The Lean Solutions Podcast

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 WebsiteClick Here For Sam Yankelevitch LinkedInClick Here For Sam Yankelevitch YouTube

Jason Schroeder, Owner and Lead Trainer at Elevate Construction, dives into the transformative power of core values in leadership within the construction industry. He recounts his shift from command-and-control to a collaborative approach, emphasizing safety and respect on job sites. The conversation touches on the experiences that shape values, the importance of mindfulness in team dynamics, and cultivating a culture where accountability and learning are prioritized. Schroeder shares insights on continuous improvement, making a case for personal growth and strong leadership values.

In this discussion, Brian DeVries, a continuous improvement leader, shares insights from his 13-plus years in driving lean strategies. He introduces the Kaizen Kit, a hands-on toolkit designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Brian emphasizes the importance of interactive learning over traditional PowerPoint methods and reveals how storytelling can inspire young minds through his children’s book. Additionally, he explains the power of gamification in training, aiming to engage teams and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

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 LinkedIn2025 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

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, hosts Catherine McDonald, Andy Olrich, and guest Leire Martinez discuss the importance of sustaining culture and connection in organizations. They emphasize that culture is crucial for continuous improvement and can vary across different departments and regions.About the Guest:With a strong Lean Six Sigma background, she is experienced as an Operations Director managing multi-site operations, as well as a Plant Manager, Production Manager, and Continuous Improvement Manager in the automotive sector within a VUCA environment and during challenging periods such as COVID, the chip crisis, and material shortages. Her aim is to inspire the teams she works with to achieve results as one, always acting with integrity, a willingness to win, and a commitment to making tomorrow better.Links:Click Here For Leire Martinez LinkedIn

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Catherine McDonald, and guest Sebastian McLeod, discuss the importance of frontline leaders in driving organizational change. Sebastian McLeod, CEO of TrippNT, shares his company's journey from a basement startup to an industry leader, emphasizing the significance of frontline workers and the impact of Lean principles.About the Guest:Sebastian McLeod, CEO of TrippNT, transformed the company from a basement startup into an award-winning industry leader recognized by Inc. Magazine since 2014. A U.S. Army veteran, he leverages his background in discipline and efficiency to streamline operations and foster innovation. Known for his respectful, problem-solving leadership style, Sebastian has built a global client base with customizable, efficiency-driven products. In 2018, he received the Made in Missouri Leadership Award for Manufacturer of the Year.Links:CLICK HERE FOR TRIPPNT LINKEDINCLICK HERE FOR TRIPPNT FACEBOOKCLICK HERE FOR TRIPPNT INSTAGRAMCLICK HERE FOR TRIPPNT WEBSITE

Micki Vandeloo, President of Lakeview Consulting, offers insights from her extensive background in grant funding and manufacturing. She discusses the transformation from a learning culture to practical capabilities within organizations. Focusing on the barriers faced in translating training into actionable skills, Micki emphasizes the role of leadership and funding in improving workplace performance. She also highlights the importance of cross-functional collaboration in maximizing grant efforts, and how integrating training into strategic plans can foster continuous improvement.

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, hosts Shayne Daughenbaugh, Andy Olrich, and guest Royden Johnson, discuss the importance of vulnerability and courage in leadership. Royden Johnson emphasized the need for leaders to move from imitation to differentiation to embrace vulnerability effectively.About the Guest:Royden Johnson is a distinguished manufacturing leader with extensive experience spanning diverse industries, including automotive sectors. As a Six Sigma Black Belt, he brings a robust expertise in operational excellence and continuous improvement. Royden has a proven track record of driving efficiency and innovation, enhancing performance, and delivering sustainable results across complex manufacturing environments.Links:Click Here For Royden Johnsons' LinkedIn

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, hosts Patrick Adams, Catherine McDonald, and guest Vince Lanni, discuss the power of curiosity in business improvement. Vince, a restaurant consultant, emphasizes the importance of curiosity in problem-solving and team engagement.About the Guest:Vince helps bars and restaurants make more money, faster — guaranteed. After a successful career opening and improving some of the most prominent bars on Broadway in Nashville, he launched his consulting business to help even more people in the restaurant industry implement strategies that boost productivity and profit.Links:www.linkedin.com/in/vince-lanni