Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

Steel Toes and Stilettos, an Interview with Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels


Listen Later

Episode page: https://www.leanblog.org/438

My guests for Episode #438 of the Lean Blog Interviews Podcast are Shannon Karels and Kathy Miller, the authors of the recently-released book Steel Toes and Stilettos: A True Story of Women Manufacturing Leaders and Lean Transformation Success. Their website is opsisters.com.

Kathy Miller is a Senior Operations Executive who has held numerous global vice president and director roles both in manufacturing and lean enterprise leadership.  Kathy is a Shingo Prize Recipient for Large Businesses as a Plant Manager.  

She started her career in Operations as a 17-year-old co-op student at a vehicle assembly plant, and progressed through engineering, marketing, lean, and operations leadership roles, working for four large publicly traded corporations in executive roles.  

Shannon Karels is a Senior Operations Manager who has led multiple lean transformations and run operations for two large publicly traded corporations across various industries and business models.  She started her career in supply chain management and progressed through lean and operations leadership roles. 

Today, we discuss topics and questions including:

  • What are your Lean origin stories?
  • Kathy – what was the motivation for Lean– catching up to Toyota? Main goals? 
  • Shannon – starting point, the business was losing money?
  • The “right way to run a business” – what appealed most to you?
  • Kathy: how to help break old habits and truly embrace what's being taught?
  • Other coaches and influences?
    • Including Chris HarrisJohn ShookJim Womack
  • How did auto experience translate to first job outside of GM/Delphi?
  • Story behind the book?
  • How much of the book is about issues faced by women in manufacturing?
  • The lean facilitator and the General Manager – how do the roles and responsibilities break down in a lean transformation?
  • Your passion for safety? Where did that develop in each of you?
  • Lean in the office? Carpet land?
  • The podcast is sponsored by Stiles Associates, now in their 30th year of business. They are the go-to Lean recruiting firm serving the manufacturing, private equity, and healthcare industries. Learn more.

    This podcast is part of the #LeanCommunicators network

    ...more
    View all episodesView all episodes
    Download on the App Store

    Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and LeadershipBy Mark Graban

    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6
    • 4.6

    4.6

    46 ratings


    More shows like Lean Blog Interviews - Healthcare, Manufacturing, Business, and Leadership

    View all
    The Knowledge Project by Shane Parrish

    The Knowledge Project

    2,673 Listeners

    Coaching for Leaders by Dave Stachowiak

    Coaching for Leaders

    1,450 Listeners

    Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership by Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy

    Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership

    197 Listeners

    HBR IdeaCast by Harvard Business Review

    HBR IdeaCast

    1,828 Listeners

    Lean Blog Audio by Mark Graban

    Lean Blog Audio

    15 Listeners

    KaiNexus: Continuous Improvement, Leadership, and More by KaiNexus

    KaiNexus: Continuous Improvement, Leadership, and More

    27 Listeners

    Worklife with Adam Grant by TED

    Worklife with Adam Grant

    9,212 Listeners

    WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute’s Podcast by Lean Enterprise Institute

    WLEI - Lean Enterprise Institute’s Podcast

    21 Listeners

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style by Laura Camacho

    Speak Up: Develop Your Executive Presence & Leadership Communication Style

    87 Listeners

    Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey) by Mark Graban & Jamie Flinchbaugh

    Lean Coffee Talk (formerly known as Lean Whiskey)

    10 Listeners

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques by Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

    Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

    808 Listeners

    A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

    A Bit of Optimism

    2,185 Listeners

    My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success by Mark Graban

    My Favorite Mistake: Business Lessons from Failures and Success

    39 Listeners

    The Lean Solutions Podcast by Patrick Adams

    The Lean Solutions Podcast

    19 Listeners

    Coaching Real Leaders by Harvard Business Review / Muriel Wilkins

    Coaching Real Leaders

    666 Listeners

    HBR On Leadership by Harvard Business Review

    HBR On Leadership

    159 Listeners

    Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement and Lean Change Leaders by Katie Anderson

    Chain of Learning: Empowering Continuous Improvement and Lean Change Leaders

    27 Listeners

    The Jefferson Fisher Podcast by Civility Media

    The Jefferson Fisher Podcast

    8,372 Listeners