Industry Ignited Podcast
Industry Ignited is a platform for bold conversations with leaders who are transforming the way business gets done. Each episode spotlights breakthrough stories from the industrial, manufacturing, biotech, chemical, and B2B sectors, giving you an inside look at how top executives, innovators, and changemakers tackle real-world challenges and drive meaningful growth.
Hosted by Dr. Leeanne Aguilar—entrepreneur, executive coach, and marketing strategist—Industry Ignited goes beyond surface-level discussions to uncover the strategies, mindsets, and lessons that fuel leadership at the highest level. From navigating complex operations and scaling companies to rethinking culture and preparing for the future of work, every conversation is designed to inspire, challenge, and equip you with fresh perspectives.
Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or emerging leader, this podcast will spark ideas, expand your vision, and ignite the drive to lead with confidence in today’s evolving business landscape.
Industry Ignited Podcast
Reinventing Footwear Manufacturing in India: Chandan Manocha, CEO of Player Footwear | Ep. 52
In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Chandan Manocha, CEO of Player Footwear Company in Delhi, India, to explore how a third-generation manufacturer can be modernized through science, design thinking, and customer-first innovation. Taking over the business at just 19 during COVID, Chandan used the shutdown as a reset moment—revamping operations, shifting from traditional closed footwear into open footwear better suited to India’s hot, humid climate, and helping brands ride the post-COVID surge in fashionable sandals and slip-ons. Chandan explains how great footwear isn’t just style—it’s applied science. By designing from first principles, consulting doctors, conducting gait analysis, and discovering how common foot deformities and flat feet really are, Chandan built a process focused on comfort, posture, and “one product fits most,” while also evolving materials through gradual upcycling and higher natural-content blends. From wider Indian sizing needs to the emerging role of 3D printing and AI, this conversation highlights what it takes to shift culture, upgrade legacy manufacturing, and position Player Footwear for a future global breakthrough design.