Automation, Robotics, and Industry Collaboration

Empowering Industry Podcast - A Production of Empowering Pumps & Equipment

Exciting week as Charli goes international with Julia and Franziska of Rethink Robotics!

Julia Astrid Riemenschneider, CEO of Rethink Robotics, started her professional career in the tourism industry, where she served six years in various sales, marketing, and product management roles. While working on her master’s degree in sales management, she switched to the world of automation and manufacturing. As a project manager at advacon, a consulting firm focused on small and medium-sized industrial companies, Riemenschneider was mentored by former managers from Rittal, which increased her expertise in business development. A consulting project for a leading company in sensor technology brought her to the United States, where she learned market-specific management and sales strategies. In later roles at a German-based vision system company, she was introduced to new technologies and the deeper integration of manufacturing processes. In 2019 Riemenschneider joined Universal Robots as the channel manager and later channel program manager. In these roles she worked with partners in Western Europe and developed new strategies for the alignment of integrators and distributors. In 2022 Riemenschneider joined United Robotics Group (URG). In charge of business development, she established a team of strong managers and implemented various business units and segments to serve different industries. Since September 2024, Riemenschneider has overseen URG endeavors in North America. As CEO of URG Inc. and affiliated company Rethink Robotics, she leads a team to grow the businesses’ market presence and increase sales growth.

Riemenschneider’s LinkedIn

Rethink Robotics LinkedIn

Rethink Robotics website

Franziska Lorenz is COO of Rethink Robotics and United Robotics Americas, both U.S. entities of United Robotics Group. In 2017, Lorenz graduated from Wiesbaden Business School with master’s degree in international business administration. She spent a semester in Mexico and worked in Spain and Italy during her undergraduate and graduate education. Lorenz started her career as executive assistant to the CEO at Schenck Process Group. Then she spent two years as M&A and integration manager in the same company, responsible for international acquisition projects on both the buy and sell sides. Lorenz joined United Robotics Group, an ecosystem of robotics companies combining both social and industrial robotics, in 2021 as corporate development manager and compliance officer, responsible for strategic growth of the group while focusing on governance and compliance. Since 2024 she’s been a member of the group’s leadership team.

Franziska’s LinkedIn

Rethink Robotics LinkedIn

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