Peggy Smedley

A close look at how far we have come, the state of manufacturing in 2024, and where we are headed in the future.

A look at what's coming for Infrastructure in 2024, examining The National Infrastructure Project Assistance (Mega) grant program and The INFRA (Infrastructure for Rebuilding America) grant program.

John Reed, global solutions leader, manufacturing & mobility industries, Microsoft, and Peggy Smedley talk about key takeaways from CES 2024 and the digital cockpit. He says overall it was a great event, particularly in automotive, and the headline is AI (artificial intelligence). He also shares Microsoft’s key focus areas.

As new workers and new technologies come to fruition such as generative AI (artificial intelligence), ChatGPT, metaverse, AR (augmented reality), VR (virtual reality), and more, we must consider how we live, work, and play with this new technology in new and exciting ways.

Peggy Smedley and Pamela Evette, lieutenant governor of South Carolina, continue their discussion around the future of work and how to reskill and upskill the worker of tomorrow. She says what businesses are calling for is soft skills.

Peggy provides a fuller picture of who the worker of tomorrow will be, narrowing in on the construction industry. She says the challenges we face in construction mirror many of the challenges we face in other industries like manufacturing and energy, just to name a few.

With the rise of generative AI (artificial intelligence), many businesses are looking to generate a better understanding of how this specific technology could fit within a business context. Here I explore one specific case study for generative AI that is already underway.

Peggy and Pamela Evette, lieutenant governor of South Carolina, talk about if we need to train our workers differently. She says we have been doing that little by little with STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) and now we know we have to get our kids more engaged with technology.

Consider these best practices for capitalizing on the promise of 5G for cloud and edge computing.

While sustainable living strategies might vary some geographically, commonalities exist in residential building practices. From heating and cooling to windows, doors, insulation, fixtures, and new materials, creating a sustainable home is totally possible—no matter your locale.

Consumers are becoming increasingly savvy about purchasing products that are made with sustainability in mind. Younger generations, in particular, now demand more sustainable products. This has put pressure on companies to use resources in ways that take into account the best interests of future generations.

But another trend is emerging as well. Consumers are transitioning from the traditional model of owning everything to a “circular economy” where commodities are more often shared.

Consumers are becoming increasingly savvy about purchasing products that are made with sustainability in mind. Younger generations, in particular, now demand more sustainable products. This has put pressure on companies to use resources in ways that take into account the best interests of future generations.

But another trend is emerging as well. Consumers are transitioning from the traditional model of owning everything to a “circular economy” where commodities are more often shared.

Uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has plagued businesses around the globe — particularly those in the supply chain community — accentuating weaknesses never seen before. However, if considered from a different perspective, it has given rise to opportunities for these same companies to shine like beacons in the night.

When the pandemic first hit, supply chains were disrupted — so much so that an everyday consumer quickly understood what the supply chain was and how it might… Show more

Uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has plagued businesses around the globe — particularly those in the supply chain community — accentuating weaknesses never seen before. However, if considered from a different perspective, it has given rise to opportunities for these same companies to shine like beacons in the night.

When the pandemic first hit, supply chains were disrupted — so much so that an everyday consumer quickly understood what the supply chain was and how it might impact being able to access goods in a timely manner. Show less

The conveniences we enjoy from living in a disposable society have led to our single-use throwaway culture. The linear take-make-waste economy, where we see material flow directly from resources extraction through manufacturing processes to landfills and our oceans must be reformed.

Environmentalists and individuals are sounding the alarm, postulating that if we continue at the rate that we’re going, plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish. Industry and governments are beginning to see… Show more

The conveniences we enjoy from living in a disposable society have led to our single-use throwaway culture. The linear take-make-waste economy, where we see material flow directly from resources extraction through manufacturing processes to landfills and our oceans must be reformed.

Environmentalists and individuals are sounding the alarm, postulating that if we continue at the rate that we’re going, plastic in the ocean will outweigh fish. Industry and governments are beginning to see that more exploitation isn’t the answer. We are within a decade of pure carbon collapse, yet the trend in resource extraction and greenhouse gas emissions still flows in the wrong direction. Show less

Companies have a unique chance to improve CSR policies and boost efforts toward fostering sustainability, alleviating causes of climate change, promoting resiliency, adopting the circular economy and more.

Three key strategies for conducting business in a way that’s both profitable and sustainable.

We are depleting our natural resources in an all-out-effort to enjoy our modern comforts. But our single-use throwaway culture isn’t sustainable. We need to find a solution. Can technology be the great enabler as we imagine and engineer the solutions to the planet’s challenges?


To answer this question, we first must understand the metrics for measuring initiatives to improve sustainability. Some answers can be found in the way that smart companies are mastering technology such as AI… Show more

We are depleting our natural resources in an all-out-effort to enjoy our modern comforts. But our single-use throwaway culture isn’t sustainable. We need to find a solution. Can technology be the great enabler as we imagine and engineer the solutions to the planet’s challenges?


To answer this question, we first must understand the metrics for measuring initiatives to improve sustainability. Some answers can be found in the way that smart companies are mastering technology such as AI (artificial intelligence), digital twin, the IoT (Internet of Things), and more, to create new solutions that leverage product design and expanded infrastructure for the ecosystem. Show less

We are seeing a confluence of forces directing humankind to consider ecosystems, sustainability, carbon reduction, climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, and deforestation. But perhaps one of the biggest reasons that a circular economy is gaining momentum is because it is just good business.

One Family's True Life Adventure in the Global Economy

Ms. Smedley finds buying American a tough task; foiled by Monopoly dice.