Excellence Unlocked

In Spain, there is a centuries-old tradition in which teams build towering human pyramids – sometimes up to ten levels high – through extraordinary trust, coordination, and collective discipline. It’s a powerful analogy for business excellence. No one climbs unless the base is solid. No one moves without rhythm. And no one improvises at level nine.  Yet in business, we often launch bold strategies with vague ambition and expect people to “figure it out.” Ishan shares a simple three-part formula to build a vision that actually sticks: a sharp, emotional tagline, a compelling image that energises, and zero wiggle room across the organisation.  Because excellence isn’t built with enthusiasm alone. It’s built with clarity. Stabilise the base, and only then can your tower truly rise.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Great leaders don’t just deliver results. They leave fingerprints on the people they lift along the way. And today’s guest has done exactly that across nearly three decades inside one of Australia’s most iconic companies. From safety coordinator to Chief Supply Chain Officer at Arnott’s, Tim Morgan’s career is a masterclass in growing by serving others, connecting deeply, and leading with intent.  He’s guided teams through turnarounds, transformations, and global assignments, all while shaping some of the most loved brands in our pantry – Tim Tam, Shapes, Salada and more. Tim joins Ishan to unpack the leadership habits, human moments and hard-won lessons behind a remarkable 28-year journey.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A strange noise in a car that vanishes at the mechanic becomes the spark for a powerful business lesson: listening matters. Ishan explores what we can learn from mechanics who hear problems before they break, pilots who inspect aircraft for subtle warning signs, and leaders who tune into their organisations.  There are three critical ways to listen to a business: to your assets, your people, and your operating rhythm. From daily equipment checks and frontline feedback to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, listening creates early warnings instead of costly failures.  Drawing on Oscar Trimboli’s work and the Chinese character Ting, we learn that listening is a full-spectrum skill – rooted in respect, presence, observation, focus, and empathy. Listen better, and performance follows.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the biggest myths in modern operations is that performance problems can be fixed with better tools. Dashboards, automation and system upgrades promise clarity, but often amplify the very capability gaps holding organisations back.  Drawing on insights from guests on previous episodes of Excellence Unlocked, Ishan builds on the summer series to explore why thinking capability must come before complexity.  You’ll hear from three highly experienced operational excellence leaders. Manu Liyanarachchi, former ANZ Operational Excellence Lead at Coca-Cola, who explains why strong fundamentals and analogue thinking matter more than digital dashboards. Dean Patton, a veteran of Pfizer, Baxter and now Goodman Fielder, challenges the idea that tools and certificates equal capability. Alodia Bourke, a senior supply chain leader with experience across FMCG in Australia and New Zealand, highlights why teams mature at different speeds and why leaders must respect that journey.  Tools are multipliers. When thinking is strong, they accelerate performance. When it isn’t, they create noise. The real breakthrough always starts with people, not technology.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After five intense weeks in Sri Lanka filled with family, friends, and nonstop catch-ups, Ishan is recording this episode in Thailand – off schedule and completely off script! This part of the journey was meant to slow things down. Instead, the last three days turned into a masterclass in disruption. You know the feeling — when you need a holiday to recover from the holiday. Add packed expectations, tight timelines, and food poisoning that took turns sidelining family members. Definitely not the plan.  But this is where clarity appears. When carefully laid plans unravel, priorities sharpen. And what unfolded over these few days reveals two practical lessons about focus, adaptability, and what it really takes to unlock excellence in business.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When organisations want to lift performance, they usually reach for new tools, new systems, new dashboards. But here’s the truth: tools don’t change culture — people do. Excellence has never been a technology problem. It’s always been a people game.  Over the past couple of years of Excellence Unlocked, one theme has come through loud and clear: when people are involved early, listened to deeply, and trusted to lead change, performance follows.  You’ll hear from three highly experienced supply chain leaders: Alodia Burke, a respected Australian executive now leading operations in New Zealand, who explains why involving people early creates true ownership of change; Kari Banick, COO of Blackwoods, who shares the power of “go and see” leadership and designing change with teams on the floor; and Dean Patton, a veteran of Pfizer, Baxter, and Goodman Fielder, who reinforces how listening to operators unlocks performance.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this special summer edition of Excellence Unlocked, Ishan brings some of the best insights from past guests – starting with a critical lesson for manufacturers, warehouses, and supply chain leaders everywhere. Yes, automation can reduce labour costs. Yes, it can drive efficiency. But done badly? It can make performance worse, faster.  You’ll hear from three highly experienced supply chain leaders: Peter Campbell, a former EY consultant and PhD-qualified practitioner who shares hard-won lessons from automating at Bosch; Kari Banick, COO of Blackwoods, who explains why disciplined design and “going slow to go fast” are critical to automation success; and Dean Patton, a senior leader from Baxter, Pfizer, and Goodman Fielder, who reinforces the principle of discipline before digital.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the clock ticks down to midnight, Ishan looks ahead to the fresh start that 1 January brings and the goals we so often set with the best intentions Lasting progress comes not from ambition alone, but from the systems, habits, and processes built into everyday life and work. Whether the goal is improved health, stronger finances, or better business performance, success follows the structure that supports it. As we welcome a new year, the invitation is to design systems that make progress inevitable, and we hope 2026 is a great year for you! For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When is there a better time than on Christmas Eve to reflect on the power of celebration? In the rush to deliver projects, transformations, and results, it’s easy to move straight on to the next challenge without pausing to reflect. Ishan explores why stopping to recognise progress, acknowledge achievements, and celebrate with your teams is essential to unlocking sustained excellence. From daily recognition to milestone celebrations, positivity and progress are contagious. As we reflect on the year that was, we wish you and your teams a joyous festive season and a well-earned moment to celebrate. For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

True efficiency isn’t about adding more bells and whistles; it’s about ditching the clutter that’s slowing you down. The big idea is simple: when your workspace and processes aren’t a scavenger hunt, everything runs smoother. Enter the 5S approach—sort, set in order, shine, standardise and sustain—a tidy little recipe for turning chaos into calm. Clear out what’s useless, keep what matters close, and suddenly productivity feels less like a battle. The real magic comes from subtraction: remove the noise, lighten the load, and watch clarity, speed and performance step into the spotlight.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continuous improvement didn’t appear out of nowhere; it evolved over more than a century of problem-solving and innovation. The story begins in the early 1900s with Henry Ford, who reshaped manufacturing through the moving assembly line, standardised work and the relentless removal of waste.  After World War II, Toyota expanded on these ideas and created the Toyota Production System, refining waste reduction, improving flow and building a culture where everyone contributes to better ways of working. Then in 1988, an MIT researcher captured this entire philosophy in one word: lean.  Today, Ishan cuts through complexity to uncover the simple, powerful essence of continuous improvement and what it really takes to unlock excellence in any business.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A casual fruit-picking weekend proves that powerful lessons in business excellence often come from the simplest places. Today, Ishan turns that moment into three principles that drive meaningful improvement: seeing familiar processes with fresh eyes, pursuing opportunities others overlook, and applying simple tools with greater depth across the organisation.  Through real operational examples, Ishan shows how small adjustments in speed, flow or daily routines can generate significant gains, and why lasting results only emerge when everyone moves in the same direction. It’s a reminder that value often hides in plain sight.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Standards on paper mean little when teams model what they see, not what they’re told. Many organisations remain stuck in “third gear,” weighed down by disengagement, reactive leadership and KPIs (key performance indicators) that only surface issues after the fact. Ishan unpacks how KAIs (key activity indicators), those consistent daily huddles and visible involvement, form the behavioural backbone of high performance. He shows how to align actions with expectations, engage fence-sitters, and build a culture where progress is deliberate, momentum grows, and excellence becomes the everyday standard.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s premier celebration of supply chain and logistics excellence – ASCLA Awards – delivered one of its most memorable nights yet. Hosted at Melbourne’s grand Town Hall with more than 500 guests, the evening blended breathtaking performance, heartfelt cultural acknowledgment, and well-earned industry recognition.  Ishan shares an immersive, behind-the-scenes recount of the event, from the awe-inspiring pipe organ and live string quartet to the powerful stories of emerging future leaders. Beyond the spectacle, the night highlighted something deeper: the importance of gratitude, community, and pausing to celebrate the people who drive continuous improvement across the sector. It’s a reminder that recognising milestones – individual and collective – is essential to unlocking excellence in any organisation.  ASCLA Awards https://www.ascla.com.au/awards/  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

During peak hour, traffic lights on highway on-ramps allow just a few cars through at a time. It seems like a delay, but it’s a clever way to maintain steady flow and prevent gridlock. Businesses work much the same way. When too much work enters the system at once, it overwhelms capacity and slows everything down.  By introducing smart “on-ramp controls” — simple pauses, prioritisation, and visual cues — leaders can create rhythm, consistency, and safety across their operations. The result is a smoother, more predictable flow of work that unlocks capacity and drives sustainable excellence.  Transport Victoria’s “Studies of coordinated ramp signal benefits” https://transport.vic.gov.au/road-and-active-transport/business/road-and-traffic-management/smart-technology-on-freeways/studies-of-coordinated-ramp-signals-benefits  Ishan refers to a five-year study conducted by Transport Victoria on the impact of ramp lights introduced on Melbourne’s M1 (Monash–CityLink–West Gate) motorway.  That study measured the changes before and after the ramp metering system was installed, showing:  a 56% increase in traffic flow,  33% of that attributed to adding an extra lane, and  the remaining 23% credited to ramp metering.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Small experiences often reveal powerful lessons about improvement and perspective. In business, progress rarely comes from one grand move but from recognising when to act quickly and when to think long term. Balancing short-term fixes with strategic shifts is what separates teams that continually improve from those that stall. Real excellence lies in understanding which problems to tackle now and which to build for later — and creating systems that make both happen seamlessly.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been driving on a familiar road when suddenly the way ahead is blocked — roadworks, flashing lights, detours everywhere? You know this route, you’ve taken it dozens of times, but now you’re forced to stop, re-route, and find another way forward.  In that moment, it’s easy to feel frustrated, even second-guess your decisions. But isn’t that what happens in business, too? We follow the same familiar paths, confident they’ll take us where we need to go, until the landscape changes. That’s when we discover whether we’re truly navigating with awareness… or just driving on autopilot.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We often race toward the next goal, chasing the next KPI, project, or deadline – so fast, we rarely pause to ask: what did we just accomplish, and who helped make it happen? In the noise of day-to-day operations, progress becomes invisible. Wins blur into routine. Morale dips. Excellence suffers. But what if we made recognition a rhythm?  What if we could embed celebration into the fabric of how we work – hourly, daily, monthly, quarterly? This isn’t about balloons and bonuses. It’s about helping people see they’re making a difference, feel momentum, and stay engaged.  Ishan unpacks how businesses can create simple rituals to make progress visible – through scorecards, symbols, storytelling, and shared milestones. Because when you celebrate movement, you create motivation.  And that’s how you unlock excellence!  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every successful business eventually hits a ceiling — that moment when the systems, habits, and thinking that once drove growth start holding it back. Some leaders of large, thriving companies have realised exactly that. They’re not failing — far from it — but they know instinctively that what got them here won’t get them there.  Unlocking excellence isn’t about working harder or doing more. It’s about thinking differently — moving from firefighting to flow, from reacting to creating stability. Just like progressing from primary school to high school, the fundamentals remain, but the maturity deepens.  Ishan shares the three essential shifts that help leaders move beyond success to sustained, scalable excellence.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/ More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Every kick-off tells the same story. The energy in the room is electric – new beginnings, fresh ideas, promises of transformation. But beneath the excitement lies something else: hesitation.  “We’re too busy,” they say. “We’ve done this before.” And they’re right to be cautious. Because for too long, businesses have relied on the same 20% of people – the diligent few who hold everything together – while 60% quietly drift to the sidelines. They’re not disengaged; they’re just waiting to see if this time will be different.  Ishan unpacks how to win those hearts and minds from day one, how to turn scepticism into belief. How to make change visible, not theoretical. And how to unlock the potential of the fence-sitters. Because when you move the middle, you move the mountain.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.