The Caterpillar Podcast

Faith. Trust. Loyalty. These are the traits Mike Vorster learned about as a boy working in his family’s construction and contracting business in South Africa. His father, T.G. Vorster was a pioneer and innovator – a longtime Caterpillar customer who relied on “big yellow machines” to build their business starting in the 1940s. In fact, they were one of the first customers in South Africa to buy a Cat® D8 and D10. Vorster tells his family’s story, it laid the foundation for his own career as an author, teacher and thought leader in the equipment management space, sharing his expertise in equipment costs and lifestyle management. Vorster’s focus now is about passing down success and passing along his father’s life lessons to future generations. PROGRAM GUIDE (19:05 total run time)    Guest: Mike Vorster / Construction Industry Expert, Author & Thought Leader 2:10 – The birth of a family business in South Africa. 5:35 – Early lessons in faith, trust, loyalty and doing business with Caterpillar.   9:51 – A young boy lives and breathes the construction business. 11:45 – Cat equipment becomes the storehouse of Vorster family wealth. 13:52 – The most valuable lesson: people do business with people. 15:30 – A memoir for future generations.

A conversation with Mike Vorster, who learned early lessons from his father about faith, trust and loyalty working in their family's construction business in South Africa, using Cat equipment. PROGRAM GUIDE (19:05 total run time)   Guest: Mike Vorster / Construction Industry Expert, Author & Thought Leader 2:10 – The birth of a family business in South Africa. 5:35 – Early lessons in faith, trust, loyalty and doing business with Caterpillar. 9:51 – A young boy lives and breathes the construction business. 11:45 – Cat equipment becomes the storehouse of Vorster family wealth. 13:52 – The most valuable lesson: people do business with people. 15:30 – A memoir for future generations.

In 1974, Caterpillar made what was considered a bold move at the time and setting a new standard in the corporate world. At a time when many large companies were just starting to think about formalized ethics, Caterpillar became a pioneers by implementing a comprehensive code of conduct. But this wasn’t just a formality – it was a groundbreaking commitment to integrity, designed to steer every employee, partner and stakeholder through the complex realities of a growing global business with a strong moral compass. In this special Beyond The Iron podcast, we explore the legacy of this landmark decision and what it means for the future of ethical business practices. PROGRAM GUIDE (14:52 total run time)   Guests: Courtney Dean / Caterpillar Vice President & Deputy General Counsel & Chief Compliance Officer, and Jim Ryerson / Caterpillar Vice President of Human Resources for Services, Distribution & Digital 2:16 – A deep dive and fun facts. 4:30 – It reads like a civics lesson. 6:45 – An ethical threshold and competitive advantage. 8:37 – Influenced by the Code. 12:10 – Essence of the Code: providing the heart that goes with the hands.

Caterpillar’s Chief Digital Officer and Senior Vice President of Cat Digital shares his insights on being at the forefront of the company’s digital transformation, driving customer-focused innovation. From leveraging advanced analytics to implementing new digital solutions, Ogi Redzic talks about how Caterpillar is unlocking new possibilities through digital innovation and how it’s re-shaping the world of manufacturing and beyond. PROGRAM GUIDE (15:28 total run time)   Guest: Ogi Redzic / Chief Digital Officer and Caterpillar Inc. Senior Vice President responsible for Cat Digital 1:05 – Ogi talks about his role and managing key components of Caterpillar’s digital portfolio. 2:38 – The focus on building digital solutions for customers across key industries. 4:01 – How digital is driving true value for customers. 5:40 – Growth through eCommerce and making it easier for customers to run their businesses. 8:22 – Finding ways to further improve our data and insights. 10:11 – Cat Digital’s people and culture are foundational to success. 12:43 – Cutting edge technology & trends, including the AI opportunity.

The Caterpillar Foundation lives its mission with four power words: Together, We Are Stronger. There’s no better example than the Foundation’s fledgling Volunteer Service Program. Only a year old, the program unlocks people’s passion to support their communities in a variety of ways. In this Beyond the Iron podcast conversation, Caterpillar Foundation President Asha Varghese talks to host Rusty Dunn about why the program has seen early success, and other initiatives helping build resilient communities around the world. PROGRAM GUIDE (13:58 total run time)   Guest: Asha Varghese / Caterpillar Foundation President & Tim Koch / Caterpillar STEM Program Manager :45 – The Foundation meeting the moment to build resilient communities and improve lives. 3:02 – Helping people help others through the Volunteer Service Match program. 5:41 – Supporting communities around the world through volunteerism. 7:10 – How Caterpillar’s STEM program and FIRST Robotics’ volunteers are helping students grow. 11:09 – Volunteering is local. The impact is global.

With Caterpillar approaching its centennial year, Jaime Mineart knows that many people don’t realize the company has been in the electric power business for over 95 of those years. Mineart recently became the senior vice president of Caterpillar Electric Power, and isn’t wasting any time telling their story. In fact, Mineart’s team is preparing for an appearance at one of the energy industry’s premier events – DISTRIBUTECH International. This annual show is the leading transmission and distribution event, held at a time when companies like Caterpillar are navigating the dynamic landscape of the energy industry, a realm marked by both challenges and even bigger opportunities. While there will always be changes in products and services, Mineart shares her insights into how it all boils down to the need for reliable power and lifetime support for customers’ projects. PROGRAM GUIDE (9:31 total run time)   Guest: Jaime Mineart / Senior Vice President, Electric Power Division 2:12 – Extraordinary changes in play in the energy industry.    3:19 – Important opportunities to connect at DISTRIBUTECH, a large-scale industry event. 5:18 – Delivering outcomes, not products to energy customers. 7:08 – No matter the product, services or solutions, here’s what matters.

It’s been called the most powerful tech event in the world. The CES (Consumer Electronics show) is a massive annual event showcasing the latest innovations in consumer technology. So why is Caterpillar attending CES 2024? Science fiction-like tech may get the most media attention, but Caterpillar is showcasing how technologies can solve real-world problems today – not years in the future. Senior Vice President of the Electrification + Energy Solutions Division (E+ES) – Rod Shurman – knows a lot of people, including customers, might be surprised to see Caterpillar and CES in the same sentence. On this Beyond The Iron podcast, Shurman explains why it makes sense to be at CES and and how we’re showcasing the company’s machines and energy solutions to meet the evolving needs of Cat customers as they electrify their job sites. Also, check out our Caterpillar at CES page for a more in-depth look at the exhibit and the solutions we’re showcasing at this global tech event. PROGRAM GUIDE (11:21 total run time)    Guest: Rod Shurman / Senior Vice President, Electrification + Energy Solutions Division  1:31 – Why does it make sense for Caterpillar to have an exhibit at CES?     4:29 – What’s the elevator speech describing the company’s showcase?   5:57– A key message? Caterpillar’s powerful combination of technologies and expertise. 7:50 – Not shying away from customer pain points. 9:29 – How is what we’re offering, different from our competitors?

Our employees are the backbone of Caterpillar’s success. They provide the innovative and diverse thinking the company needs to serve its customers around the globe. When it comes military veterans, it is recognized that serving in the armed forces build a strong work ethic and discipline that can translate into a fulfilling and successful career at Caterpillar. On this special Beyond the Iron podcast episode, host Rusty Dunn sits down with two people who understand the strong connection between military experience and building a successful Caterpillar career. Brian Edwards – Senior Vice President of Caterpillar Reman – and Ernie Reyes, global chairman of Caterpillar’s Armed Forces Support Network, talk candidly about why service matters. PROGRAM GUIDE (21:59 total run time)   Guests: Brian Edwards / Senior Vice President, Caterpillar Remanufacturing Division Ernie Reyes / Senior Procurement Manager, Caterpillar Earthmoving Division & Global Chairman of the Armed Forces Support Network 2:07 – Why service matters.    5:55 – Ernie’s story: from service on a nuclear submarine to a Caterpillar career.   9:30 – Transitioning from one culture to another. 12:36 – The ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind creating Operation Frontline. 16:10 – Celebrating the power of everyone. 19:00 – The importance of getting to know a service member.

In the world of industrial power, it’s brand is a household name and globally trusted. Sitting next to Caterpillar, it counts as one of the two most iconic engine brands in our industry – Perkins. The Industrial Power Systems Division (IPSD) carries the responsibility for both. Each brand has a clear role to play, and both are important to the business. In this new episode, IPSD Senior Vice President Steve Ferguson talks with Beyond the Iron podcast host Rusty Dunn about Perkins recent brand reignition, and what it means for one of the world’s leading suppliers of off-highway power solutions. PROGRAM GUIDE (16:44 total run time)   Guest: Steve Ferguson / Senior Vice President, Industrial Power Systems Division 1:51 – One division. Two brands. 3:04 – What the Perkins brand represents for IPSD’s business. 4:52 – The right time for reignition. 7:05 – What’s changing, and what isn’t. 9:22 – Any concerns about changing the Perkins brand and impacting its legacy? 10:58 – The Perkins brand promise. 12:54 – Since the relaunch in March, what customers and distributors are saying. 14:13 – Staying forward-focused and remaining the leader in sustainable power solutions.

In today’s competitive business landscape, the foundation of any successful company lies in its strategic and innovative approach to talent management. Meet Roshny Archer, Caterpillar Vice President of Talent Management, who is navigating seismic changes in the way people work, and understanding what they want from Caterpillar. She talks about the company's approach to competing for and finding the best people, and what separates Caterpillar from its competition.