From Engineer to Entrepreneur - Jeremiah Landi, CEO of Landi Industries
In this episode of Business Insider: Experts Edition, host Brian Marshall interviews Jeremiah Landi, CEO of Landi Industries, about his professional evolution from a technical consultant to a business founder. The conversation centers on the critical "mindset shift" required to move from solving engineering equations to solving business problems, emphasizing that a successful entrepreneur must prioritize the "why" (business case and ROI) over the "how" (technical mechanics). Landi explains that his firm succeeds by acting as a translator between complex engineering solutions and the financial goals of manufacturing executives, specifically by using data to prove how automation and process improvements reduce waste and labor costs. He concludes with practical advice for aspiring founders, urging them to fall in love with the industry's problems rather than their own ideas, seek out mentors for non-technical hurdles like legal and HR, and focus on building repeatable systems that allow a company to scale beyond the founder's individual expertise.
Podcast Script: From Engineer to Entrepreneur
Brian Marshall: Welcome back to Business Insider: Experts Edition. Today, we’re talking about a transition many people dream of but few actually execute: moving from a technical, high-level engineering role into the world of entrepreneurship. Joining us today is Jeremiah Landi, CEO of Landi Industries. Jeremiah, thanks for being here.
Jeremiah Landi: Thanks for having me, Brian. It’s a pleasure to be here and share the story.
Brian Marshall: Let’s start at the beginning. You spent years in the engineering world, specifically in consulting. What was that "lightbulb moment" where you realized that being an employee wasn't the final destination for you?
Jeremiah Landi: It really came down to seeing a gap in how projects were handled. As an engineer, you're focused on the "how"—the technical specifications, the math, the physics. But I started noticing that the "why"—the business case and the long-term ROI for the client—was often getting lost in the shuffle. I wanted to build something that prioritized both.
Brian Marshall: Transitioning from a technical mindset to a business mindset is a huge leap. What was the hardest part of putting on that "CEO hat" for the first time?
Jeremiah Landi: The biggest challenge was realizing that I couldn’t do everything myself anymore. As an engineer, you’re trained to be the subject matter expert. As a CEO, you have to be a leader of people. You have to learn to delegate, to sell, and to focus on the health of the company rather than just the mechanics of a single machine.
Brian Marshall: You talk a lot about ROI (Return on Investment). How does Landi Industries approach a new client who might be skeptical about the cost of high-level engineering?
Jeremiah Landi: We lead with the data. We don't just say, "We can build this for you." We say, "If we implement this system, here is how many man-hours you save, here is your reduction in waste, and here is exactly when this machine pays for itself." It turns a technical conversation into a financial one that any business owner can understand.
Brian Marshall: For the engineers listening right now who are sitting in a cubicle dreaming of starting their own firm, what is the one piece of advice you’d give them before they hand in their resignation?
Jeremiah Landi: Don’t just fall in love with your idea; fall in love with the problem you're solving. If you focus on the problem, you’ll always find a market. Also, find mentors. You don't know what you don't know about taxes, legalities, and HR.
Brian Marshall: That’s great advice. Jeremiah, where can people find you if they want to learn more about Landi Industries or connect with you directly?
Jeremiah Landi: The best place is LinkedIn—search for Jeremiah Landi. You can also reach out via email at jeremiah.landi@landiindustries.com. We’re always looking to help manufacturers optimize their processes.
Brian Marshall: Jeremiah, thanks for joining us and sharing your journey from the drawing board to the boardroom.
Jeremiah Landi: Thanks, Brian. Appreciate it.