Good managers do not wait until something goes wrong to build trust with their people.
In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast, Sannah Vinding talks with Nate Witsaman, Manager of New Market Development at DigiKey, about curiosity, communication, feedback, remote leadership, and developing people in technical teams.
Nate shares how he thinks about the shift from managing tasks to developing people. He talks about asking better questions, learning how people want to be recognized, making space for quieter voices, and building relationships before the hard moments arrive.
In this episode, you will learn:
- Why curiosity is one of the strongest management skills
- How managers can build trust before a difficult conversation
- Why recognition and feedback need to be personal
- How remote leaders can avoid becoming only transactional
- Why quieter team members may need room and a direct invitation to speak
- How slowing down can help teams improve before pressure rises
- Why safe practice helps future leaders grow
About the guest:
Nate Witsaman, MBA, is Manager of New Market Development at DigiKey. He works with emerging technologies, supplier relationships, product onboarding, and market development across the electronics distribution ecosystem.
Hosted by Sannah Vinding, engineer, product marketing and GTM leader, author of Visible or Invisible, and host of the Leadership in Manufacturing Podcast.
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Sannah's book, Visible or Invisible, is coming this September. It is about how industrial B2B companies win buyers when AI builds the shortlist. Get on the list here:
https://visibleorinvisible.com/
Stay curious. Keep learning.
