In this podcast, I share an interview I had with Erica Stanulis, who runs the consulting firm called Follow the Sun. She has a strong background in Lean and Six Sigma and sustainability, and we met a the 1% for the Planet Global Summit in Portland in April, and realized we had a similar background and interests.

She talks about her background in the automotive industry, her life changing trip across the world, how she incorporates the sun into her consulting, and her work with the homeless in the Bay Area. I think you’ll enjoy this discussion!

Links

* Erica Stanulis on LinkedIn* Follow the Sun* 1% for the Planet* Homelessness in Portland report (May 2019)* Stephen Reichard* Lean Portland

Transcript

Brion (B):  This

is Erica Stanulis. She has a consulting firm called Follow the Sun. We met at 1%

for the Planet back in early April in Portland. My consulting firm joined 1%

for the Planet a year or two ago and there was an annual meeting in Portland,

so that’s where we first connected. Was that your first conference you went to

for them?

Erica (E):  It is, Brion.

Actually, it was great to meet you and your mom there, actually. I met your mom

first, actually.

B:  That’s right. She’s

my wing woman for networking.

E:  She caught my eye

because she had Business Performance Improvement, I think those were the words

on her name tag, so I was like, “I’ve got to talk to her.” It was my

first global summit with 1%. I’ve been keeping track of them for a while now. Previous

to starting my own consulting practice, I was a director of CSR, corporate

social responsibility, I Go Pro, so we had been in conversations with them when

I was in that role. It was really good, though, to be in a community of

like-minded individuals and connect with people that are already very geared

and wired towards understanding the triple bottom line of people, performance,

and planet, so it was great to meet there.

B:  Cool. You noticed

the business name, so what is your improvement background that caught your

attention?

E:  With respect to my background,

you mean?

B:  Yeah, more of on

the Lean or Six Sigma or both? can

you just go through some of that background?

E:  I did my undergrad

in chemical engineering and came out of school working in the automotive

industry,