Certain aspects relate to systems and methods to join leads of stator windings to components of an electric machine, such as a bus bar of a stator of the electric machine. Systems and methods include modifying a surface of the lead and laser welding the surface-modified lead to the bus bar. Systems and methods can include reducing the reflectivity of the lead by imparting a non-smooth surface on the lead, thereby allowing a laser to deliver concentrated energy onto the lead. The surface-modified lead can include knurled surface, a pattern of raised grooves stamped into the surface of the lead, or a roughened surface.