57| How GE CEO Larry Culp Leads with Lean to Build a Culture of Continuous Improvement (BONUS)

What does it really take to become lean—not just do lean?

This is the secret to transformational lean leadership that Larry Culp, CEO of GE and GE Aerospace shared with me on stage three years ago. In this special bonus episode, I want to share his insights and wisdom about leadership and lean culture with you.

This bonus episode marks two milestones in my own Chain of Learning® journey:

 🎙 The two-year anniversary of the launch of this podcast!
 🎉 The three-year anniversary of my interview with Larry Culp

These two moments are deeply connected and they tell a powerful story about learning, leadership, and continuous improvement in action.

To celebrate, I’m bringing you my “fireside chat” with Larry Culp—recorded live on stage at the AME Conference in Dallas in 2022. It’s a rare, candid look at how one of today’s most respected global executives leads with a lean mindset to practice intentional leadership, humility, and continuous learning to reshape culture, improve decision-making, and lead sustainable organizational transformation at scale, 

You’ll also hear how this conversation became a defining moment for me—ultimately inspiring the launch of the Chain of Learning® podcast—and why Larry Culp’s insights on lean leadership are just as relevant today.

YOU’LL LEARN:

• Why even senior leaders and CEOs need a coach or teacher—and how having a trusted mentor helps accelerate learning and growth
• The importance of shifting from answers to questions—and why Breaking the Telling Habit® matters
• Why embracing mistakes and “bad news” builds psychological safety, and a stronger foundation for continuous improvement
• The power of going to see—going to gemba (the place work happens)—and how its essential for lean transformation
• How embracing the awkwardness of learning—going slow to go fast—helps leaders model humility and build trust through transparency

ABOUT MY GUEST:

Larry Culp joined the GE Board of Directors in April 2018, and was appointed CEO of GE in October 2018. In June 2022, he assumed additional duty as CEO of GE Aerospace and became Chairman & CEO of GE Aerospace when it launched as a public company in April 2024. He also serves as the non-executive Chairman of GE HealthCare. Larry spent 25 years at Danaher Corporation, serving as President and CEO, where he helped increase both revenue and market capitalization fivefold. Recognized as one of the world’s top CEOs by Harvard Business Review and Barron’s, Larry has served as a Senior Lecturer at Harvard Business School, teaching leadership and strategy. 

IMPORTANT LINKS:

• Full episode show notes with links to other podcast episodes and resources: ChainOfLearning.com/57 
• Watch the full interview with Larry Culp on YouTube: youtube.com/watch?v=U3hFsuLOaPU
• Check out my website for resources and ways to work with me KBJAnderson.com
• Follow Larry Culp on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/larry-culp
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kbjanderson
• Read “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn” – the leadership book Larry Culp recommended to all GE employees : LearningToLeadLeadingToLearn.com 

TIMESTAMPS FOR THIS EPISODE:

02:51 Larry Culp’s view on lean as a lever to embrace cultural disruption at GE
04:14 The importance of having a coach and a teacher to help guide you as a senior leader
05:34 Larry’s shifts in his leadership approach as he was learning how to lead
07:47 How to really listen and hear what others meant to say
07:28 How to become a better listener and ask better questions
08:20 The difference of implementing lean versus becoming lean
10:12 What lean means to you as a leader

12:25 The importance of doing the work even though you have a coach
13:49 How to build failure and mistakes into your leadership practice and culture
15:06 Fostering an environment where sharing mistakes and challenges are acceptable
17:55 Larry’s key takeaway from Katie’s Shingo award winning book, “Learning to Lead, Leading to Learn”
21:16 What to assess when going to Gemba
24:13 What Larry has learned from his sensei and going to Japan that has helped him be a more impactful leader
28:11 How hoshin kanri is connected to your approach leadership approach
29:24 The impact of cross-functional collaboration
31:22 Managing awkwardness as a leader while learning new leadership skills
32:49 Making the shift in being okay with not having all the answers
34:56 Future improvements of GE
36:33 The purpose of daruma dolls in setting intentional goals
37:46 The real heart of lean leadership in using learning as a lever for results that matter