Capital Ideas Podcast How GE Aerospace CEO Larry Culp turns problems into progress
18 snips
Nov 20, 2025 Larry Culp, the first outsider to lead GE, shares his unique leadership journey with a focus on humility and respect. He discusses the importance of fostering a culture where employees feel safe to report bad news. Culp reveals three lean principles that are essential for long-term success and explains how he uses unannounced factory visits to gauge company health. He emphasizes collaborative problem-solving and the significance of turning challenges into opportunities, ultimately driving continuous improvement at GE Aerospace.
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Rooted In A Small‑Business Origin
- Larry Culp describes his grandfather's small welding shop and how it rooted him in fundamentals of business and respect for people.
- He connects that early experience to caring for customers and employees even when operating at much larger scale today.
Danaher As A Lean Launchpad
- Larry recounts 25 years at Danaher where they adopted Lean across the company, starting from the factory floor.
- He says Lean drove customer focus, continuous improvement, and cash flow that funded growth and acquisitions.
Apply Three Core Lean Principles
- Respect people, practice continuous improvement, and stay focused on the customer as core Lean principles to transform an organization.
- Apply these simple principles rigorously to forge a culture that continually improves and serves customers better.
