From Panels to Post-its

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

Last January, I attended the Global Leadership Summit of the Wire Harness Manufacturer’s Association (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 conversation 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 minutes, our table filled with a very interesting mix: three U.S.-based wire harness companies; Jesus Duarte, president of UNMEXAR and director of ExpoWireTech; and the WireTech team.

To continue reading this article, which originally appeared in the April 2026 edition of SMT007 Magazine, click here.