The Pitch and The Catch

Leading Through the Energy Transition, One System at a Time | Dirk meets Andrew Dunn

In this episode, Dirk sits down with Andrew Dunn, Energy Solutions Director at FENECON USA, to explore how energy systems, leadership, and policy intersect as the world moves toward cleaner and more resilient power.  Andrew offers a grounded perspective on the energy transition, cutting through hype to explain how technology, regulation, infrastructure, and societal behavior must align for real progress to happen. The conversation highlights why long-term thinking and system responsibility matter more than ever in energy innovation.  Key takeaways include:  * What the energy transition really means beyond renewables, including policy, infrastructure, and societal change  * Where public perception diverges from the technical realities of modern energy systems  * Why leadership ownership and decision-making are critical in complex, long-cycle projects  * How cultural differences between Germany and the U.S. shape energy mindsets and adoption  * The rise of modular systems, microgrids, and decentralized energy solutions  * Why timing, reverse engineering, and system-level thinking determine success or failure  * How information gaps slow infrastructure development and distort public debate  * Where AI, market dynamics, and long-term planning could reshape future energy systems  This episode is for leaders, engineers, policymakers, and innovators working in energy, infrastructure, and sustainability. Listen to gain a clearer understanding of how resilient energy systems are built, why leadership decisions matter long after the headlines fade, and how today’s choices shape the power systems future generations will inherit.  Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partner... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbl9hOTU1eWZMWUNKX2RpRUpuOWNtZHFtV2RhUXxBQ3Jtc0tuQ1lPWXNrbXJpYmZhYVFCeFJTOHg0cUNqZUVYS1hkT3NmUHItemJRMkhxT1ptSmM3ZTlqUWlWc1Vfd3pvM0dHTXozQ3NzYm1BSmZYdnl3UFhzWDNtY0FqaEJXenl0YlFxTVp3OVU3RnZMZm5jckVrbw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fcalendly.com%2Fhorn-mab-partners%2F30min-tpatc-brief&v=SXiu-RIZy-Q] Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinni... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbXo4V1hDdVo1eWJrSmR0UzhRbE5pYlJjSlhNd3xBQ3Jtc0tuc2NZOXBNRzNYQmdPRWhmVkd0QnZlYjhQblhpQ3UzQ3JnOTZsNjJOakNhaWI3TVNCcHNZa0ZEbXBRQktDTnI0WnhaSnBfMHBsTWpLTWFfXzlUbjRCYlFaOGU2aG8wT2U0OWxEYndvNGJlSWJCVXF0TQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mab-partners.com%2Fthewinningbalance&v=SXiu-RIZy-Q] Stay connected with us here: Connect with Dirk:   / dirkhorn   [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa040UkdxcEVZcDBrYWI0VTBURG5aUG9YTmdDUXxBQ3Jtc0ttS2RFaXFEcmZDR0tRdm5Gak5OWUtvQ0Rxa3REX2Z3bklYWlNFZ0xTWGFuRFIwYWJCY3BRSFdqVVdoSWNIRy1xSGNrcktQd21Hb3VCcFlCWHU4SGVPMm9iMTJhMXhDd2hsZm5DWjVzOGxTRGhjMU9Rdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.linkedin.com%2Fin%2Fdirkhorn%2F&v=SXiu-RIZy-Q] Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa3M2VVE5VDdnRHJkNUEya3YxbFlGMVlZdHItQXxBQ3Jtc0ttX0NMdUVJOS1Ga0k0ay1YRXBSbWk1Zk1DOGhUYm9McTFBTWJmV2RvbnJtWi1OSEJ6SmNWOHRXb1pRLTdFSUJTbTB2WGQwQmJRbk1tTzFZdjdvUkd6TGFUOWZpYW1SOXI2UW5TNzdYNjlVTXhBNmpubw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mab-partners.com%2Ftpatc&v=SXiu-RIZy-Q] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchand... [https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVl0THp3b2QxZ0stMnFpZDgwMkV0SDVJM25Fd3xBQ3Jtc0tsb1hDVUd6OWVFbExBMlEzb1JiTHRHbXpSbmZVNldWTWJtd19EODNSZnF2Rk81VVd2ZnZmaHU1QWVfTHIxTnU1cXNYaFozUXI0ZENma05jeGtPbUIxVWJaTXNMMVgyX0ZlZG1fZ29FSndPbFZKa0Vfdw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fthepitchandthecatch%3Figsh%3DaGw2M3hqeThndHVr%26utm_sourc&v=SXiu-RIZy-Q]

The Leadership Test No One Trains You For | Dirk meets Andy Zaske

If you are stepping into a bigger role, leading through change, or wondering what truly defines leadership beyond strategy and numbers, this conversation is for you.  In this episode of The Pitch & The Catch, Dirk Horn sits down with Andy Zaske, Vice President of the Americas at BW Water, to unpack what leadership looks like when there is no playbook, no pause button, and no margin for comfort.  Andy stepped into his role during a period of operational pressure, organizational change, and high expectations. Within his first year, he navigated team turnover, rebuilt confidence, opened new markets, and doubled the business, all while keeping day-to-day operations running. He describes the experience as “changing the tires on the car while driving 70 miles an hour.”  Starting his career as an engineer before moving into sales and eventually full P&L ownership, Andy shares what surprised him most about becoming accountable for the entire business. Not the numbers, but the people. Trust, belief, energy, and culture quickly became as critical as cash flow, execution, and strategy.  This conversation goes deep into:  * What shifts when you stop being the expert and start leading through others  * How to build trust without micromanagement, especially in remote and hybrid teams  * Why culture is not a soft topic, but a business lever  * How confidence, transparency, and cadence stabilize a growing organization  * What it means to “own the customer” in a global, project-driven business  * Why leadership is as much about energy as it is about decisions  From water treatment and industrial projects to people decisions and personal leadership growth, this episode offers a rare, honest look at what it takes to lead when the business is still moving, the pressure is real, and the answers are not obvious.  Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief [https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief] Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance [https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance] Stay connected with us here: Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/]  Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc [https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc [https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc]

Engineering Trust at Scale | Dirk meets Bhadresh Sutaria

In this episode, host Dirk Horn sits down with Bhadresh Sutaria, President of AMSOIL INC., to explore how AMSOIL differentiates itself in the highly competitive lubricants industry through innovation, values, and a deep commitment to customer relationships.  The conversation traces AMSOIL’s evolution from pioneering synthetic motor oil in 1972 to becoming a global industrial player, and examines how leadership, culture, and disciplined execution shape long-term performance.  Key takeaways include:  * How AMSOIL’s founder, a U.S. Air Force fighter pilot, embedded discipline, quality, and purpose into the company’s DNA  * Why customer experience, digital tools, and personalized service are central to AMSOIL’s competitive edge  * How culture, values, and hiring decisions sustain quality in remote and hybrid environments  * The role of strategic management systems, including Hoshin Kanri, in driving focus and execution  * Where AMSOIL sees future growth across industrial markets, automation, and advanced solutions  This episode is for leaders and operators in manufacturing, industrial services, and B2B markets who want to understand how values-driven leadership, technical excellence, and long-term thinking create durable advantage in a commodity-driven industry.  Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief [https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief] Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance [https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance] Stay connected with us here: Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/] Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc [https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc [https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc]

Keeping It Chill When Reliability Is Everything | Dirk meets Jim VanderGiessen

In this episode, Dirk sits down with Jim VanderGiessen, CEO of Pro Refrigeration, to explore how industrial cooling systems power modern dairy farms, breweries, wineries, and food production facilities where reliability is critical.  Jim shares how customer partnerships, hands-on engineering, and decades of learning shaped Pro Refrigeration into a trusted player across food and beverage manufacturing. They discuss the future of industrial refrigeration, including CO₂ systems, regulatory pressure, and the emerging role of AI in engineering and diagnostics.  Key takeaways include:  * Why CO₂ refrigeration is becoming the standard in industrial cooling  * How customer collaboration drives innovation in safety-critical environments  * What leadership looks like inside engineering-driven manufacturing companies  * Where AI adds real value in product development and operations  This episode is for leaders, engineers, and operators in manufacturing and food & beverage looking to understand how technical excellence, long-term thinking, and disciplined leadership create sustainable growth. Listen for practical insights you can apply in complex industrial environments.  Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief [https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief] Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance [https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance] Stay connected with us here: Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/] Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc [https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc [https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc]

The Marine, the Farmer, and the Fight for California's Water | Dirk meets William Bourdeau

Today, Dirk sits down with William Bourdeau, a Marine Corps veteran, entrepreneur, and California farmer operating at the center of the state’s water and food-security challenges.  William shares how water supply decisions shape the future of farming, why domestic food security is a leadership issue, and how discipline, community, and long-term thinking guide his work across agriculture, policy, and business.  In this episode, they explore:  * Why water infrastructure is as much a leadership challenge as a political one  * How farming, community stability, and national resilience are deeply connected  * The role of discipline and systems thinking in high-risk, long-cycle businesses  * Why innovation, from data to irrigation, matters in traditional industries  * And why pistachios may be one of the most underrated superfoods  This is a conversation about leadership under constraint, resilience in complex systems, and what it really takes to build something that lasts when short-term thinking dominates the system around you.  Interested in joining the conversation? Talk to us: https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief [https://calendly.com/horn-mab-partners/30min-tpatc-brief]  Check out The Winning Balance: https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance [https://www.mab-partners.com/thewinningbalance]  Stay connected with us here:   Connect with Dirk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dirkhorn/]  Website: https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc [https://www.mab-partners.com/tpatc]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc [https://www.instagram.com/thepitchandthecatch?igsh=aGw2M3hqeThndHVr&utm_sourc]