Optimistic Outlook
On the Optimistic Outlook, Barbara Humpton, CEO of Siemens USA, engages listeners with discussions on the future of essential fields such as energy, manufacturing, and transportation. She not only examines tough problems, but also offers solutions based on readily available technologies. Barbara’s visionary perspective is designed to spark bold thinking among listeners, urging them to innovate towards a sustainable and eco-friendly future.
- Update frequency
- every 15 days
- Average duration
- 23 minutes
- Episodes
- 96
- Years Active
- 2020 - 2025
Part 1: The technology to reopen education
In this series, Barbara looks at what it takes to bring back in-person learning across schools, colleges and universities. In Part 1, Molloy College President Dr. James Lentini joins the podcast alon…
Moving even faster to the cloud
In 2020, the pandemic accelerated the adoption of new cloud technologies. Where do we go from here? Stephen Orban, General Manager, Amazon Web Services (AWS) Data Exchange, joins Barbara to discuss t…
How do we reopen America?
As vaccines shine a bright light through the darkest days of the pandemic, Barbara shares her thoughts on how we can begin the work of reopening America and building a more resilient future. Listener…
Keep Moving: An interview with Maggie Smith
Can we learn to be optimists? Maggie Smith wrote her best-selling book of quotes and essays, “Keep Moving,” to move forward through the grief, anger, and uncertainty of divorce. For Barbara’s final e…
The infrastructure cities need
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock joins Barbara to discuss a U.S. Conference of Mayors survey examining mayoral infrastructure priorities in facing an unprecedented health, economic and societal crisis du…
Why we shouldn’t be afraid of crisis
This unprecedented healthcare, economic and societal crisis won’t be the last; the future promises an exponential increase in unpredictable threats. Peter Willis, who led the recent Resilient Leaders…
How will we move in 2045?
Transportation is often described as the backbone of America’s economy. Looking towards the future, former U.S. Transportation Secretary and Lyft Chief Policy Officer Anthony Foxx shares his views on…
Looking Back at United for Infrastructure 2020
United for Infrastructure is a nonpartisan organization that brings together businesses, workers, elected leaders and citizens to advocate for the renewal of America’s infrastructure. CEO and Co-Foun…
How to reinvent the power grid
Sustainability, consumer choices and pure economics are all coming together to support a renewable future. But first we need to bring this energy onto the power grid. To learn how, Barbara talks to S…
Leading a resilience shift
Resilience. In the wake of today’s crises, we now hear it all the time. But what it does really mean, and what will be the benefits of having more resilient infrastructure? To answer that question, B…
The next big thing for America’s infrastructure
One of the biggest trends impacting infrastructure actually started in the consumer world: a Fourth Industrial Revolution. Elise Neel, Vice President of New Business Incubation at Verizon, joins Barb…
How do we scale electric mobility?
A rare upside to a global pandemic? Less driving helped to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. Vic Shao, CEO, Amply Power, outlines how we can continue to accelerate climate action even …
Can indoor spaces adapt to COVID-19?
A big challenge in co-existing with the COVID-19 pandemic is understanding how to create safe indoor spaces. Scott Rechler, CEO of New York City-based RxR Realty, shares technology solutions being us…
The factory of the future
As U.S. manufacturers help the country respond to COVID-19, Jay Timmons, President and CEO, National Association of Manufacturers, joins the show to share lessons learned and why the digital transfor…
A connected world we can trust
In using data to bring infrastructure online, cybersecurity conversations tend to focus on everything going wrong. With Laura Bate, a director of cyber engagement at the U.S. Cyberspace Solarium Comm…
Introducing The Optimistic Outlook Podcast
Previewing the show, Siemens USA CEO Barbara Humpton shares her goals for the podcast and what makes her an optimist even amid a healthcare, economic and societal crisis. This series, she says, will …