Connecting the Dots

In a compelling discussion, Andrew Brodsky—an award-winning business professor and expert in virtual communication—shares insights born from his unique journey navigating life and communication primarily online due to health challenges. He explores the pitfalls of digital interactions, including the urgency bias of emails and how generational differences affect communication methods. Brodsky offers practical tools to enhance workplace communication norms, aiming to boost productivity and alleviate stress. His personal experiences add depth to his strategies for effective virtual dialogue.

Peter A. Schein, co-founder and CEO of OCLI.org, brings extensive experience in organizational behavior and development. He dives into the transformative power of Humble Inquiry in the workplace, emphasizing authentic relationships built on trust and vulnerability. The conversation highlights how remote work has reshaped communication styles and the importance of informal interactions. Schein also discusses reflective practices for effective group learning and explores the dynamics of 'personization,' urging deeper, more meaningful professional conversations.

I’ve spent my career helping teams and leaders navigate change—not by pushing harder, but by making the process easier, smarter, and, dare I say, even enjoyable. As the Operational Excellence Leader for two Viant Medical sites (New Hampshire and Michigan), I drive continuous improvement in high-stakes manufacturing environments. But my real passion? Helping change leaders like you overcome resistance and create lasting impact with less struggle and more confidence. That’s why I launched my coaching and consulting business—to help you break through obstacles and find the path of ease to real, meaningful change.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Darren Walsh, Director & Leadership Coach at Making Lean Work Ltd, shares over 30 years of expertise in continuous improvement. He discusses the misalignment in organizational improvement efforts and introduces his new book, highlighting common pitfalls in lean implementation. Walsh emphasizes the necessity of shifting mindsets and enhancing leadership through practical training. He also addresses core problems in industries like oil and gas, focusing on root causes and the critical impact of behaviors on organizational performance.

Gemma started her career studying Mechanical Engineering at Cardiff University. She quickly discovered the world of Continuous Improvement and spent 20 years working to improve processes and systems within various manufacturing industries including Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Dairy, Cosmetics & Toiletries, Food, and Medical Devices. She has been a CI Manager numerous times and an Operations Manager running a factory of over 500 people.Gemma is hugely passionate about Improvement and developing people and processes. She gets such a kick out of coaching and facilitating, especially when she sees the lightbulb switch on in someone's head – when they solve a problem; when they realize they have the power to change; or when they get excited about all the improvements they could make.In 2019, Gemma left the world of employment to establish her own business, SPARK Improvement, aiming to switch on as many lightbulbs as possible. Her mission is to help organizations and individuals be the BEST they can be, by helping people SEE, helping people THINK, and helping people CHANGE.Gemma is based in Cheshire in the UK, working globally.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Jess Britt, an executive coach and consultant, shares her expertise in transforming organizational cultures through effective meeting dynamics. She discusses strategies for assessing and optimizing meeting cultures, emphasizing clear objectives and participant engagement. Topics include the challenges of virtual versus in-person meetings, integrating AI participants, and the importance of intentional leadership. Jess provides practical tips for new leaders to foster collaboration and productivity in their team meetings.

James R. Korndorffer Jr., M.D., MHPE, FACS, joined the University of Texas Austin, Dell Medical School in January of 2025 and leads the continuum of medical education to train the next generation of physicians and health care professionals. In addition, he leads efforts across The University of Texas at Austin and The University of Texas System to support interprofessional education, curricular innovation, research and other learning activities.Korndorffer graduated cum laude from Tulane University with an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering. He received his medical degree from the University of South Florida College of Medicine. He completed his general surgery internship and residency at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where he received the award for best resident teacher.With a strong interest in teaching, Korndorffer left a successful private practice after eight years and joined the faculty at Tulane University School of Medicine He became an associate professor of surgery in 2005 and professor in 2010. He served in numerous leadership roles at Tulane, including vice chair of the surgery department from 2012 to 2017, program director for the surgical residency from 2006 to 2017, assistant dean for graduate medical education and founding medical director for the Tulane Center for Advance Medical Simulation. Continuing his passion for education, Korndorffer completed his Master of Health Professions Education at the University of Illinois Chicago while working full time at Tulane.Korndorffer joined Stanford School of Medicine’s Department of Surgery as the inaugural vice chair for education in 2017. He assumed additional leadership responsibilities within the department, including director of the Goodman Surgical Simulation Center and the surgical education fellowship program.He was one of the early adopters of the use of simulation for surgical training and has been actively involved in surgical education research since 2003. Some of the early work using proficiency-based training instead of time base training for skill acquisition. This has now become the norm. He is now actively involved investigating the role simulation education has in patient quality and healthcare system safety.Korndorffer has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals as well as 10 book chapters, and he has held over 150 presentations at national and international meetings.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Dr. Julie M. Smith is a trailblazer in large-scale organizational behavior change. Her methods have garnered global awards and are backed by a wealth of case studies featuring organizations of all types and sizes.She has helped organizations identify and execute a wide variety of Vital Behaviors, from key behaviors related to executive decision making for a global oil company to front-line behaviors of flight attendants for a global airline. She’s seen it all while helping her clients produce unrivaled results.As CEO of Performance Ally, her mission is to share her life’s learning about the most efficient path for leaders at all levels to transform best practices into common practice so they can reliably deliver promised results and create a top workplace culture.Dr. Lori Ludwig is renowned for her extraordinary skill in guiding organizations to align strategy with processes, roles, and behaviors, resulting in high-impact, meaningful results.With 20+ years of consulting experience across diverse sectors, ranging from Fortune 500s to nonprofits and small businesses, Lori’s work has had a transformative impact on a global scale. Her projects have elevated productivity and delivered tremendous value for her clients.Serving as Chief Performance Architect at Performance Ally, her mission is to disseminate the science of Organizational Behavior Management (OBM) to create large-scale positive change. Lori simplifies its application, empowering organizations to unleash human potential, amplify impact, and navigate complexity effectively.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Gemma started her career studying Mechanical Engineering at Cardiff University. She quickly discovered the world of Continuous Improvement and spent 20 years working to improve processes and systems within various manufacturing industries including Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Dairy, Cosmetics & Toiletries, Food, and Medical Devices. She has been a CI Manager numerous times and an Operations Manager running a factory of over 500 people.Gemma is hugely passionate about Improvement and developing people and processes. She gets such a kick out of coaching and facilitating, especially when she sees the lightbulb switch on in someone's head – when they solve a problem; when they realize they have the power to change; or when they get excited about all the improvements they could make.In 2019, Gemma left the world of employment to establish her own business, SPARK Improvement, aiming to switch on as many lightbulbs as possible. Her mission is to help organizations and individuals be the BEST they can be, by helping people SEE, helping people THINK, and helping people CHANGE.Gemma is based in Cheshire in the UK, working globally.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.

Julie Simmons, now retired, worked with her husband Scott as part of the Scott Wade Simmons & Associates, LLC providing leadership coaching and training in Strategy Development and Deployment, Leadership Development, and the Improvement Kata & Coaching Kata. Julie always had a passion for helping others develop their skills, capabilities, and confidence to solve complex challenges in their organizations using scientific thinking. Julie had the honor to be a frequent speaker and presenter at KataCon. Julie retired as the Executive Director for the Northwest High Performance Enterprise Consortium (NWHPEC) in January 2018 after leading the organization for fifteen years. As the Executive Director, Julie was responsible for promoting the vision, mission, and purpose of the consortium within the Portland and Vancouver business area.  Prior to joining NWHPEC in 2004, Julie worked at the The Boeing Company for 14 years as Flight Line Expeditor, Shortage Controller, Supply Chain Analyst, and Manufacturing Process Analyst. She developed her skills as a Continuous Improvement practitioner while working as a Manufacturing Process Analyst where she became a Certified Accelerated Improvement Workshop leader and supported several Shingijutsu led Kaizen events. In retirement, Julie spends her time planning future travel, cooking for family and friends, and spending time with her husband Scott in all of their shared hobbies.Link to claim CME credit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3DXCFW3CME credit is available for up to 3 years after the stated release dateContact CEOD@bmhcc.org if you have any questions about claiming credit.