Employee Engagement, Keynote Speeches, Leadership, Lean, Respect for People, Toyota

“What I Learned by Leaving Toyota” – KaiNexicon Keynote Speech

I had the privilege of giving a talk at the 2019 KaiNexicon conference in Austin, TX. In "What I Learned from Leaving Toyota", I outlined the key three lessons I learned by transferring the knowledge I gained while working for Toyota to my next company. See links below to video and summaries. Link to video… Continue reading “What I Learned by Leaving Toyota” – KaiNexicon Keynote Speech

Employee Engagement, Lean, Respect for People

Building Standard Operating Procedures for a Homeless Shelter

I recently had the opportunity to partner with a non-profit organization that provides food and shelter to the homeless population in the local area. It was my first time applying the principles and tools of continuous improvement to the non-profit world, and I was amazed to discover how well the concepts transferred outside of traditional… Continue reading Building Standard Operating Procedures for a Homeless Shelter

Employee Engagement, Leadership, Lean, Respect for People

How 200 Jobs Were Saved by Engaging Employees in Continuous Improvement

Have you ever wondered, "This employee engagement / continuous improvement stuff sounds great, but does it really work?" In my experience, the answer is a resounding "Yes." This is a story about how the right process indeed leads to the right results, and represents one of the most meaningful projects I have experienced in my… Continue reading How 200 Jobs Were Saved by Engaging Employees in Continuous Improvement

Employee Engagement, Respect for People

What a Trip to Lowe’s Taught Me About Employee Empowerment

A recent trip to Lowe's reminded me of the importance of empowering employees. One Friday afternoon, I went to the home improvement store to pick up some mulch for my yard. I spotted a discounted Azalea bush marked down from $25 to $5. It needed some TLC, but for that price it was worth the… Continue reading What a Trip to Lowe’s Taught Me About Employee Empowerment