The latest episode of The Leaders’ Room features Brenda Barrett, global head of customer logistics management and managing director Infineon Ireland. This series is created in partnership with IDA Ireland.
In season three of The Leaders’ Room podcast, we once again get the backstories of the leaders of some of Ireland’s most influential multinationals in tech, life sciences and innovation, as well as insights into their leadership styles and industry trends they see coming down the line.
In this episode, we spoke to Brenda Barrett, who leads Infineon in Ireland, and is global head of customer logistics management, about the challenges of managing the supply chain for the German chipmaking giant in an uncertain world, and about how she leads her team to ensure resilience and excellence.
Infineon is the largest manufacturer of semiconductors in Europe, the electronic components that are essential to phones, laptops, credit cards and, of course, cars – automotive is a major business vertical for Infineon.
Infineon has more than 58,000 employees worldwide, with three locations in Ireland, two in Dublin and one in Cork. Two of the sites are focused on R&D, and the other looks after global supply chains. With all the disruption experienced in the technology supply chain in recent years (the pandemic really brought their critical nature to the fore) Barrett speaks of how teams like hers adapt and build resilience in an ever more unpredictable market.
The always fast-moving tech sector has, if anything, seen the pace of change accelerate in recent years, and the need for the materials that power the sector – the semiconductors, the chips – only grows. And Barrett, who has global responsibility for supply chain at Infineon, talks of the challenges and how Infineon meets them. She emphasises the importance for leaders in her sector to really be in tune with what’s happening in each region, in each market, if Infineon is going to be able to react in real time.
When it comes to her customers’ speed, she says it has become ever more important. Brenda points out that really listening to her customers and bringing the information back into Infineon gives them a chance of predicting what their customers’ needs will be.
Listening too comes into how Brenda sees leadership. She says team members should be treated as equals – but not the same. She’s a believer in one-on-one time with key team members, and getting to understand them as individuals.
So whether it be what’s happening around the world, dealing with customers, dealing with colleagues, leading a fast-paced team – it all comes back to really listening, possibly one of the most important attributes a leader can have, or indeed cultivate.
We’re grateful to all our interviewees for taking the time to come into the studio and share their insights and their intelligence for season three of the podcast. And big thanks as ever to our partners IDA Ireland who have made this series possible.
The Leaders’ Room podcast is released fortnightly and can be found by searching for ‘The Leaders’ Room’ wherever you get your podcasts. For those who prefer their audio with visuals, filmed versions of the podcast interviews are all available here on SiliconRepublic.com.
Check out The Leaders’ Room podcast for in-depth insights from some of Ireland’s top leaders. Listen now on Spotify, on Apple or wherever you get your podcasts.