What You’ll Learn: In this two-parted episode, host Andy Olrich delves into Katie Anderson’s transformative Chain of Learning workshops in Australia. Tune in as they explore attendee expectations, workshop insights, captivating leadership themes, and profound reflections. About the Guest:  Katie Anderson is an internationally recognized leadership consultant, coach, professional speaker, and learning enthusiast, dedicated to helping purpose-driven leaders create cultures of learning and accelerate individual and organizational impact.  A skilled change agent and coach, Katie has supp ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss Kanban not just as a method, but as a choreography of productivity, transforming the manufacturing landscape into a finely tuned performance of excellence. Amidst this dance of efficiency, some voice the question: does Kanban suck? About the Guest:   Steve Ansuini is the dynamic owner of the Center for Employee Development, LLC (C4ED), founded in 2007. Specializing in Lean Manufacturing, Transactional Lean, Health Care Lean, Maintenance, and Soft-Skills training, he has collaborated with Fortune 100 ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald discuss the common mistakes emerging leaders often encounter. It's a conversation that highlights the transformative power of errors, turning them into stepping stones for future leadership excellence. About the Guest:   Phil Ranck, a retired 24-year United States Army veteran from Pennsylvania, excels in Lean Six Sigma methodologies, holding certifications such as Certified Department of the Army Master Black Belt and accreditations from IASSC, ASQ, and CSSC. With a background in Military Management and p ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich discuss coaching and personal growth, highlighting the importance of iterations and experimentation in learning, emphasizing the need to focus on others rather than oneself in coaching practices.  Everyone, regardless of position or expertise, shares common struggles and the importance of normalizing vulnerability and seeking support within professional communities is essential to success. About the Guest:   Sam Morgan is a self-proclaimed “confident learner.” After spending the past five years of work in th ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss lean methodology and its promise of efficiency and productivity improvement.  The sentiment towards Lean isn't always positive, especially when implementation goes awry. While Lean has proven to be a transformative approach for many organizations, it requires meticulous execution and a deep understanding of its principles.  About the Guest:   Maria Makrygianni is a seasoned Process Improvement Expert with 22 years of experience as an Airforce Officer (Captain) in aviation maintenance. Sh ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald discuss a common problem in organizations which leads to misguided initiatives and wasted resources: fake lean people. Fake lean individuals falsely claim to adhere to lean principles, adopting superficial aspects without a genuine commitment to continuous improvement. On the other hand, real lean individuals actively embrace and implement lean methodologies, fostering a culture of efficiency, waste reduction, and continuous improvement that contributes to the organization's success. About the Guest:  With 30 y ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich discuss a culture that values open communication, employee empowerment, and a commitment to learning enables teams to leverage tools effectively and adapt to evolving challenges. The true strength of an organization lies in its cultural foundation – a vibrant lean culture that embraces collaboration, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of improvement. A culture that values open communication, employee empowerment, and a commitment to learning enables teams to leverage tools effectively and adapt to evolving challenges. Ab ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss The Wheel of Sustainability – a transformative framework to enhance your leadership commitment and empower teams for enduring success, as well as ideal leadership development, its impact on profitability, organizational support structures, and strategies for sustaining leader empowerment. About the Guest:  The creator of “The Wheel of Sustainability,” Adam Lawrence is an industry expert, speaker, and author who directly works with and empowers teams to sustainably solve critical business problems. Adam c ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Catherine McDonald explore the slow adoption of Lean principles in small businesses, highlighting the challenges in learning Lean and coaching these principles.  The emphasis on hands-on learning and the effectiveness of the KATA approach suggest that its practical skill set makes it stand out among various Lean methodologies, prompting a discussion on why it isn't more widely promoted by leaders in the Lean space. About the Guest:  Don Watza, a highly experienced and passionate problem-solver with a BS in business operations ..read more

What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Andy Olrich and Patrick Adams discuss embracing and celebrating failures, encouraging a mindset shift from a fear of failure to an embrace of experimentation and innovation.  Celebrating failures in Lean promotes transparency, collaboration, and a shared commitment to organizational learning, ultimately leading to more resilient and adaptive teams capable of achieving sustainable success.  About the Guest:  Mark Graban, author of "The Mistakes That Make Us," is a renowned speaker and consultant. His other notable works include the award ..read more