I-Connect007 Editor’s Choice: Five Must-Reads for the Week

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Today is Friday the 13th, and in much of Western folklore, this is a day when bad luck is lurking. But while Friday the 13th may top Western superstition charts, the global calendar is sprinkled with its own unlucky legends.

In Spain and Greece, the bad juju lands on Tuesday the 13th—a day linked to Mars, the god of war, and naturally, chaos. In Italy, it’s Friday the 17th that is feared, thanks to the Roman numeral XVII, which can be rearranged to spell VIXI—Latin for “I have lived” (a poetic way of saying you’re dead). Head to Japan or China, and numbers steal the spotlight with the number 4 avoided like a black cat—the phonetic pronunciation of the character sounds ominously like “death.” (There is no fourth floor in buildings in China. Sound familiar?) Whatever your culture, belief, or tradition, I would say that Friday the 13th is superstition's greatest marketing success. So today, proceed with caution, embrace the weird, or ignore it altogether. 

Whatever you choose, here’s this week’s top five must-read items. Dan Beaulieu talks about telling stories. Tom Kastner highlights 10 characteristics of great leaders. Prashant Patel emphasizes the importance of investing in R&D and emerging technologies to remain relevant and be successful. The Fifth European Defence & Security Summit in Belgium wrapped this week, and Phil Stoten recounts highlights from IPC’s Made in Europe IPC podcast on that state of Europe’s defense industry. Finally, Bert Horner talks DFT, something which is becoming ever more challenging and important.

It’s Only Common Sense: The Power of Storytelling in Sales
Published June 9

Yes, everyone has—and loves—a story. In his weekly column, Dan Beaulieu discusses the power of storytelling. “In sales, few tools are as powerful as storytelling. While data, metrics, and features may appeal to the logical mind, stories can connect on an emotional level.” As I am looking (already) toward the July issue of PCB007 Magazine, I am paying particular attention to immutable sales truths, and this is one. “Storytelling is a bridge that connects you to your customers on a deeper level.” So, what’s your company’s story? (And are you telling it, or letting someone else do it?) 

Facing the Future: Investing in R&D to Stay Competitive
Published June 10

“Continuous improvement, a firm commitment to R&D, and a proactive approach to emerging technologies” is what Prashant Patel of Alpha Circuit talks about in his column this month. This falls under “absolute business truths,” which is why I chose it. Though acknowledging that the PCB industry has been the backbone of modern electronics for decades, companies are doomed to eventual failure if they don’t keep an eye toward R&D and continuous development into new technologies. Balancing innovation with production efficiency has never been easy, but it is more necessary than ever to get it right. Read on to learn more about how you might approach this significant business challenge.

Punching Out: Characteristics of Successful Leaders in North American PCB and EMS Sectors
Published June 11

Leadership matters, something Tom Kastner talks about in his latest installment of “Punching Out.” Outlining 10 things that successful leaders in the PCB and EMS sectors tend to possess, this quick read is a great reminder, and I found it inspirational. My favorite characteristics: energy/ positive attitude and calculated risk taking. As Tom says with his characteristic style, “These successful leaders appear as though they drink a double espresso with two shots of positivity every morning.” Yes, sirree. 

Europe's Defense Industrial Awakening: From Strategy to Battlefield Innovation
Published June 10

The European Union’s European Defense & Security Summit 2025 took place in Brussels, Belgium, this past week. We will learn more about in the coming weeks, but what we know for sure is that the defense industry in Europe is challenged and under the gun (pardon the expression) to do more and to do so quickly. In Phil Stoten’s interview “Europe’s Defense Industrial Awakening,” from IPC’s Made in Europe podcast series, EMS leaders Peter Nielsen and Hans-Peter Thomassen of Kitron Group are getting real about the situation in which Europe finds itself and what must be done, sooner rather than later. Citing the contrast in realities of things like the time it will take to build the needed capacity for its defense needs, with the “new mathematics” of modern warfare and the very fast consumption of weapons in modern warfare, this is a solid overview of where Europe finds itself at a critical time. I recommend. 

Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Test: A Conversation with Bert Horner
Published June 11

Bert Horner is passionate about design for test (DFT). This is a good thing because as designs get denser, test and metrology become more challenging, which is why my final pick of the week is Barry Matties’ conversation with Bruce. Continuing a business begun by his father 45 years ago, Bert was literally raised in this industry. As co-founder of The Test Connection and now, The Training Connection, Bert explains how listening to customers and striving to fill glaring need gaps has led to more collaboration and new solutions.