In this episode of the Think Factory’s Podcast, Leyla Sudbury, CEO of BSU Electronics, discusses her journey from engineering and consulting to leading a contract manufacturing business that produces electronic components for applications ranging from space exploration and deep-sea equipment to autonomous vehicles and robotics. Leila shares how she discovered that her passion was not necessarily designing products herself, but building companies and helping businesses reach their potential. She explains her approach to taking over an established company, emphasizing the importance of spending the first six months listening to employees, visiting customers, and understanding existing processes before making significant changes. Leila also discusses how BSU improved its quoting process by clarifying responsibilities, setting customer expectations, and introducing a custom AI agent that has helped double productivity. She explores the role of servant leadership, empowering technical experts, and balancing ambitious growth goals with manageable workloads to prevent employee burnout. As AI adoption accelerates, Leila emphasizes the importance of human accountability for AI-generated work and anticipates a growing role for robotics in manufacturing. Looking ahead, she shares her ambition to grow BSU into a business generating more than $100 million in revenue while becoming known for exceptional service and technical expertise. She also encourages young women to pursue engineering, highlighting how it combines technical problem-solving with human-centered work and provides a strong foundation for a wide range of career paths.
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