Todd Smith | There's Private Equity and There's Private Equity

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44:59

In this episode, Jim Mayer interviews Todd Smith, CFO of AMFT, who shares his unconventional journey from banking and law to manufacturing leadership. They discuss company culture, private equity, industry misconceptions, and the future of manufacturing, emphasizing the importance of trust, technology, and investment in people.

Key Topics

Todd Smith's career journey from law to manufacturing
The importance of a say-do ratio in company culture
Private equity's impact on manufacturing companies
The future of localized regional manufacturing
Investing in skills and technology for industry resilience

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Jim Mayer and the Manufacturing Culture Podcast
01:02 Introducing Todd Smith, CFO of AMFT
02:25 Todd's movie genre and opening scene analogy
04:26 Defining company culture: say-do ratio and accountability
07:04 Todd's early life in Australia and career aspirations
09:02 Transition from law and banking to manufacturing
11:41 Overview of AMFT and private equity involvement
12:28 Private equity's influence on manufacturing and employee perceptions
15:22 Todd's role in private equity acquisitions and company growth
18:35 Building trust with long-term employees
20:39 The importance of pride and culture on the manufacturing floor
35:04 The future of manufacturing: automation, localization, and innovation
38:09 Addressing misconceptions about manufacturing industry
39:06 Investing in people and skills development in manufacturing
42:25 Jim's closing thoughts and episode wrap-up

Resources

Todd Smith's LinkedIn - Todd Smith | LinkedIn

AMFT Official Website - https://amft.com