158-letting-curiosity-lead-and-finding-your-identity-with-gray-solutions-ceo-wal) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [How Manufacturers Should Leverage Economic Intelligence with Alan Beaulieu](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2023-03-21-how-manufacturers-should-leverage-economic-intelligence-with-alan-beaulieu) (Manufacturing Happy Hour)
- [Navigating the Complexities of EMS Leadership and Growth with Amtech CEO Jay Patel](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/ems-c-level/2024-04-26-navigating-the-complexities-of-ems-leadership-and-growth-with-amtech-ceo-jay-pat) (EMS@C-LEVEL)

## Citing this page

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