KPI Fireside: A Continuous Improvement Podcast

What separates short-term Lean initiatives from lasting Lean cultures?In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Nick Belcher, a Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Lean Culture Architect who has spent decades helping organizations move beyond Lean tools and build people-first improvement cultures. Nick shares why lasting transformation happens when leaders focus on developing people, reinforcing behaviors, and embedding continuous improvement into everyday work rather than treating it as a separate initiative.🔻 Why Lean tools alone cannot sustain improvement without cultural change🔻 What a people-first Lean culture actually looks like in practice🔻 Why leadership behaviors determine whether Lean succeeds or fails🔻 Why continuous improvement must become part of daily work🔻 The role of engagement and trust in sustaining Lean transformations🔻 How organizations move from isolated improvements to enterprise-wide learning🔻 Why developing people is the foundation of operational excellence🔗 Connect with Nick Belcher on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickbelchermba/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

Why do Lean tools fade away in so many organizations? And what actually makes improvement stick?In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Marcial Portillo, a global operations and continuous improvement leader with more than 30 years of experience improving manufacturing and supply chain performance across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Marcial currently leads deployment of Spirax’s operational excellence framework across its global supply network.🔻 Why Lean tools without cultural foundation eventually fade away🔻 Blending Shingo principles with a global operational excellence framework🔻 Defining expected behaviors for every pillar and element of deployment🔻 Leadership standard work and the importance of going to the Gemba🔻 Structuring tiered meetings (Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3) to drive engagement🔻 Measuring behaviors alongside SQDCP metrics🔻 How daily management improves communication and problem escalation🔻 Using KPIs and KBIs to reinforce systems and culture🔻 The role of presence, authenticity, and consistency in sustaining change🔻 Building dashboards that track maturity, financial impact, and culture🔗 Connect with Marcial Portillo on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcial-portillo-54388188/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

What separates organizations that struggle from those that truly win?In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Jennifer Ralston. As CEO & Founder of HKPO and the HKPO Veterans Academy, she empowers organizations to innovate, execute, and sustain excellence. From Lean Six Sigma transformations at the American Red Cross to global strategic planning and culture assessments, Jennifer shares practical insights on cascading strategy, measuring what truly matters, and building trust-driven organizations.🔻 Why strategic alignment is the foundation of strong culture🔻 How to cascade strategy so every employee knows their role🔻 The difference between SOPs and true standard work🔻 Trust and respect as core cultural principles🔻 How to run an effective strategy refresh session🔻 Why organizations measure too much—and how to measure what truly matters🔻 How leadership behaviors shape accountability🔻 Why variation is the enemy—and how to eliminate it🔻 Empowering transitioning service members through the HKPO Veterans Academy🔗 Connect with Jennifer Ralston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeralston/📘 Sign up for free Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt Training for Veterans: https://gohkpo.com/training/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

Is AI coming for your job—or just the parts of it you never liked doing in the first place?In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Reed Shell, a project management leader with more than 30 years of experience in enterprise delivery and transformation. Reed teaches project management and artificial intelligence at the University of Utah and advises organizations on applying AI responsibly without losing human accountability.🔻 Why quality must be integrated throughout a project—not inspected in at the end🔻 How focusing on value instead of plans accelerated delivery before Agile was formalized🔻 Lessons from Nike’s culture and why culture drives execution speed🔻 Why respect for people is foundational to Lean and transformation🔻 The real risk of AI: automating broken processes🔻 Why value stream mapping and Lean thinking will be even more critical in an AI-driven world🔻 AI as an “overly ambitious intern” that removes low-value work🔻 Why change management is the missing ingredient in most AI rollouts🔻 The autopilot analogy: AI handles the instruments, humans still fly the plane🔻 How leaders can help teams embrace technology instead of fearing it🔗 Connect with Reed Shell on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/reedshell/📘 Learn more about Reed's Work: https://www.bluehippoconsulting.com🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

Why does Agile fail even when teams are trained and processes are in place? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris talks with Dean Kynaston, co-author of Agile Project Management for Dummies and Scrum for Dummies, about the leadership gaps that quietly derail Agile.🔻 Why Agile is about adaptability, not process compliance🔻 The difference between Agile values and the Scrum framework🔻 What actually happens in an effective daily standup🔻 The real role of Product Owners, Scrum Masters, and team members🔻 Why story points are not a measure of productivity🔻 How transparency and accountability emerge naturally on strong teams🔻 Why leadership behavior determines whether Agile succeeds or fails🔗 Connect with Dean Kynaston on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deankynaston/📘 Buy "Agile Project Management For Dummies" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0gcZEJBG🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

Why do large organizations invest heavily in technology and still fail to deliver real value? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Chris Gunderson, a former oceanographic officer who spent decades working inside U.S. defense programs.🔻 Why “technology without value is worthless” and how organizations confuse output with impact🔻 How Porter’s value chain connects upstream activity to downstream customer value🔻 Why incentives, not strategy decks, determine behavior🔻 The danger of rewarding PowerPoint instead of results🔻 What effective executives consistently do differently when allocating people, money, and attention🔻 How fear, hierarchy, and compliance quietly undermine executionThis episode connects strategy, value, metrics, and culture through hard-earned lessons from some of the most complex systems in the world.🔗 Connect with Chris Gunderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisgunderson/📘Buy "Founders Fear" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/0UsaCfb🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

How do leaders unknowingly create cultures of compliance instead of commitment? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Michael Stevens, Presidential Professor of Leadership Studies and a global expert on the people side of performance, to explore what truly separates management from leadership and why respect, not authority, is the real driver of execution.🔻 Why leadership is less about directing work and more about influencing how people choose to show up🔻 The critical difference between managing processes and leading people🔻 Michael’s two-axis leadership model: assertive vs passive and respectful vs disrespectful🔻 Why intent does not matter nearly as much as how leadership behavior lands with employees🔻 The concept of “intelligent disobedience” and why leaders must create space for employees to challenge decisions🔻 Why asking questions before giving answers dramatically increases ownership and execution🔻 How emotional intelligence, self-regulation, and empathy enable better leadership conversations🔻 The four barriers that prevent managers from becoming leaders: knowing, doing, feeling, and being🔻 Why “clear is kind” even when feedback stings and how respectful candor builds trustThis conversation is a masterclass in why leadership development is not about learning more techniques, but about rethinking how power, respect, and influence actually work inside organizations.🔗 Connect with Michael Stevens on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelstevensphd/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

How do bad meetings quietly destroy culture, morale, and execution? In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Evan Unger, a leadership and culture expert with more than 30 years of experience helping organizations improve how decisions actually get made.🔻 Why meetings are where leadership actually shows up—and why people judge leaders based on how meetings feel🔻 The real cost of 50% effective meetings on culture, morale, and execution🔻 Evan’s POPRA model for effective meetings: Purpose, Objectives, Process, Roles, and Agreements🔻 The difference between informational meetings, status updates, and true collaborative decision-making sessions🔻 Why the “highest paid person’s opinion” (HPPO) often derails better decisions🔻 How collaborative facilitation leads to stronger buy-in and faster execution🔻 Practical techniques for running better virtual meetings, including timeboxing and simultaneous chat🔻 Why leaders must “go slow to go fast” when designing meetings that actually stick🔻 How improving meetings becomes one of the fastest ways to change organizational culture🔗 Connect with Evan Unger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evan-unger-6553597/🔗 Learn more about the Collaborative Leadership Virtual Facilitation Skills Program:: https://www.terischwartzassociates.com/virtual/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Bryan Schmidt, a CPA, author, and finance transformation leader who spent more than two decades turning manual, paper-heavy finance processes into streamlined, automated systems.🔻 Why ERP systems are the foundation of any successful finance transformation🔻 The simple ROI math executives expect and how to frame improvement ideas for approval🔻 Why quick wins matter more than big projects early on🔻 How automation can improve morale, not just efficiency🔻 Why honesty and trust are essential when leading change🔻 Practical advice for CI leaders on prioritization, governance, and learning from every project🔗 Connect with Bryan Schmidt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-schmidt99/🔗 Learn more about Bryan's book: https://www.financeautomationblueprint.com/my-book🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/ 🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/ 🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you make innovation and transformation actually stick instead of stalling out in planning decks and dashboards? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Claire Quigley, founder of Tech Team Whisperer. With more than 20 years of experience spanning strategy, innovation, digital transformation, and people leadership across startups and global organizations, Claire explains why most transformations fail and what leaders must do to become truly transformation-ready.🔻 Why transformation success rates have barely changed in the last decade and what leaders overlook.🔻 What it really means to be “transformation ready” before launching major initiatives.🔻 Why purpose, not technology, is the anchor for successful innovation and change.🔻 How leadership assumptions quietly derail improvement efforts.🔻 The difference between tracking green dashboards and recognizing real progress on the floor.🔻 Why adoption and utilization matter more than rolling out new digital tools.🔻 How AI anxiety and “AI shame” show up inside organizations and what leaders can do about it.🔻 Why visual thinking, value stream mapping, and simple CI tools still matter in digital teams.🔻 How storytelling and better questions help leaders drive alignment and engagement.🔗 Connect with Claire Quigley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-quigley-innovation-change-strategy-culture-consultant/ 🔗 Learn more about Tech Team Whisperer: https://www.techteamwhisperer.com/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you build a continuous improvement system that works across industries, scales with growth, and actually changes how people think and act? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Keshawn Cupid, CEO of Modern Kaizen. Drawing on his journey from the U.S. Navy to consulting across manufacturing, healthcare, food service, government contracting, and more, Keshawn shares why mindset comes before tools and how organizations can move from good intentions to real, repeatable results.🔻 How mindset shifts unlock better problem solving, ownership, and engagement.🔻 Why standard work is essential for consistency, learning, and sustainable improvement.🔻 The difference between solving the current state and solving the gap.🔻 Why over-motivated employees can unintentionally create risk without clear structure.🔻 How CI managers act as translators between leadership goals and frontline execution.🔻 Real-world examples of how chasing the wrong metric drives the wrong behavior.🔻 Why Lean works in any industry where work is repeatable, from manufacturing to hospitals to food service.🔻 How AI can turn complexity into clarity when paired with sound improvement thinking.🔗 Connect with Keshawn Cupid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshawn-cupid-2ba86855/🔗 Learn more about Modern Kaizen: https://modernkaizen.com/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How often do organizations say they are “doing Lean” while quietly undermining it through everyday leadership behaviors?In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Bob Emiliani, a respected author, researcher, and longtime critic of superficial Lean implementations. Bob shares candid insights on why most Lean transformations fail, the difference between tools and true Lean thinking, and how leadership behavior either enables or destroys continuous improvement.🔻 Why most Lean transformations fail even when the right tools are in place.🔻 How leadership behavior shapes culture more than any CI methodology.🔻 Why “respect for people” is often misunderstood or ignored in practice.🔻 The hidden ways classical management destroys improvement.🔻 How organizations unintentionally create resistance to change.🔻 What leaders must unlearn before Lean can truly take hold.🔻 Why real improvement requires changing management thinking, not just processes.🔗 Connect with Bob Emiliani on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-emiliani-660a72170/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you build a continuous improvement culture that actually sticks, especially across large, complex organizations? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Dan Barata, Corporate Director of Continuous Improvement at East Penn Manufacturing. With decades of experience across manufacturing, healthcare, medical devices, and pharmaceuticals, Dan shares why CI must start with people, not tools, and how leaders can create the space, safety, and opportunity for real improvement to happen.🔻 How Dan’s early path in industrial engineering shaped his people-first approach to continuous improvement.🔻 Why training alone does not equal empowerment and what leaders must do next.🔻 The importance of building human connection before introducing process improvement.🔻 How failing forward is different from simply failing and why not all failures are created equal.🔻 Why standard work is the foundation for improvement and not the enemy of creativity.🔻 How leaders can create psychological safety so people feel comfortable trying new ideas.🔻 Why engagement and alignment matter as much as cost savings when measuring CI impact.🔻 Dan’s guidance on utilization, capacity, and creating time for both improvement and people development.🔻 Why coaching and mentoring matter more than running a few isolated improvement projects.🔗 Connect with Dan Barata on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-j-barata-pe-mba/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you build resilience and continuous improvement into your life and work, no matter the challenge? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Janine LeaBarrett, a governance and engineering leader whose career spans mining, construction, local government, and five seasons in Antarctica. From surviving a life-changing accident to leading teams in some of the harshest conditions on earth, Janine shares practical lessons on clarity, safety, and why continuous improvement matters everywhere.🔻 How Janine became an electrician in a male-dominated field and developed a mindset for continuous improvement.🔻 What five seasons in Antarctica taught her about teamwork, safety, and engineering in extreme conditions.🔻 How surviving a major accident shaped her resilience and philosophy of “get on with it.”🔻 Why she believes continuous improvement is essential in every industry.🔻 Her leadership advice for new supervisors: seek input from everyone and ensure clarity.🔻 Why the Five Whys remains her go-to problem-solving tool.🔻 Why resilience matters: “If you can’t bounce back, you can’t get stronger.”🔗 Connect with Janine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janineleabarrett0427244234/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/📘 Buy the book Impact: https://thatimpactbook.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

What if the key to sustaining improvement has less to do with tools and more to do with the brain itself? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Chris Hayes, CEO of Impact Performance Solutions, Shingo Licensed Affiliate, ASQ Fellow, and author of Wired for Excellence: Harnessing Brain Science for Organizational Success.🔻 Why improvement wins fade and how the Shingo Model strengthens sustainment🔻 The brain science of change and how the amygdala triggers threat responses🔻 Why logic alone never drives change and why people need safety and clarity🔻 The five domains of the B.R.A.I.N. Model and how they shape culture🔻 How leaders can reduce threat, spark reward responses, and boost engagement🔻 How clarity, communication rhythms, and small wins support sustainment🔗 Connect with Chris Hayes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christiannahayes/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🔗 Visit Impact Performance Solutions: https://impactperformancesolutions.com/📘 Buy "Wired For Excellence: Harnessing Brain Science For Organizational Success" on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e4mslDn🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

What actually makes projects succeed — and why do so many fail before they even begin?In this episode, Keith sits down with Adriana Girdler, President & Chief Efficiency Officer at CornerStone Dynamics, Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt, PMP, productivity expert, and one of the top project management voices in North America. With over 260K YouTube subscribers and 20+ years leading organizational transformation, Adriana breaks down what organizations get wrong about project work and why clarity, alignment, and methodology matter more than any tool.🔻 Adriana’s unexpected start in productivity and PM (thanks, Franklin Planner)🔻 Why “accidental project managers” are everywhere — and why they struggle🔻 The real definition of a project: start date, end date, deliverable🔻 Why technology is just a tool — not the solution to productivity🔻 What every charter must include (and why it’s your navigation system)🔻 The three levels of project roles: sponsors, steering committees & SMEs🔻 How project managers must shift into strategic leadership roles🔻 The danger of siloed work and why PMs must be the connective tissue🔻 Why organizations unintentionally set teams up for failure🔻 Project management in the age of AI — what changes, what doesn’t🔗 Connect with Adriana Girdler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianagirdler/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🔗 Visit CornerStone Dynamics:https://www.cornerstonedynamics.com/🔗 Explore the SLAY Project Management Course:https://adrianagirdler.thinkific.com/pages/slaypm🔗 Learn about the SLAY Corporate Program:https://www.cornerstonedynamics.com/project-management-corporate-program/🔗 Watch Adriana’s YouTube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/@AdrianaGirdler🔗 Follow CornerStone Dynamics on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/company/cornerstone-dynamics-inc/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

What does it really take to build a culture of excellence? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Tina Agustiady, award-winning continuous improvement leader, author, and Vice President at J.P. Morgan Chase. With decades of experience leading Lean and Six Sigma transformations across major organizations, Tina shares what it means to create lasting improvement by putting people first.🔻 Why culture, not tools, is the true foundation of Lean and Six Sigma success🔻 How to make training programs hands-on, relevant, and results-driven🔻 The role of emotional intelligence and humility in effective leadership🔻 What companies get wrong about continuous improvement and how to fix it🔻 How change management and empowerment fuel the next generation of leaders🔻 Why continuous improvement is like breathing, if you stop, you will not last🔗 Connect with Tina Agustiady on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-agustiady/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How can sustainability become more than a buzzword and drive real improvement? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Lorenzo Long, Sustainability Coordinator for Ogden City, to explore how cities can turn environmental goals into practical, measurable change. From energy efficiency to policy design, Lorenzo shares how small wins and smart framing create lasting impact.🔻 How Ogden City is embedding sustainability into its long-term planning and daily operations🔻 Why "framing" matters and how changing the language from sustainability to resilience builds buy-in🔻 How to measure what matters with the KPIs behind Ogden’s Energy Wise Strategic Plan🔻 Lessons from Weber State’s revolving sustainability fund that pays for itself🔻 How small-scale tests like an electric vehicle pilot program can spark large-scale change🔻 Why every organization, big or small, should start with one sustainability champion🔗 Connect with Lorenzo Long on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lorenzolong/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

What does it take to build a culture where improvement sticks? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Pete Gough, retired transformation leader and former head of Business Improvement at major mining organizations including Rio Tinto, Newcrest, and Goldfields. Over his decades-long career, Pete helped shape hundreds of improvement projects, mentored future leaders, and proved that true transformation starts with people, not tools.🔻 Turning Lean, Six Sigma, and change leadership into one practical “MMA-style” approach to improvement🔻 Why executive visibility and genuine engagement are the foundation for lasting cultural change🔻 How to design training programs that grow future leaders, not just project managers🔻 The role of business improvement teams in connecting strategy, operations, and people🔻 How to quantify hard versus soft savings and set realistic, stretch targets for improvement🔻 Lessons from leading CI across global mining sites and cultures🔗 Connect with Pete Gough on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-gough-86b03617/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

What makes improvement efforts succeed or fail? In this episode, Keith Norris sits down with Steve Burkle, Global Director of Operational Excellence, to explore the real factors that determine whether continuous improvement takes root or fades away. With more than 30 years leading OpEx transformations, Steve shares lessons learned from the front lines, what it takes to sustain change, develop problem solvers, and create a culture where improvement never stops.🔺 Why listening, not lecturing, is the most underrated leadership skill in continuous improvement🔺 How to turn daily management systems and tiered huddles into the backbone of a thriving CI culture🔺 The difference between doing improvement to people and doing it with them🔺 What separates quick-win projects from true operational excellence🔺 How to measure what really matters, so data drives behavior, not just dashboards🔗 Connect with Steve Burkle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-burkle-lssbb-11a08a78/🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.