In this edition of This Week in Business History, Kelly Barner remembers key innovations, inventions, and firsts that took place between September 13th and the 17th. In our main story, she shares the life story of the man who fixed Thomas Edison’s lightbulb, drew Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone into reality, and made a real and lasting mark on his community. We’ll also hear about the release of Super Mario Bros., find out why the founder of General Motors hated cars, and wish a happy birthday to Agatha Christie and Wendy Thomas.
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AI
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June 5, 2024
The Future of Manufacturing: AI and Sustainability at Georgia-Pacific
This episode of Supply Chain Now dives into how Georgia-Pacific, a nearly 100-year-old company, embraces digital transformation. Listen in as hosts Scott Luton and Kevin L. Jackson welcome Roshan Shah, VP of Applied AI and Products at Georgia-Pacific, to discuss how they use machine learning and artificial intelligence to improve decision-making, reduce waste, and make their operations more sustainable. Join us for this captivating conversation as Scott, Kevin, and Roshan highlight the importance of human-AI collaboration, how technology can empower people, not replace them, and also share valuable insights on leadership and navigating change management within a large organization.
leadership
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March 10, 2026
Aim High – From Airman to Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force: The Journey of JoAnne Bass
Nobody trains and educates better than the military. That belief, shaped by decades of service and leadership, continues to guide how she develops people and advises organizations today. In this episode of the Tango Tango podcast, host Lloyd Knight speaks with retired Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force JoAnne Bass, the first woman to serve as the senior enlisted leader of a United States military service. An Army brat who grew up moving around the world, from Illinois to Germany to Hawaii, Bass reflects on her early years, including getting into trouble as a teenager and joining the Air Force in 1993, looking for direction and discipline. They discuss her journey from aviation management in the operations world to senior enlisted leadership at Ramstein, Goodfellow, the Pentagon, and Second Air Force. Bass shares lessons on mentorship, resilience, and learning to take care of herself after experiencing burnout. She also speaks candidly about becoming Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force during a time of global uncertainty, navigating public scrutiny, addressing suicide and people policy reform, and leading through the challenges of the digital age. Now in her next chapter, she continues to focus on national security, leadership development, and…