Kevin Tarrant, Ex-CHRO of WABCO and current President of HR Co-Pilot Consulting, brings 40 years of human capital experience to Jamie Flinchbaugh's People Solve Problems podcast. With a background spanning manufacturing, high tech, software development, and service industries across global organizations, Kevin shares insights from his extensive career, including his last corporate role as Chief Human Resources Officer for Westinghouse Airbrake Company (WABCO). Kevin emphasizes that problem solvi...
Jun 25, 2025•24 min
Ryan McCormack, Director of Operational Readiness and Optimization at The Wawanesa Mutual Company, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to discuss his approach to problem-solving in organizations. Ryan has spent over two decades seeking to understand and apply principles that enrich the working lives of people in large organizations, with experience spanning manufacturing, healthcare, management consulting, and insurance. Ryan explained that his role in problem solving s...
Jun 11, 2025•21 min
Krista Smith, Director, Project Management Center of Excellence at Sandia National Laboratories, joins Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share insights on leadership development and organizational management. As an executive at the nation's largest national security engineering laboratory, Krista leads Sandia's project management capability while drawing from her extensive experience in facilities, infrastructure, supply chain, and business operations. Krista discusses wh...
May 28, 2025•24 min
Jennifer Peterson, Manager of Continuous Improvement at Muscatine Power and Water (MPW) in Muscatine, Iowa, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share insights about her approach to problem solving. Jennifer's mission at MPW is to reduce frustration for coworkers through process improvement and problem solving. Working in a utility that provides critical services and never shuts down, Jennifer explains that prioritization is essential. At MPW, safety concerns come fir...
May 14, 2025•21 min
David Edelman, Executive Advisor and Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to discuss personalization and customer strategy in the age of AI. As the founder of Edelman Advisory Services, David brings over 30 years of experience as a thought leader in marketing, personalization, and technology. David emphasized that AI in personalization goes beyond marketing to transform the entire customer experience. He explained the distinction...
Apr 30, 2025•23 min
Chuck Wisner, President of Wisner Consulting, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share his insights on improving human dynamics in conversations. With 25 years of experience advising Fortune 200 companies, Chuck has developed a unique approach to understanding and enhancing how people interact. Chuck introduced the concept of the "conversational bypass," a common pitfall in problem-solving and decision-making. He explained that people often jump from storytelling di...
Apr 16, 2025•21 min
Brian DeVries, Senior Advisor at Lean Fox Solutions, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share his insights on problem-solving methodologies and leadership. Brian recently authored a children's book, "The Big Thinking of a Small Knight," which teaches leadership and continuous improvement principles through storytelling. Brian explained his preferred problem-solving approach, the nine-box methodology, which begins with what he calls a "rally cry" - a clear, concise p...
Apr 02, 2025•21 min
Liz Guthridge, Managing Director of Connect Consulting Group, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share her expertise on leadership development and organizational change. As a leadership coach who combines neuroscience and vertical stage development, Liz works with both individuals and organizations to foster growth and cultural transformation. When discussing ideation and brainstorming, Liz challenged the common practice of gathering people around a conference table...
Mar 19, 2025•22 min
Melia Tourangeau joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on People Solve Problems to share her experience as President & CEO of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, where she made history as both the first woman and youngest CEO in the organization's 129-year legacy. In the conversation, Melia revealed one of her most significant challenges occurred shortly after joining the Symphony. While initially identifying what appeared to be a manageable $1 million structural deficit on a $30 million budget, deeper an...
Mar 05, 2025•21 min
Scott Post, Operational Excellence and Lean Leadership Coach with S Post Consulting, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share his insights on effective problem-solving and leadership. With over two decades of experience in leadership, lean methodology, and process improvement, Scott brings valuable perspectives from both his corporate roles and consulting work. Drawing from his extensive experience, Scott highlighted a common pitfall in problem-solving: poorly defin...
Feb 19, 2025•22 min
Jason Schulist, Executive Director of the Fox Valley Data Exchange, brought his extensive problem-solving experience to the People Solve Problems podcast hosted by Jamie Flinchbaugh. With over 30 years of experience across construction, automotive, utility, and paper industries, Jason shared valuable insights about understanding and addressing different types of problems. At Fox Valley Data Exchange, Jason works to make community data accessible across three counties in Northeast Wisconsin. The ...
Feb 05, 2025•21 min
Danyel Bischof-Forsyth, Chief Technology Officer at 7 Brew Coffee, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share her experiences leading technology transformation in a rapidly growing company. With 35 years of technology experience, including 28 years at Hallmark Cards and 5 years at Tyson Foods, Danyel brings extensive expertise to her role at 7 Brew Coffee, a drive-through beverage company experiencing explosive growth. Danyel explained that 7 Brew Coffee is expanding ...
Jan 22, 2025•21 min
Pete Ruggiero, President and Chief Executive Officer of Crayola, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to share insights about leadership, culture, and the transformation of an iconic brand. With over 27 years at Crayola, Pete has helped evolve the company from a seasonal back-to-school business focused on crayons, markers, and pencils to a year-round enterprise centered on products, content, and experiences. Pete emphasized the importance of perpetual optimism in leaders...
Jan 08, 2025•30 min
Jamie Flinchbaugh, Founder of JFlinch, shares his insights in this solo episode of the People Solve Problems podcast. Jamie emphasizes the importance of being tool-agnostic in problem-solving, focusing on approaches that work both within and beyond specific methodologies. He addresses a common leadership mistake that affects problem-solving culture: leaders often keep their problem-solving process hidden in their heads rather than making it visible to others. He stresses that "you can't be a rol...
Dec 11, 2024•18 min
Heidi Wachs, Managing Director and head of the Washington DC office at Stroz Friedberg, an Aon company, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on People Solve Problems to discuss managing cybersecurity incidents and problem-solving in crisis situations. Heidi shared that despite it being 2024 and cybersecurity being constantly in the headlines, many companies are still caught off guard when incidents occur. She explained that cybersecurity incidents create multiple layers of interconnected problems that must ...
Nov 27, 2024•21 min
Daniel Stewart and Peter Stewart, brothers who lead Stewart Leadership, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh to discuss their approach to talent assessment and problem solving both within their organization and with clients. Daniel serves as President and Peter as Managing Partner of Stewart Leadership, a global leadership, team, and organizational consulting firm. When assessing talent for their own organization, Daniel emphasized two key criteria: exceptional competence in their field and being genuinely ...
Nov 13, 2024•24 min
Nick Katko, Owner and President of BMA, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to discuss lean accounting systems and their role in problem-solving. With over 30 years of experience in practicing lean accounting, Nick coaches companies on how to leverage these systems to improve their operations and decision-making processes. Nick explained that lean accounting is more than just debits and credits; it's a comprehensive system that encompasses both financial and management ...
Oct 30, 2024•21 min
Alexander Senchak, Managing Partner at Duarte Pond Investments, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to discuss the importance of "meeting the moment" as a leader and innovator. Alex, a management consultant and investor focused on business intelligence and technologies to support performance in the hospitality and higher education sectors, shared his insights on how leaders can adapt to rapidly changing external factors. Alex emphasized the need for leaders to be flexib...
Oct 16, 2024•22 min
In this episode of People Solve Problems, Jamie Flinchbaugh sits down with Cheryl Jekiel, CEO and Founder of the Lean Leadership Center, to discuss the intricate relationship between leadership development and problem solving within organizations. Cheryl brings her extensive experience in HR and leadership training to the forefront, focusing on how companies can better develop their leaders by integrating problem-solving into the people aspect of their operations. Cheryl begins by sharing insigh...
Oct 02, 2024•22 min
In this episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh sits down with Crystal Y. Davis, CEO of The Lean Coach, Inc., a boutique consulting and coaching firm that partners with mid-to-large cap companies to enhance operational excellence and drive cultural transformation. Crystal, also known as "Your Corporate Confidante," brings her vast experience as a practitioner, leader, and coach to the conversation, offering deep insights into the challenges of leadership and the complexit...
Sep 11, 2024•20 min
In the latest episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh welcomes Jacob Stoller, an accomplished journalist, speaker, facilitator, and Shingo-Prize-winning author of The Lean CEO. Jacob, who is also the author of the upcoming book Productivity Reimagined, brings his extensive experience in demystifying complex business and technology topics to the forefront of the discussion. As the founder of Conversation Builders, Jacob has a deep understanding of organizational dynam...
Aug 28, 2024•22 min
In this episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh is joined by Dr. Wendy Smith, a professor at the University of Delaware and an acclaimed expert in organizational behavior. Wendy, who co-authored the book "Both/And Thinking," discusses the concept of how adopting a both/and mindset can enhance our problem-solving capabilities. With over 25 years of research and practical experience, Wendy explores the nuances of strategic paradoxes and how they influence leadership an...
Aug 14, 2024•24 min
In this episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh engages in a captivating conversation with Russell Watkins, Co-founder of Sempai. Russell, an expert in lean transformation, shares his extensive experience across various sectors, including Automotive, Aerospace, and Construction Equipment. His journey has taken him from the shop floors to the boardrooms of companies in the UK, Europe, the US, China, India, Japan, and South America. Currently, he is leading a digital s...
Jul 31, 2024•25 min
In this episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh is joined by Patrick Elwer, a Senior Principal Engineer at Intel Corporation. Patrick brings over 34 years of experience to the table, with a significant portion of his career dedicated to improving Intel’s work processes using lean product development principles and agile software development practices. The conversation centers on operationalizing problem-solving within a large-scale engineering culture, highlighting t...
Jul 17, 2024•20 min
In the latest episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh sits down with Art Byrne, the retired CEO of The Wiremold Company. Art's profound influence on the lean community is well-known, having introduced lean principles to over 30 companies from his positions as CEO and author of seminal works such as The Lean Turnaround, The Lean Turnaround Action Guide, and The Lean Turnaround Answer Book. Art's journey with lean management began during his first General Manager role ...
Jul 03, 2024•23 min
In this episode of "People Solve Problems," Jamie Flinchbaugh hosts Frank L. Douglas, CEO of Safe Haven Dialogues. Frank brings a wealth of experience as a former Executive Vice President and Board Member of Aventis, now Sanofi, and shares insights from his storied career in the pharmaceutical industry and beyond. Currently, Frank leads Safe Haven Dialogues, an organization dedicated to addressing issues of discrimination and conflict through their innovative Reframing Methodology. Frank discuss...
Jun 19, 2024•25 min
In this episode of People Solve Problems, host Jamie Flinchbaugh welcomes Lee Moore, Director of Foundry and Fab Materials at Qorvo. With nearly 25 years at Qorvo, Lee is deeply committed to developing a culture of proactive problem solvers within the organization. His role not only involves negotiating capacities and prices with external foundries but also leading teams to tackle issues effectively and foster continuous improvement. Lee discusses his approach to collaboration, emphasizing the n...
Jun 05, 2024•20 min
On this episode of the People Solve Problems podcast, host Jamie Flinchbaugh welcomed W. Henry Yaeger, the Managing Principal of Banner Group LLC. Henry brings over 30 years of experience as an executive at global and Fortune 500 companies, and as an entrepreneur. He has held significant roles at major corporations like The Hershey Company and Unilever, and has also co-founded Guidehealth, a burgeoning digital health platform. During the podcast, Henry shared valuable insights on knowing when to...
May 22, 2024•19 min
In this unique episode of the ‘People Solve Problems’ podcast, Jamie Flinchbaugh takes on the role of guest to offer listeners a special reflection on his podcast journey and the valuable lessons he's gleaned along the way from the many special guests. He discusses the importance of conversations in learning and growing, emphasizing how these discussions have fueled the podcast's purpose beyond just talking about his book on problem solving. Jamie starts by honoring the late Daniel Kahneman, hig...
May 08, 2024•19 min
In this episode of People Solve Problems, host Jamie Flinchbaugh welcomed Jeff Grimshaw, Principal at MGStrategy, for a thought-provoking conversation. Jeff Grimshaw, who has dedicated over 25 years to assisting leaders worldwide in aligning their organizations' people, strategy, and culture for better business outcomes, shared his insights on creating environments where taking calculated risks is encouraged to foster innovation and agility. Jeff and Jamie discussed the critical difference betwe...
Apr 24, 2024•21 min
