Leading Digital Change: Why Initiatives Fail and What Successful Leaders Do Differently

Digital transformation is no longer about chasing technology trends — it’s about delivering measurable operational results. Yet many manufacturing organizations still struggle with stalled pilots, disconnected systems, and initiatives that never scale. Join us for an Industry 4.0 Club Fireside Chat: “Leading Digital Change: Why Initiatives Fail and What Successful Leaders Do Differently” Our guest is Mark Besser, a manufacturing and smart manufacturing leader with 40 years of experience helping organizations align strategy, operations, and technology to drive real business impact. Mark has led smart manufacturing initiatives with hands-on experience deploying ERP, MES, Industrial IoT, analytics, and AI. Mark will be joined by Industry 4.0 Club hosts Mike Yost, Chairman, and Mike Ungar, CEO. During this conversation, we’ll discuss: • The most common reasons digital initiatives fail • Why many organizations get stuck in “pilot mode” • How leaders can cut through technology hype and focus on operational priorities • The leadership and cultural behaviors that sustain transformation success • Practical advice for implementing AI without overwhelming the organization If you are involved in manufacturing leadership, operations, engineering, digital transformation, or Industry 4.0 strategy, this discussion will provide practical insights you can apply immediately.