Lean Into Excellence

Hosted by Liz Cricenti and Marco Bonilla

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Sep 2026

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About the show

Welcome to 'Lean into Excellence,' the podcast where we dive deep into the dynamic world of Continuous Improvement. Join us as we explore real-life applications, share success stories, and unravel the secrets behind these transformative methodologies. Get ready to lean into a world where efficiency meets innovation, right here on 'Lean into Excellence.'

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45 recent

October 27, 2026Episode 4536 min

Humans Aren't Widgets: Bringing Lean Six Sigma to Medicine with Dr. Sonia Millan

Healthcare may have more to gain from continuous improvement than any other industry. Liz and Marco talk with Dr. Sonia Millan, a board-certified sports medicine and lifestyle medicine physician and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, about bringing lean thinking into medicine. Sonia shares how she fixed clinic flow so a case got touched twice instead of six times, why clinicians resist change ("humans are not widgets"), and how cutting burnout and turnover brings back joy in patient care. She also covers AI in utilization management, her Green Belt projects, and her best advice for getting started: ask your staff. Connect with Sonia on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniamillanp/ Learn more: workstreamconsulting.com More episodes: workstreamconsulting.com/podcast Chapters: 0:45 Introduction: Dr. Sonia Milan 1:28 Welcome, and how Sonia found a lean mindset 4:15 Keeping a practice lean: supplies, inventory and waste 5:31 First pain point: clinic flow and respecting patients' time 7:39 Callbacks and the case touched six times 9:48 Resistance to change and the "art of medicine" 12:59 Engineering, product development and creativity 16:32 Protecting the patient or protecting autonomy? 19:53 Burnout, staff turnover and early wins 24:04 AI note-taking and record summaries 25:39 Utilization management and Green Belt projects 29:35 Where to start: ask your staff 32:27 Field trip to the "leanest dentist in Jacksonville" 34:44 Lean in health systems: small wins add up 35:41 Where to find Sonia, and wrap-up

September 29, 2026Episode 4440 min

Adapt to Win: Why Strategy Decays and How to Fix It with Evan Campbell

Liz and Marco talk with Evan Campbell about how strategy breaks down inside organizations long before execution begins. Evan shares how his background in the military, technology, and consulting led him to focus on the gap between strategic intent and what gets funded, communicated, and delivered. They dig into strategy decay, organizational coherence, and why a B-level strategy with A-level execution often beats the reverse. The conversation also covers OKRs, lean portfolio management, leadership accountability, and how executives can test whether strategy has truly landed. More About Evan: https://adapttowin.co/ https://www.chinookranch.com/founder.html 01:10 - Evan's path from Special Forces to software, startups, and consulting 03:59 - How the book came together from blog posts into Adapt to Win 06:10 - Why the portfolio of initiatives reveals the real strategy 07:38 - What strategy decay means and why it spreads through organizations 09:25 - Why leaders have to fight noise, inertia, and organizational drift 11:12 - The danger of shiny new executive priorities with no clear "why" 13:06 - Commander's intent versus micromanagement and rigid task lists 15:33 - Why CEOs and strategy officers often discover years of stalled progress 16:52 - The three strategy subprocesses: development, deployment, execution 18:46 - Why accountability for execution cannot stop at the strategy office 19:49 - Why the CEO is ultimately responsible for making strategy happen 21:35 - Why A-level execution beats A-level strategy with weak execution 22:28 - Strategy as a hypothesis, with feedback loops driving learning 23:33 - Gemba thinking and the gap between executive strategy and real operations 24:46 - Organizational coherence across strategy, business model, and operating model 26:42 - Too much work in progress makes strategy decay worse 28:06 - Hidden disagreement in the boardroom beneath surface alignment 29:41 - Ambition, risk, and whether a strategy is actually executable 31:10 - Why strategic adaptability starts with basic execution discipline 32:18 - How leaders should quickly adjust strategy when conditions change 33:44 - Using pulse surveys and quick conversations to test strategy deployment 34:47 - The questions every executive should ask: where do we play, how do we win 36:32 - Why the funding portfolio tells you what the organization is really building 37:59 - Public versus private companies and the wide range of strategy maturity 41:35 - Where to find Adapt to Win and Evan's consulting work

July 10, 2026Episode 3736 min

The Power of Stewardship in Organizational Success with Eric Alexander

In this episode, Eric Alexander discusses stewardship leadership, its importance in the finance sector, and how it can transform organizational culture. He shares insights from his book, leadership experiences, and practical advice for leaders at all levels. 00:00 Introduction to Stewardship Leadership 04:51 The Concept of Stewardship in Leadership 09:49 Lessons from Growth at Happy State Bank 19:35 The Evolution of Leadership and Stewardship 24:14 Self-Awareness in Leadership 26:40 Stewardship vs. Ownership 28:12 Continuous Improvement and Stewardship 31:55 Accountability vs. Blame 35:39 The Role of Leadership in Performance Management 37:49 Connecting with Eric Alexander https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-alexander-sixarrowsconsulting/ https://sixarrowsconsulting.com/ https://www.amazon.com/Stewardship-Leadership-Stinkin-Accountants-Serving/dp/B0GXCGCF8D

July 10, 2026Episode 3634 min

From Engineer to Quality Leader: Building a Culture of Excellence

In this episode, Ashlesa Mohapatra shares her journey from engineering to quality management, emphasizing the importance of culture, communication, and continuous improvement in manufacturing. Discover practical strategies for integrating quality into daily operations and fostering a culture of excellence. 00:00 Introduction to Engineering and Business Synergy 03:32 The Importance of Translating Technical Issues to Business 08:36 Building a Quality Culture in Organizations 11:58 Establishing Quality Frameworks and Processes 18:14 Overcoming Resistance to Change in Quality Management 23:33 The Role of Continuous Improvement in Engineering 29:28 The Impact of Quality on Company Reputation

May 18, 2026Episode 3648 min

Mastering the Future: The Science of Certainty with Daniel Burrus

In this thought-provoking episode, futurist and innovation expert Daniel Burrus explores how leaders and organizations can create certainty in an increasingly unpredictable world. Drawing from decades of experience helping businesses anticipate disruption and drive transformation, Daniel unpacks the power of predicting and pre-solving problems before they happen, distinguishing between hard trends and soft trends, and using strategic foresight to stay ahead of change rather than reacting to it. He also shares why taking a human-centered approach to AI and emerging technologies is critical for building resilient organizations and shaping a better future. Packed with practical insights and forward-thinking strategies, this conversation will challenge how you think about change, innovation, and your ability to influence what comes next. 00:00 Introduction to Anticipatory Leadership 02:45 Understanding Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends 05:40 The Role of AI in Predicting the Future 08:54 Integrating AI in Healthcare 11:48 The Importance of Pre-solving Problems 14:52 Education's Response to AI 17:52 The Art and Science of Professions 27:54 The Art and Science of Learning 30:23 Building Anticipatory Skills in Leadership 31:49 Predicting the Future: Hard Trends vs. Soft Trends 34:36 Innovating for an Aging Population 37:36 AI: Augmentation vs. Replacement 39:09 The Human First Approach to AI 40:36 Tasks vs. Roles: Redefining Human Contribution 41:41 Impact Statements: Shaping the Future 44:55 Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change 51:01 Positive Disruption: Shaping a Better Future Learn more about Daniel: Daniel Burrus's Website Burrus on LinkedIn Burrus on Twitter

April 23, 2026Episode 3533 min

From Ops to CEO: The Power of Data-Driven Leadership with Alan Brooke

This episode dives into the journey from the shop floor to the CEO chair, emphasizing how operational experience shapes effective leadership. Alan Brooke, CEO of Gill Group, shares insights on data-driven decision-making, leadership development, and maintaining quality and safety culture—offering valuable lessons for aspiring and current leaders alike. 00:00 From Operations to the C-Suite: Alan Brooke's Journey 05:56 The Mindset Shift: Embracing CEO Responsibilities 12:40 Balancing Detail Orientation with Strategic Vision 16:35 Navigating Decision-Making: Data vs. Speed 18:32 Proactive Problem Solving with Customers 22:31 Mentorship and Leadership Development 26:13 The Importance of Accurate Measurement Systems 34:13 Quality, Culture and Customer Trust https://gill.group/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/arbrookechiefexecutiveofficer/

April 7, 2026Episode 3626 min

How Capital Intelligence Transforms Supply Chains with Chris Hale

In this episode, Chris Hale, founder and CEO of Klear, explores the concept of capital intelligence and its critical role in managing business growth, liquidity, and supply chains across various sectors. Discover how understanding and orchestrating capital flow can transform your company's financial health and strategic planning. 00:00 Introduction to Capital Intelligence 03:11 Understanding Capital Intelligence 05:55 Challenges in Capital Management 08:49 Navigating Capital for Growth 11:52 Types of Capital and Their Implications 15:38 The Importance of Capital Planning 18:40 Managing Growth and Capital Allocation 24:42 Advice for CEOs on Major Contracts Learn More About Klear Follow Chris Hale on LinkedIn!

March 11, 2026Episode 3623 min

Mastering Process Control: Discrete vs Continuous Manufacturing

In today's episode, we dive deep into the world of process control strategies with insights from industry veterans Doug Bruce and Ken Stocco. They break down the fundamental differences between discrete manufacturing—where components are assembled into final products—and continuous processing, which involves the constant flow of raw materials. Ken shares his 28 years of experience in mining and how subtle variations in raw materials can impact production. He highlights the importance of dynamic process management, where continuous measurement and real-time adjustments are crucial for maintaining quality. Whether you're in manufacturing, mining, or any industry dealing with raw materials, this conversation will reshape your understanding of process control. 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:33 Defining discrete vs continuous manufacturing 02:46 Realization of different process control needs 04:39 Managing input variability in continuous processes 06:02 Continuous measurement and dynamic process management 07:06 Data overload and reaction delays in process control 09:17 Buffer management and its importance 11:38 Effects of buffer management and process variation 12:55 Learning from process deviations and improvements 13:43 Role of technology and automation in process control 16:32 Operator experience versus automation 18:05 Training new employees and maintaining process knowledge 19:36 AI and process control: similarities and differences 20:33 Incorporating new learnings into control systems 22:32 Equipment availability, reliability, and repair management 24:23 Predictive maintenance techniques and best practices 27:04 Advice for leaders in process control 28:15 Final thoughts: understanding the process before making changes

February 4, 2026Episode 3644 min

The Power of Incremental Improvement

In this dynamic conversation, Marco and Doug dive into the powerful idea of incremental improvement , showing how tiny, intentional changes can outperform big, flashy plans every time. They bring the 1% better philosophy to life—revealing how focusing on small, daily upgrades can compound into massive progress over time. Packed with real‑world examples, the discussion covers practical strategies for making those changes stick, the critical role of leaders in empowering teams, and how to spot and eliminate waste in any process. Marco and Doug make a compelling case that continuous improvement isn't just for factories or boardrooms—it's for every job, every team, and every person who wants to get a little better, every single day. 00:00 The Pursuit of Incremental Improvement 02:48 Understanding the 1% Better Philosophy 05:18 Quick Wins and Empowerment 09:34 The Role of Management in Change 16:15 Identifying and Reducing Waste 19:35 Practical Tips for Continuous Improvement 36:47 Wrapping Up: The Power of Small Changes

November 13, 2025Episode 3536 min

Cutting Waste, Creating Value: Lean in Construction with Clark Lowe

In this episode, we speak with Clark Lowe, CEO of O'Connor Company, about the application of Lean and Six Sigma principles in the construction industry. We discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing these methodologies in a traditionally slow-to-adapt sector, particularly in a fully remote work environment. Clark shares insights on overcoming resistance, the importance of mindset, and how to start continuous improvement processes. He emphasizes the significance of building a culture around these principles rather than focusing solely on numbers. The conversation also touches on the future of Lean Six Sigma in construction, including the integration of AI and the upcoming release of Clark's book on remote work. To reach out to Clark, visit him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarklowe/ https://www.buildoconnor.com/

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