Episode 125
How a CEO Learned to Lead With Trust, Flexibility, and Curiosity
What Family Business Leadership Teaches About Growth and Resilience
Join host Sannah Vinding for this episode with Amy Anahory, CEO at MicroPower Direct. Amy didn’t set out to run a power electronics company, but nearly two decades after joining her father’s business she is leading it through disruption, growth, and change. Her biggest lessons didn’t come from technical knowledge. They came from leadership, learning to trust her team, admit what she doesn’t know, and push herself outside her comfort zone.
In this conversation, you’ll hear:
- The Family Business Journey: How Amy stepped into leadership and modernized a company while honoring its roots.
- Leading Lean Teams: Why trust, communication, and flexibility are essential for small, close-knit teams.
- The Strength in Not Knowing: How admitting what you don’t know builds credibility and stronger leadership.
- Growing Outside the Comfort Zone: Why pushing herself into networking, events, and uncomfortable spaces is making her a better leader.
If you want real-world lessons on leadership, culture, and balancing business with personal growth, Amy’s story is filled with insights you can use right away.
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“You have to keep being curious and keep taking risks, even when it’s uncomfortable. That’s how you grow as a leader and make your team stronger.”
Key takeaways
The Strength in Not Knowing
Leaders don’t need to have all the answers. Admitting when you don’t know something and reaching out for help shows confidence, builds credibility, and strengthens team trust.
Flexibility Fuels Lean Teams
Small teams thrive when everyone is willing to step in, adapt, and support each other. Flexibility keeps the company moving and creates a culture where every role feels valued.
Growth Happens Outside the Comfort Zone
Real leadership growth begins when you push yourself into unfamiliar spaces. Networking, new challenges, and uncomfortable situations expand perspective and make leaders more effective.
“Leadership isn’t always about responding to every challenge or comment. Sometimes it’s about knowing when to let something go, so you can stay focused on what really matters and lead with clarity.”
“Don’t pretend that you know everything, because you don’t. It’s not a weakness to say you don’t know the answer. Admitting that and reaching out for help is a strength.”
Show Notes
In this episode of the Leadership in Manufacturing podcast, host Sannah Vinding sits down with Amy Anahory, CEO at MicroPower Direct, to explore her journey leading a family-founded electronics company through growth, disruption, and change.
Amy shares how stepping into her father’s business nearly two decades ago shaped her leadership style and why honesty, flexibility, and curiosity have been the keys to building a resilient culture. From running a lean team to balancing family dynamics with business decisions, her story highlights the lessons every leader can apply.
The conversation dives into what it takes to lead with trust, how to communicate openly during uncertainty, and why admitting what you don’t know can actually strengthen your leadership. Amy also talks about the importance of stepping outside her comfort zone and pushing herself to grow as a leader.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How family business leadership teaches resilience and adaptability
- Why trust and flexibility are essential for leading lean teams
- What makes admitting “I don’t know” a sign of strong leadership
- How curiosity fuels growth and innovation
- Why leaders must step outside their comfort zone to keep evolving
This episode is packed with practical insights for anyone in electronics, manufacturing, or business leadership who wants to build stronger teams and lead with authenticity.
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Guest
Amy Anahory
CEO at MicroPower Direct
Amy Anahory is the CEO and owner of MicroPower Direct (MPD), a WOSB-certified provider of AC/DC power supplies, DC/DC converters, and switching regulators serving engineers and OEMs worldwide. Since joining MPD in 2007, she has modernized the company’s product portfolio to 5,000+ models, expanded global distribution and rep networks, and strengthened MPD’s reputation for responsive, engineer-first support.
Amy’s path to power electronics began with a foundation in business and operations: she holds an MBA in Marketing from Boston College’s Carroll School of Management and started her career in strategic sourcing at Staples and Stop & Shop. Inspired by her father, who founded MPD in 1999, she learned the business from the ground up before taking the helm, guiding the company through supply chain disruptions and evolving market demands while sustaining a personal, relationship-driven culture.
Passionate about practical solutions and long-term partnerships, Amy works closely with customers across medical devices, aerospace, energy, industrial automation, and transportation.
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