What separates organizations where continuous improvement fades after a leadership change from those where it becomes part of the company's DNA?

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris welcomes back Darren Dolcemascolo, founder of EMS Consulting Group, for his second appearance on the show (first heard in Episode 31). With more than two decades of experience helping organizations improve operational performance through Lean Six Sigma, leadership development, and execution-focused consulting, Darren shares what it really takes to move beyond tools and improvement activity to build the operating discipline needed for measurable, sustainable results.

🔻 Why the terminology debate in Lean Six Sigma misses the point—and what actually matters

🔻 How leadership engagement (not lip service) determines whether improvement programs succeed or quietly die

🔻 Why CI teams are set up to fail when they own improvement instead of leadership owning it

🔻 How to structure a Green Belt program so it drives real ROI, not just completed coursework

🔻 What leader standard work is, why leaders should develop it themselves, and how to make it stick

🔻 Why Gemba walks matter—and what happens when leaders actually show up to where the work gets done

🔗 Connect with Darren Dolcemascolo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/darrendolcemascolo/

🔗 Visit EMS Consulting Group: https://www.emsstrategies.com/

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.