Episode 53 | Jane Thomas

We're excited to welcome Kimberly Williams, formerly with Coca-Cola, Diageo and Goodyear, to the Hear Her Story podcast. For more than two decades, Kimberly has led manufacturing, operations, and supply chain teams across more than 40 sites in 11 countries and is known for bringing clarity to chaos. Download the full episode to hear more about how Kimberly is aligning people, process, and strategy to transform complex organizations and deliver sustainable results. At the heart of her leadership is a simple belief: people are the difference. Explore all Hear Her Story podcast episodes here.

Live at WIM's annual SUMMIT in Las Vegas, Nevada at Ceasars Forum, we welcome our guest, Stephanie Peters, who serves as General Manager of Cargill's Waco, Texas facility, and is a WIM 2026 Hall of Fame Inductee. Stephanie brings more than 30 years of manufacturing leadership experience, building strong teams, leading business transformations, and creating opportunities for others to grow while delivering results across complex operations. Today, we'll hear more about Stephanie's leadership and her journey in manufacturing.

We're excited to welcome Dr. Maja Durant, Vice President of Human Resources – Americas at Greif and Board Director of the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation, to the Hear Her Story podcast. With more than 25 years of experience in human resources leadership across organizations including Target, McLane and Greif, Dr. Durant brings valuable insights on leadership, talent development, workplace culture, and the future of work. Download the full episode to learn more about Dr. Durant's journey, how her doctoral research has shaped her leadership approach, and her work supporting women in manufacturing through the WIM Education Foundation. Explore all Hear Her Story podcast episodes here.  

Hear Her Story Podcast Welcomes Kate Leiby, Director of Global Sustainability, Donaldson Company We're excited to welcome Kate Leiby, Director of Global Sustainability at Donaldson Company and Chair of the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation, to the Hear Her Story podcast. With more than two decades of experience spanning operations, procurement, quality and sustainability, Kate brings a unique perspective on building resilient organizations and preparing the manufacturing workforce for the future. Download the full episode to learn more about Kate's leadership journey, her commitment to sustainability and workforce development, and her advice for women building careers in manufacturing. Explore all Hear Her Story podcast episodes here.

We're excited to welcome today's guest, Mandy Trainer, Vice President, BDS Fabrication at The Boeing Company. Mandy's story is one rooted in purpose, resilience, and servant leadership, and today, she's sharing how those early experiences continue to shape how she leads at the highest levels. Today, we'll hear more about Mandy's leadership and her journey in manufacturing.

We're excited to welcome today's guest, Jane Thomas, President of Teijin Holdings and the Teijin Group Chief Representative in the Americas. With a career that spans law, private‑equity–backed manufacturing leadership and executive roles in global health services, Jane brings a unique perspective to the industries she serves. In addition to her corporate leadership, she also serves as Chair of the Board of Directors for WIM. 

We are excited welcome our guest, Karen Horting, CEO of the Society of Women Engineers, where she leads a global community of more than 50,000 women and allies in engineering. With over 25 years of experience advancing STEM talent, international outreach and professional development, Karen is a recognized leader—honored on Forbes' 50 Over 50 list for Innovation and known worldwide for her advocacy for women in engineering. Today, we'll hear more about Karen's leadership and her journey in manufacturing.

We're excited to welcome today's guest, Kathy Miller, Founder & CEO of MORE 4 Leaders, Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame inductee, and author of Steel Toes and Stilettos and MORE is Better. With decades of experience across aerospace and automotive, Kathy brings a unique blend of business expertise and positive psychology to leadership. Today, we'll hear more about Kathy's leadership and her journey in manufacturing.

Women in Manufacturing is proud to celebrate our milestone 50th episode with Wells Bullard, President and CEO of Bullard. Wells has built her career on listening closely to the men and women who rely on her team's products and pushing for innovation that genuinely supports the people doing the toughest jobs. Since stepping into the CEO role in 2017, Wells has led with a clear vision, a collaborative spirit, and a deep commitment to understanding Bullard's customers. Today we're going to explore her leadership journey, her philosophy on building meaningful products, and the impact she's making across the manufacturing world.  

Today's guest, Holly Paeper, is a passionate leader who serves as President for Commercial HVAC Americas at Trane Technologies. Since joining Trane Technologies in 2016, Holly has held executive roles as President of Life Science Solutions, General Manager for Data Center Precision Cooling, Head of Marketing and Head of Strategic Sales and Operations. Today, we'll hear more about Holly's leadership in HVAC and her journey in manufacturing, sustainability and mentorship.