The Lean Solutions Podcast

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Catherine McDonald, Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Daniel Walker discuss the importance of innovation, culture, and leadership in change management. The empathize the significance of middle management in organizational change and innovation. He shares his research on empowering middle managers and the need for a culture of continuous improvement.About the Guest:Dr. Walker has been developing his skills in problem-solving, innovation, and culture change for several decades. He is a certified Six Sigma black belt. He holds a BS in Plastics Engineering Technology, an MS in Management, Strategy, and Leadership, and a PhD in Business Management. His doctoral research focused on organizational change and innovation. He has a passion for facilitating the learning process, focusing on leadership development and cultural innovation.Links:Click Here For Daniel Walker's LinkedIn

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Andy Olrich and guest Hessam Vali discuss the importance of aligning leadership with personal and organizational values. Hessam shares his journey of self-reflection and the impact of a pivotal moment with a CEO. They discuss practical steps for embedding purpose, such as documenting values, integrating them into daily operations, and fostering a culture of vulnerability and trust. Hessam also highlights the significance of storytelling and recognition programs in reinforcing values and engaging employees. About the Guest:Hessam Vali is Co-Founder of Techam Solutions, an engineering and management consulting firm focused on operational excellence and business transformation. A Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and ASQ Certified Quality Professional, Hessam has a strong track record of leading teams to streamline processes and deliver measurable results.With deep expertise in Lean tools like Value Stream Mapping, Kaizen, SMED, and 5S—as well as methodologies like DMAIC and DMADV—he has led major product development projects in the automotive and construction sectors. Customer-focused and results-driven, Hessam combines technical precision with strategic insight to tackle complex challenges.Links:Click Here For Hessam Vali's LinkedInClick Here For Website 

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Shane Daughenbaugh, Andy Olrich, and guest Jason Jackson discuss the concept of the Silicon Prairie and its growing tech innovation. Jason shares his leadership journey, emphasizing the importance of agility, self-awareness, and continuous improvement. They highlight the success of Nebraska's Center of Operational Excellence (COE) in fostering a culture of continuous improvement, which helped the state navigate the pandemic effectively.About the Guest:Jason Jackson is a Marine Corps veteran and Chief Human Resources Officer for the State of Nebraska. Known for blending Midwestern grit, military discipline, and a passion for public service, Jason drives government transformation through Lean principles and servant leadership.With experience in both public and private sectors, he champions simplicity, hard work, and continuous improvement. From optimizing HR systems to streamlining services, Jason proves that innovation and compassion can thrive in the heartland.Links:Click Here For Jason Jackson's LinkedIn

What You’ll Learn:In this episode, host Shane Daughenbaugh, and guest Lindsay Shababy discuss the importance of empathy in Lean transformation in healthcare. The emphasize the need to see the world through others' eyes, especially in healthcare where staff often face burnout and systemic challenges. They highlight the balance between empathy and accountability, using practical examples like improving patient flow from the ED to the floor by addressing communication gaps. About the Guest:Lindsay Shababy is the founder of Summit Performance Solutions, a consulting firm that helps healthcare leaders create sustainable improvement systems without overloading their teams. With over 10 years of healthcare operations experience and a military background, she takes a practical, disciplined approach to solving challenges in clinical settings. A Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt with a Master of Health Administration, Lindsay has led initiatives delivering over $15 million in impact. She focuses on making continuous improvement simple and effective, specializing in operational stability, daily management systems, and leadership development.Links:Click Here For Lindsay Shababy's LinkedInClick Here For Summit Performance Solutions Website

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 LinkedInClick 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 - WEBSITECLICK 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 LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠Click 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 LinkedInClick Here For Lean Leadership Center Website

Steve Spear, a senior lecturer at MIT Sloan and founder of See to Solve, delves into cultural transformation within organizations. He discusses how justified paranoia can fuel change, citing examples from companies like Netflix and Amazon. Spear emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and overcoming resistance, particularly from mid-level managers. Listeners learn practical steps to identify hidden challenges and embrace a proactive mindset. Drawing on insights from influential literature, he showcases how Toyota's operational excellence can inspire innovation across various industries.

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