Female Disruptor: Vicki Holt is making manufacturing digital

I had the pleasure of interviewing Vicki Holt, CEO of Protolabs, this week. This darling-of-Wall-Street company has been flipping manufacturing services on its ear, and causing some of the largest manufacturing companies to sit up and take note. In the traditional world of parts and prototypes, Vicki’s vision and leadership has created an all-digital manufacturing business model that is enabling companies to design, test and produce parts quickly, getting to market faster with smaller runs of more customized products. Her bold business moves boosted revenue by 160 percent in recent years, helping Protolabs crack the top 5 on Forbes’ list of America’s Best Small Companies not once, but twice.

What is your “backstory”?

I got a degree in chemistry from Duke and started working in the industrial sector in the late 1970s. I’ve never shied away from complicated technologies or industries and, to be honest, businesses that are challenging the status quo have always been of interest to me. I learned how to navigate business operations and look for opportunities to grow companies over time.

One of my earlier successes was at Solutia, where we accelerated growth for automotive windshield glass by moving into the sides, rear and top of the auto with solutions for safety and sound attenuation. Later, I…