What You’ll Learn:

In this episode, host Catherine McDonald, Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Randy Kesterson discuss the integration of AI with Lean thinking on the Lean Solutions Podcast. They emphasize the importance of maintaining human judgment and involvement in the process. They also discuss the need for accurate data collection and the potential for AI to transform workplaces, urging leaders to embrace AI to stay relevant.

About the Guest:

Today’s guest is Randy Kesterson, a seasoned operations executive, consultant, and thought leader with over three decades of experience in manufacturing, supply chain, and Lean transformation. Randy’s career includes executive roles at companies like Eastman Chemical and J.M. Huber Corporation, where he led significant enterprise-wide process improvement initiatives.

As a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and a skilled coach, Randy helps organizations achieve operational excellence through practical strategies grounded in real-world experience. He currently serves as a trusted advisor and consultant, guiding leaders across industries in strategy deployment, leadership development, and continuous improvement.

Links:

Click Here For Randy Kesterson's LinkedIn

Click Here For Kesterson Group Website 

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.

About the Guest:

Scott Gauvin is a management consultant and Lean specialist with 30 years of experience helping organizations transform the way they perceive and pursue performance. As CEO of Macresco and co-founder of the Respect for People Roadmap, he’s partnered with organizations worldwide and across industries to innovate their business and operating models and put people at the center of their corporate and operations strategies.

Links:

THE RESPECT FOR PEOPLE ROAD - WEBSITE

CLICK HERE FOR SCOTT GAUVIN LINKEDIN

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 in non-manufacturing industries, including food, retail, education, non-profit, health care, event management, hospitality and media.

Patrick Adams is an internationally recognized leadership coach, consultant and professional speaker. He is best known for his unique human approach to sound team building practices, creating consensus and enabling empowerment.Patrick has been delivering bottom-line results through specialized process improvement solutions for over 20 years. He’s worked with all types of businesses from private, non-profit, government, and manufacturing ranging from small business to billion-dollar corporations. Patrick is an Author of the best selling book, Avoiding the Continuous Appearance Trap.

Links:

Click Here For Catherine McDonald’s LinkedIn⁠

⁠⁠Click Here For Patrick Adams’ LinkedIn⁠

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 organizations that require the right people strategies and systems to achieve their business vision.  Ms. Jekiel has developed expertise in optimizing lean manufacturing cultures while working with various organizations on their transformational journeys. Before opening the Lean Leadership Center, Ms. Jekiel held numerous senior leadership roles, including leading operations, human resources, and chief operating officer. As the author of “Lean Human Resources: Redesigning HR Practices for a Culture of Continuous Improvement”, Ms. Jekiel illuminates the role of HR in how organizations optimize people’s talents. Ms. Jekiel also has a best seller, “Let Go to Lead: Six Habits for Happier, More Independent Teams (With Less Stress and More Time for Yourself)”.

Links:

Click Here For Cheryl Jekiel LinkedIn

Click Here For Lean Leadership Center Website

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 Kim) and The High-Velocity Edge. His work, featured in Harvard Business Review, MIT Sloan Management Review, and The New York Times, focuses on solving complex organizational challenges through innovation, systems thinking, and technology.

Spear’s ideas have shaped product design at Pratt & Whitney, accelerated pharma development cycles, and optimized operations at firms like Intel, Alcoa, and DTE Energy. He has advised the U.S. Army’s Rapid Equipping Force and the Navy’s Chief of Naval Research, aiding in tech deployment and operational innovation.

Links:

Click Here For Steve Spear's LinkedIn

Click Here For "See to Solve" Website

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 givers to supportive coaches.

About the Guest:

Sam Yankelevitch is the CEO of Xpress Lingo Solutions, a TEDx speaker, and corporate trainer focused on aligning people, processes, and communication to close performance gaps. An industrial engineer and former VP of global operations, he brings deep expertise in Lean, Quality, and problem-solving methodologies. Sam is a popular LinkedIn Learning instructor with over 750,000 learners and the author of several books, including Lean Potion #9, Walking the Invisible Gemba, and the fiction title An Interview with Failure. He lives in South Carolina with his wife and borrowed dog, and believes in lifelong learning and giving back.

Links:
Click Here For Sam Yankelevitch Website

Click Here For Sam Yankelevitch LinkedIn

Click Here For Sam Yankelevitch YouTube

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 construction leader for 26 years, working in positions that ranged from field engineer to project superintendent, general superintendent, and field operations director. He is the Owner and Lead Trainer at Elevate Construction, a company focused on elevating construction throughout the world by providing insights, solutions, and training. His mission is to create respect in the field through trained leaders, which ultimately preserves and protects families in construction. He is the creator of the Field Engineer and Superintendent Boot Camps, which are immersive courses that train field leadership. Jason Schroeder hosts the Elevate Construction Podcast, a blog through Home - Elevate Constructionist, and trains, consults, and coaches throughout the world.

Links:

Click Here For Jason Schroeder's LinkedIn

Click Here For Jason Schroeder's YouTube 

Click Here For Jason Schroder's Podcast

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 confidence, competence, and lasting change. 

About the Guest:
Brian is a global leader with over 13 years of experience in driving lean strategy and assessments within manufacturing, food processing, and distribution facilities. Industries served in his career include agriculture, office furniture, food & beverage, golf course maintenance, and insurance. He is dedicated to improving lives through continuous improvement work and focuses on his core values of Happiness, Empathy, and Hope.

Professionally, Brian has been recognized in the lean industry, having been featured on podcasts, served as an elected member of the Board of Directors for the Michigan Lean Consortium from 2016-2020, and spoken at various conferences, including the 2016 Lean Six Sigma World Conference where his team won the Project of the Year award. He prides himself on empowering those he works with to change their lives and continues to seek opportunities to inspire others.

LINKS:

Click Here For Brian DeVries' LinkedIn
Click Here to Enter the giveaway and to learn more about Kaizen Kit!
The Big Thinking of a Small Knight

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 record of turning around manufacturing performance and driving over $1 billion in earnings, he’s known for transforming strategy into execution. As author of The Winning Link, Billy Ray shares his Connected Business Model to align teams, foster accountability, and drive results. A passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, he inspires audiences worldwide as a dynamic keynote speaker.

Links:

Click Here For Billy Ray Taylor's LinkedIn

2025 Lean Solutions Summit

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 respected organizations: Procter & Gamble and Danaher. He spent 10 years at P&G, including time as a Brand Manager, and 16 years at Danaher, where he served in a variety of critical roles. His expertise spans over three core areas, Business Leadership, Continuous Improvement Leadership, and Executive Coaching. Whether driving operational excellence, leading transformation, or coaching executives, he brings a powerful blend of strategy, systems thinking, and people development to the table.

Links:

Click Here For Olaf Boettger LinkedIn