Guiding Principles for Building the Future of Flight
One of the things I love about talking with people who are building the future is hearing how they turn imagination into execution. I had the pleasure of catching up with Dave Lyons, who joined Joby Aviation after a remarkable career including serving as Tesla's first Dir. of Eng., where he helped lay the groundwork for Tesla's powertrain technology.
A Work in Progress – Building Agility into Hardware Operations
During lunch with Orla Lacey, she shared insights on what it really takes to guide high tech hardware companies through the challenges of rapid growth and execution from a VP of Operations perspective.
Enhancing Supplier Collaboration (“Shifting Left”) to Thrive in a Time of Global Disruption
On a recent walk on West Cliff with Robert Shinno, a Sr. Enterprise Account Executive at Aras Corporation, he shared insights on how supplier collaboration is becoming a defining factor in product success. The need to “shift-left" , ie. engaging suppliers earlier in design and manufacturing is no longer optional.
AI Opportunities in Hardware Product Development and Operations
On a recent walk with Bob Machlin, Founder and Principal Consultant of GenAI Ignite, we discussed how AI is reshaping both operations and business growth for product development and manufacturing companies.
The Power of Planning Early to Reduce Program Risk Later
During a warm walk on West Cliff with Natan Saad-Lipshitz, Mike and Natan talked about his deep Technical Program Management experience, ranging from next-generation servers at Google to years leading Consumer Electronics programs at Amazon, Dell Technologies, and Microsoft.
The Magic of Metal 3D Printing
During a clear walk on West Cliff with Mark Sloan, VP of Manufacturing at Mantle, we explored how metal 3D printing is evolving from a prototyping tool into a production enabler for hardware-based products.
PRG Newsletter – December 2025
When it comes to deploying technology in the field, reliability isn’t optional—it’s essential. Gridware’s advanced grid monitoring sensors promised a new level of visibility for utilities, but to deliver on that promise, the company needed a solid foundation for testing, validation, and performance. PRG helped Gridware design the reliability strategy and infrastructure to ensure every device [...]
Strengthening Systems Cyber Security
During a sunny walk on West Cliff with Vish Iyer, we talked about how the battle for system security now starts the moment you press the power button.
Mexico’s Evolving Role in High‑Tech Hardware Supply Chains
During a recent walk on West Cliff with David Graham, the founder and CEO of PowerBeam Inc., a high-technology development company with offices in Mexico since 2014, we discussed Mexico's evolving role in high-tech hardware supply chains in light of current tariff dynamics.
The Evolving Dynamics of the “New Space” Industry
I recently enjoyed a windy walk on West Cliff with Danny Andreev, Founder & CEO, and Claire Ricketts, COO, of Sunburn Schematics, a local Santa Cruz engineering firm developing advanced electronics for harsh environments including space.
Product Development and the Evolving Role of AI
Last week, I had the pleasure of a rejuvenating walk on West Cliff with Dan Freeman, Director of Hardware Engineering at Universal Audio, and Daniel Bacon, Strategic Account Executive at Arena by PTC. We shared stories, insights, and perspectives on community, product development, and the evolving role of AI.
