What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams, Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Scott Gauvin discuss how the principle of "respect for people" goes beyond individual actions to become an organizational-wide practice that fosters culture transformation, engagement, and continuous improvement. They explore strategies for leaders to cultivate a learning culture, emphasizing active listening, transparency, and coaching to develop human skills and create lasting change within organizations. Abo...
Jun 24, 2025•43 min•Season 4Ep. 23
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald as they discuss the importance of reframing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a negative event. About the Hosts: Catherine McDonald is a Lean and Leadership Coach. Her work involves training and coaching executives and teams in organizations of all types and sizes. In 2018, Catherine started her own business- MCD Consulting where she works as a Lean and Leadership Coach. She specializes in Lean deployment i...
Jun 17, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 22
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 orga...
Jun 10, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 21
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...
Jun 03, 2025•54 min•Season 4Ep. 20
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 g...
May 27, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 19
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams, Shayne Daughenbaugh, and guest Jason Schroeder discuss the importance of core values in leadership, particularly in the construction industry. Schroeder shares his journey from a command-and-control leadership style to a more collaborative approach, highlighting the significance of a clean, organized, and safe work environment. About the Guest: Jason Schroeder is a former Field Operations and Project Director. He has worked as a constructi...
May 20, 2025•51 min•Season 4Ep. 18
What You’ll Learn: Are you learning about improvement or actually doing it? In this episode, host Patrick Adams is joined by continuous improvement leader Brian DeVries to dig into the power of hands-on learning and why lectures alone just don’t cut it. From the shop floor to the boardroom, real growth happens when you roll up your sleeves and apply what you’ve heard. Whether you're training teams or leveling up your own skills, tune in to discover how action-based learning builds true confidenc...
May 13, 2025•52 min
What You’ll Learn: Join us for this Speaker Special featuring Billy Ray Taylor, with hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich. They discuss Billy Ray Taylor's keynote presentation from the 2024 Lean Solutions Summit, and dive into the importance of standards in leadership, using personal anecdotes and sports metaphors to illustrate his points. About the Guest: Billy Ray Taylor is a visionary operations and supply chain leader, former Goodyear executive, and founder of LinkedXL. With a 30-year track r...
May 06, 2025•39 min
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald, Patrick Adams, and guest Olaf Boettger discuss the importance of coaching for success, particularly in developing and mentoring emerging leaders. They highlight the need for leaders to unlearn harmful behaviors and adapt to new leadership styles. About the Guest: With 26 years of experience in Continuous Improvement, our guest brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective shaped by leadership roles at two of the world’s most r...
Apr 29, 2025•45 min•Season 4Ep. 17
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald, Andy Olrich, and guest Leire Martinez discuss the importance of sustaining culture and connection in organizations. They emphasize that culture is crucial for continuous improvement and can vary across different departments and regions. About the Guest: With a strong Lean Six Sigma background, she is experienced as an Operations Director managing multi-site operations, as well as a Plant Manager, Production Manager, and Continuous Imp...
Apr 22, 2025•42 min•Season 4Ep. 16
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Catherine McDonald, and guest Sebastian McLeod, discuss the importance of frontline leaders in driving organizational change. Sebastian McLeod, CEO of TrippNT, shares his company's journey from a basement startup to an industry leader, emphasizing the significance of frontline workers and the impact of Lean principles. About the Guest: Sebastian McLeod, CEO of TrippNT, transformed the company from a basement startup into an award-win...
Apr 15, 2025•51 min•Season 4Ep. 15
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Patrick Adams, and guest Micki Vandeloo, discuss the transition from a learning culture to actual capability in organizations. They highlight the importance of applying learning to real-world applications and the role of leadership in fostering this culture. About the Guest: Micki is the President of Lakeview Consulting, Inc., leading a team of five grant professionals who have secured over $220 million in funding for nonprofit and f...
Apr 08, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 14
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Andy Olrich, and guest Royden Johnson, discuss the importance of vulnerability and courage in leadership. Royden Johnson emphasized the need for leaders to move from imitation to differentiation to embrace vulnerability effectively. About the Guest: Royden Johnson is a distinguished manufacturing leader with extensive experience spanning diverse industries, including automotive sectors. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, he brings a robust e...
Apr 01, 2025•48 min•Season 4Ep. 13
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams, Catherine McDonald, and guest Vince Lanni, discuss the power of curiosity in business improvement. Vince, a restaurant consultant, emphasizes the importance of curiosity in problem-solving and team engagement. About the Guest: Vince helps bars and restaurants make more money, faster — guaranteed. After a successful career opening and improving some of the most prominent bars on Broadway in Nashville, he launched his consulting business to ...
Mar 25, 2025•47 min•Season 4Ep. 12
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Catherine McDonald, and guest Patrick Gaughan discuss the balance of structure and creativity in continuous improvement. They emphasize the importance of leadership, data-driven decision-making, and empowering employees through rapid improvement workshops. About the Guest: With 33 years of experience at a Fortune 100 company, he held various leadership roles in Engineering Management, Supply Chain, and Quality. His work spanned conti...
Mar 18, 2025•49 min•Season 4Ep. 11
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams, Andy Olrich, and guest Adam Lawrence discuss the importance of focusing on people first in process optimization, while emphasizing the need to engage and empower employees. About the Guest: Adam Lawrence, the creator of the Wheel of Sustainability, is the Managing Partner of Process Improvement Partners, LLC. He has decades of experience in process improvement, targeted at manufacturing and business processes. Having facilitated hundreds o...
Mar 11, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 10
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Matt Singh discuss the importance of putting people first in Lean Six Sigma transformations. They emphasize the need for leadership to lead by example, provide support, and create a culture where employees feel valued. About the Guest: Matt is a Senior Project Manager at Children's Nebraska. Prior to that he spent 8 years as the director of operational excellence and master black belt for the Department of Administrative Serv...
Mar 04, 2025•48 min•Season 4Ep. 9
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams, Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Scott Gauvin discuss how the principle of "respect for people" goes beyond individual actions to become an organizational-wide practice that fosters culture transformation, engagement, and continuous improvement. They explore strategies for leaders to cultivate a learning culture, emphasizing active listening, transparency, and coaching to develop human skills and create lasting change within organizations. Abo...
Feb 25, 2025•43 min•Season 4Ep. 8
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald and Andy Olrich discuss the evolution of Lean over the past decade, emphasizing the shift from a tool-focused approach to a more human-centric, culturally embedded practice. They highlight the importance of adaptability, technology integration, and continuous improvement. About the Hosts: Catherine McDonald is a Lean and Leadership Coach. Her work involves training and coaching executives and teams in organizations of all types and siz...
Feb 18, 2025•40 min•Season 4Ep. 7
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh and Catherine McDonald discuss the future of Lean leadership by, emphasizing the need for adaptability, flexibility, and a growth mindset. They highlight the importance of intellectual humility, global citizenship, and ethical and social responsibility. About the Hosts: Catherine McDonald is a Lean and Leadership Coach. Her work involves training and coaching executives and teams in organizations of all types and sizes. In 2018, Cathe...
Feb 11, 2025•42 min•Season 4Ep. 6
What You’ll Learn In this episode, host Patrick Adams and Shane Daughenbaugh discuss Senator Ricketts' address to Congress on government efficiency, highlighting the transformative impact of Lean and Six Sigma. About the Hosts: Shayne Daughenbaugh is a seasoned Process Improvement Project Manager with over 5 years of experience at the State of Nebraska, holding the distinction of a Certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. They specialize in leading successful organizational change and implementing l...
Feb 04, 2025•52 min•Season 4Ep. 5
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich discuss the importance of a "fail-forward" culture, where failures are seen as opportunities for learning rather than setbacks. They emphasize the need for leaders to model vulnerability, focus on learning rather than blame, and establish clear boundaries. About the Hosts: Andy Olrich brings over 25 years of expertise in engineering trades, services, manufacturing, mining, and logistics processes and support. With qualificat...
Jan 28, 2025•44 min•Season 4Ep. 4
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald and Shayne Daughenbaugh discuss reframing workplace failures as opportunities for growth. They emphasize the importance of viewing failures as experiments and learning experiences, rather than negative events. About the Hosts: Catherine McDonald is a Lean and Leadership Coach. Her work involves training and coaching executives and teams in organizations of all types and sizes. In 2018, Catherine started her own business- MCD Consulting...
Jan 21, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 1
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams and Catherine McDonald as they discuss the importance of reframing failure as a learning opportunity rather than a negative event. About the Hosts: Catherine McDonald is a Lean and Leadership Coach. Her work involves training and coaching executives and teams in organizations of all types and sizes. In 2018, Catherine started her own business- MCD Consulting where she works as a Lean and Leadership Coach. She specializes in Lean deployment i...
Jan 14, 2025•46 min•Season 4Ep. 2
What You’ll Learn: Join the Lean Solutions host in this live podcast as the discuss the relevance of Lean in 2025, highlighting its continued importance despite rapid technological advancements. About the Hosts: Andy Olrich brings over 25 years of expertise in engineering trades, services, manufacturing, mining and logistics processes and support. With qualifications in Continuous Improvement and LEAN Six Sigma, he is also a Certified Scrum Master. Andy finds fulfillment in witnessing the positi...
Jan 09, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Season 4Ep. 1
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams and Andy Olrich discuss the importance of soft skills in leadership, emphasizing empathy, communication, adaptability, and emotional intelligence. About the Guest: Andy Olrich brings over 25 years of expertise in engineering trades, services, manufacturing, mining and logistics processes and support. With qualifications in Continuous Improvement and LEAN Six Sigma, he is also a Certified Scrum Master. Andy finds fulfillment in witnessing th...
Dec 31, 2024•43 min•Season 3Ep. 52
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams, Shayne Daughenbaugh, Catherine McDonald, and Andy Olrich, dive into the year’s most watched and liked episodes, reflecting on the impactful conversations and memorable moments that resonated with their audience. From industry insights and expert interviews, they look back at all the highlights that defined season 3. The hosts also look into what the new year will bring, including exciting new guests, fresh topics, and innovative approaches....
Dec 24, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 51
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams and guest Greg Jacobson, CEO of KaiNexus, discusses the importance of habit science in leadership and continuous improvement. Greg emphasizes the role of identity, habit loops, and the basal ganglia in forming habits. About the Guest: Dr. Greg Jacobson is the CEO and Co-founder of KaiNexus. Passionate about addressing operational inefficiencies, Greg leverages his extensive background in emergency medicine and process improvement to develop ...
Dec 17, 2024•54 min•Season 3Ep. 50
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams, Catherine McDonald, and guest Craig Coyle discuss the relevance of lean and continuous improvement for future leaders. Coyle emphasizes the importance of leadership development, noting that 70% of workforce engagement is influenced by first-line supervisors. About the Guest: Craig Coyle is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy and former U.S. Army Apache Pilot, Craig is no stranger to leadership in complex and demanding environments. Afte...
Dec 10, 2024•45 min•Season 3Ep. 49
What You’ll Learn: In this episode, host Patrick Adams, Shayne Daughenbaugh, and guest Royden Johnson discuss the global adaptability of Lean principles, emphasizing its core values of customer focus and respect for people. About the Guest: Royden Johnson is a distinguished manufacturing leader with extensive experience spanning diverse industries, including automotive sectors. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, he brings a robust expertise in operational excellence and continuous improvement. Royden ha...
Dec 03, 2024•51 min•Season 3Ep. 48
