Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1544155
64 SMT007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2026 From Panels to Post-its Last January, I attended the Global Leadership Summit of the Wire Harness Manufacturer's Associ- ation (WHMA) in Las Vegas, and there was a subtle shift in one of the events that everyone could feel. We still had the traditional conference rhythm: strong keynote, well-prepared panels, and smart people in the room. There were also, sometimes, some careful answers—useful, but not always candid. So, I was curious when WHMA introduced a new peer-to-peer format for one session. The concept was simple but very intentional: Move the conversa- tion away from the stage and put the microphone in the hands of the participants. I thought the setup was refreshingly low-tech. It included a welcoming whiteboard full of colored Post-it notes and markers, with an implicit open invitation for attendees to organize themselves into groups around the topics people actually wanted to discuss. There were no slides, panel tables, or safe scripts. It was just leaders choosing where to sit and what to talk about. When I walked into the room, I had no hesitation. I walked straight to the Post-it notes, picked out a blue one, and wrote: Mexico-U.S. wire harness supply chain resiliency. I tacked it up on the whiteboard, and within F E AT U R E A RT I C L E BY LO R E N A V I L L A N U E VA , G LO BA L E L ECT RO N I C S AS S O C I AT I O N M E X I C O Mexico-U.S. supply chain resiliency