Has your organization been making progress on its continuous improvement journey, only to find things starting to stall?

Is your team hesitant to share ideas, or are your lean or process improvement initiatives viewed mainly as cost-cutting measures rather than a comprehensive strategy for long-term success?

Perhaps you've been focusing on just one side of the path of excellence—improvement processes and tools—while overlooking a critical component: respect for people.

In this episode, Stephanie Bursek, Director of Human Resources at TrippNT, shares how her company's made a leap forward in their lean transformation by leading with the heart to focus on people and joy.

By going beyond process improvement tools to deeply focusing on people first, Stephanie and her executive team have fostered greater collaboration, trust, and growth, resulting in a thriving, engaged workplace with more problem-solving and innovation.

Tune in to learn how embedding respect for people into your organization’s foundation can drive sustainable cultural transformation and elevate both business results and employee engagement.

YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to create balance in your organization between the pillars of continuous improvement and respect for people
• The importance of navigating tension between getting results and allowing time for your team to grow on the path towards achieving them
• Why performance management should be a two-way street that includes upward feedback for continuous learning and alignment
• How embedding respect for people and psychological safety into your organization can lead to improved results and enhance employee experiences
• The benefits of a people-centered culture for elevating both fulfillment and performance

ABOUT MY GUEST:

Stephanie is a seasoned Human Resources executive with a passion for how to create a thriving organizational culture. As the Director for Human Resources at TrippNT, a family-owned manufacturing company based in the U.S., she's focused on building a unique organizational culture by uniting the pillars of continuous improvement and respect for people.

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Full episode show notes: ChainOfLearning.com/30
• Connect with Stephanie Bursek: www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-bursek-sphr-0a7b801
• Check out my website: KBJAnderson.com
• Follow me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson
• My Japan Study Trip leadership program: KBJAnderson.com/japantrip

TIMESTAMPS: 

04:35 Stephanie’s realization of the missing element in her organization

08:10 The importance of a people-first approach to achieve results & improvements

12:11 The impact of the Collaborative Model for increasing productivity

14:15 The benefits of a psychologically safe environment that fosters respect & leads to better business results

19:03 The provocative quote from “Tree Ring Management” that always get jaw drops

20:27 How the leadership team at TrippNT models behavior that creates an engaging environment
24:10 Examples of a people-entered environment created through humility & resilience

Apply for the Nov 2025 or May 2026 Japan Leadership Experience
https://kbjanderson.com/japantrip/