What You’ll Learn:

In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Catherine McDonald, and guest Cheryl Jekiel discuss the transition from using Lean as a collection of tools to embedding it into behavioral perspective. They emphasize the importance of behavioral change over tool implementation and highlight the need for clear vision, peer support, and top-down alignment to drive sustainable change.

About the Guest:

Cheryl Jekiel, Founder of the Lean Leadership Center, works with people-centric organizations that require the right people strategies and systems to achieve their business vision. Ms. Jekiel has developed expertise in optimizing lean manufacturing cultures while working with various organizations on their transformational journeys. Before opening the Lean Leadership Center, Ms. Jekiel held numerous senior leadership roles, including leading operations, human resources, and chief operating officer. As the author of “Lean Human Resources: Redesigning HR Practices for a Culture of Continuous Improvement”, Ms. Jekiel illuminates the role of HR in how organizations optimize people’s talents. Ms. Jekiel also has a best seller, “Let Go to Lead: Six Habits for Happier, More Independent Teams (With Less Stress and More Time for Yourself)”.

Links:

Click Here For Cheryl Jekiel LinkedIn

Click Here For Lean Leadership Center Website

What You’ll Learn:

In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Andy Olrich, and guest Steve Spear discuss the evolution of industry, emphasizing the importance of cultural shifts driven by Lean thinking. They interview Steve Spears, a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan, who highlights the role of innovation in organizational transformation.

About the Guest:

Steve Spear is a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan, founder of the software firm See to Solve, and author of Wiring the Winning Organization (with Gene Kim) and The High-Velocity Edge. His work, featured in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and The New York Times, focuses on solving complex organizational challenges through innovation, systems thinking, and technology.

Spear’s ideas have shaped product design at Pratt & Whitney, accelerated pharma development cycles, and optimized operations at firms like Intel, Alcoa, and DTE Energy. He has advised the U.S. Army’s Rapid Equipping Force and the Navy’s Chief of Naval Research, aiding in tech deployment and operational innovation.

Links:

Click Here For Steve Spear's LinkedIn

Click Here For "See to Solve" Website

What You’ll Learn:

In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald, Shayne Daughenbaugh, and guest Sam Yankelevitch discuss the importance of respectful delegation in leadership. They highlight the significance of clarity, accountability, and continuous coaching in delegation. Together, they elaborate on the "commitment conversation" framework, which includes defining tasks, acknowledging uncertainties, and regular follow-ups. They emphasize the need for leaders to shift from being intimidating task givers to supportive coaches.

About the Guest:

Sam Yankelevitch is the CEO of Xpress Lingo Solutions, a TEDx speaker, and corporate trainer focused on aligning people, processes, and communication to close performance gaps. An industrial engineer and former VP of global operations, he brings deep expertise in Lean, Quality, and problem-solving methodologies. Sam is a popular LinkedIn Learning instructor with over 750,000 learners and the author of several books, including Lean Potion #9, Walking the Invisible Gemba, and the fiction title An Interview with Failure. He lives in South Carolina with his wife and borrowed dog, and believes in lifelong learning and giving back.

Links:
Click Here For Sam Yankelevitch Website

Click Here For Sam Yankelevitch LinkedIn

Click Here For Sam Yankelevitch YouTube