Best Lean Labs Podcasts (2025)

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Sarah Katherine Schmidt – Revolutionizing Performance Management for Today's Workforce 33:50

2h ago33:50

33:50

Send us a text Sarah Katherine Schmidt, Vice President at Peoplelogic, joins us this episode to discuss why performance management fails so many employees today and how improving performance management increases employee engagement and retention. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Sarah! Today’s Topic: Revolutionizing Performance Management for Today's W…

1
Lean Improvements Lead to Improved Lean Planning and Management 42:51

1d ago42:51

42:51

Mark Reich, LEI Chief Engineer of Strategy, and Karen Gaudet, LEI Senior Coach, talk with Michael Duncan, President of Viwinco, about his efforts to establish a robust daily management system in the family-owned window and door company and connect it to the company’s hoshin kanri process. Michael grew up in the company and, after rising into leader…

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The Strategy Quietly Changing Venture Capital with Minnie Ingersoll 49:56

5h ago49:56

49:56

In this episode of Demo Day, we sit down with Minnie Ingersoll, Partner at TenOneTen Ventures and host of the LA Venture Podcast, for an insider look at how venture capital is evolving in 2024. Minnie drops exclusive insights on a growing trend: LP sharing - a powerful but rarely discussed tactic that’s helping up-and-coming VCs fundraise faster an…

1
Conquer Amazon Vendor Central and Win, with Justin Leigh, CEO at Workflow Labs 37:46

5d ago37:46

37:46

Winning search and driving conversion are the two ecommerce victories that get the attention of the Amazon algorithm and drive the flywheel. Turns out, when brands struggle with those metrics, the cause often lies way, way down in the detailed depths of Amazon Vendor Central. Justin Leigh, CEO at Workflow Labs, joins the podcast to talk about strat…

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Michael Gomez - The Secret Sauce to Better Employee Engagement 31:34

4d ago31:34

31:34

Send us a text Michael Gomez, CHRO at Tasty Restaurant Group, joins us this episode to discuss what drives employee engagement and the steps organizations can take to boost their own employees’ engagement. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Michael! Today’s Topic: The Secret to Better Employee Engagement [3:21] What’s the “secret sauce” for better employ…

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0202. When Everyone’s Rowing, But the Boat Isn’t Moving 52:33

5d ago52:33

52:33

Send us a text Have you ever watched a rowing team give it their all only to spin in circles? That’s exactly how we feel when our teams pour in effort without clear roles and responsibilities. In this episode of Lean by Design, we explore how vague decision‐making and overlapping tasks quietly drain momentum, leading to missed deadlines and frustra…

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It’s Time to Market to the Algorithm, with Tim Wilson, Chief Revenue Officer at ProductWind 35:32

12d ago35:32

35:32

Listeners of this podcast are experts at thinking about the consumer who is shopping in a digital context, and how to do their best marketing to win over those consumers in the moments of discovery and conversion. Tim Wilson, Chief Revenue Officer at ProductWind, thinks that you ought to marketing at another customer that you may be neglecting: the…

1
Go Fast, Learn a Lot: A Conversation with Phil Green on Product-Centered Entrepreneurship 26:11

13d ago26:11

26:11

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with product leader and angel investor Phil Green about product-centered entrepreneurship and what it takes to truly create value for customers. Since 2020, Phil has been the senior advisor for B2B and technology at Harvard Innovation Labs. Before the i-lab, Phil spent over 30 years working at various s…

1
Desiree Goldey - Why Organizational Confusion Fails Employees 37:07

11d ago37:07

37:07

Send us a text Desiree Goldey, Director of Marketing at ZRG Partners and Founder of Do Better Consulting, joins us this episode to discuss how the disconnect between talent and HR teams impacts an organization’s employees, both current and future. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Desiree! Today’s Topic: Fixing the Disconnect Between Talent and HR Teams…

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The Successful, Continuous Beat of Daily Management 40:31

14d ago40:31

40:31

Josh Howell, LEI president, explores the topic of daily management with Joe Seestadt, Director Lab Outreach for Bronson Healthcare and a faculty member and coach with LEI. Joe trained as an industrial engineer and worked in manufacturing, and has now spent some 18 years in healthcare. He was instrumental in developing the Cleveland Clinic’s daily m…

1
How to Pick the Right Investor with Jeff Bocan 1:08:30

14d ago1:08:30

1:08:30

In this episode of Demo Day, host Sean Goldfaden sits down with Jeff Bocan, Partner at Okapi Venture Capital, to dive deep into the founder-investor dynamic, red flags to watch for, and what truly sets top-performing startups apart. 🚨 Founders: Are you doing due diligence on your investors? Jeff shares a wild story about a founder who raised a Seri…

1
Legal Can Be Your Best Commercial Business Partner, with Josh Jacobs, Legal Director at North America Core Reckitt 37:35

19d ago37:35

37:35

Risk vs. reward. Does it always need to be a binary choice? Do you and your legal teams always need to be at odds? Well, there’s a new lawyer in town. And Josh Jacobs, Legal Director at North America Core Reckitt and his team have invested a ton of time and effort in building out a process of collaboration, education, and intense communication to c…

1
Mike Ohata – Leadership and Building a Resilient Workforce 33:20

19d ago33:20

33:20

Send us a text Michael Ohata, leadership coach and former Big Four partner, joins us this episode to discuss building a resilient workforce through better talent management. He addresses the shortcomings of many organizations’ outdated talent management models, offers ideas for improvement, and speculates on how AI could enhance talent management. …

1
0201. From Small Wins to Organizational Transformation: Building Momentum in Biopharma 45:00

19d ago45:00

45:00

Send us a text In this episode, we explore how small, intentional improvements—not sweeping changes—drive real progress in biopharma operations. The discussion highlights a common challenge: the disconnect between strategy and execution, often due to underutilized middle management. You'll learn a simple framework for creating meaningful change: st…

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Bridging Gaps and Breaking Silos - How IT Drives Growth with Jon Harding of Conair and Lauren Livak Gilbert of DSI 28:50

26d ago28:50

28:50

Welcome to our first cross over podcast with eCommerce Braintrust. I joined Jordan Ripley & Julie Spear from Acadia as we chatted with Jon Harding, CIO of Conair about the latest DSI research report. We dug into how IT and the rest of the business need to collaborate to see success in 2025!By Digital Shelf Institute

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Christopher CJ Gross - Overcoming Class Bias in the Workplace 42:29

26d ago42:29

42:29

Send us a text Christopher “CJ” Gross, CEO of Jabbar HR Solutions, CEO and Founder of Ascension Worldwide, and author, joins us this episode to discuss key takeaways from his book, What’s Your ZIP Code Story? CJ shares how our backgrounds shape workplace interactions, techniques for navigating difficult conversations, and practical approaches to ad…

1
The #1 Habit that Predicts Founder Success with TX Zhuo 59:20

29d ago59:20

59:20

What’s the one trait that separates successful startups from the rest? According to TX Zhuo—Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Fika Ventures—it’s not pedigree, pitch decks, or market size. It’s founder responsiveness. In this episode of Demo Day, TX reveals the surprising results of a study across 94 portfolio companies, and why the speed of your e…

1
The Coalition of the Willing, with Heather Campain, VP, CPG Integrated Go-to-Market Strategy at Epsilon 39:29

1M ago39:29

39:29

1
Danielle Bushen - Demystifying HR Data Governance 37:51

1M ago37:51

37:51

Send us a text Danielle Bushen, Global Head of People & Culture Technology Strategy at Sanofi, joins us this episode to discuss HR data governance. She explains what “data governance” actually means, outlines common data governance challenges HR teams face, and offers practical first steps toward better governance practices. [0:00] Introduction Wel…

1
Personal and Organizational Transformation: A Conversation with Dr. Sarah Womack 40:17

1M ago40:17

40:17

Josh Howell, LEI president, talks with Dr. Sarah Womack, an eight-year veteran of Toyota and author of Toyota’s Improvement Thinking from the Inside. Sarah discusses how her transformation and that of other individuals within Toyota collectively contributed to organizational improvements and high performance. Her Toyota experiences exponentially ad…

1
Strategies for Winning the MegaSales, with Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue 34:25

1M ago34:25

34:25

The MegaSales of the big retailers represent both risk and opportunity, and the size of both are constantly changing. Today’s guest, Sunava Dutta, Chief Product Officer at Pacvue, brings a ton of insights around overall strategic organizational and process best practices and a dive into the data and what it portends for this season of the Prime Day…

1
The EU AI Act Explained: Ethics, Innovation & the Future of AI in Europe 18:47

1M ago18:47

18:47

Send us a text In this episode, we use AI to take a deep dive into the EU’s landmark Artificial Intelligence Act — the world’s first comprehensive legislation regulating AI. 🎧 Join us as we break down: What the AI Act actually is — and why it matters globally How the law classifies AI risk and bans high-risk practices What it means for facial recog…

1
Isaac Cheifetz - Applying Lean Methodology to Talent Acquisition 44:06

1M ago44:06

44:06

Send us a text Isaac Cheifetz, Managing Principal at Catalytic1 Executive Search and Chief Mentor Recruiter at Minnesota Emerging Software Advisory, joins us this episode to discuss applying lean methodologies to talent acquisition. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Isaac! Today’s Topic: Applying Lean Methodology to Talent Acquisition [9:14] Is talent a…

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What it Takes to Win at New Product Development: A Conversation with Steve Spear 30:37

1M ago30:37

30:37

In this episode of the WLEI Podcast, we speak with Steve Spear, a senior lecturer at MIT’s Sloan School of Management, senior fellow at the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, and associated faculty member at Adriane Labs of the Harvard School of Public Health. Spear is also author of The High-Velocity Edge and Wiring the Winning Organization and …

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Why Most Founders Fail with Marlon Nichols 1:01:58

1M ago1:01:58

1:01:58

What makes a great founder? How do VCs really decide who to back? In this episode of Demo Day, host Sean Goldfaden sits down with Marlon Nichols, Managing Partner at MaC Venture Capital, to explore what separates good founders from great ones, the mindset of successful venture capitalists, and the hidden power of community-driven events like Cultur…

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“How Can We Get More Product Content to the PDP Faster”?, with Carolan Di Fiore, Digital Content Deployment Manager at Hershey 42:36

2M ago42:36

42:36

“How Can We Get More Product Content to the PDP Faster”? That question is top of mind every day for Carolan Di Fiore, Digital Content Deployment Manager at Hershey. Drawing from her prior experience in Ecommerce and digital roles at other global companies like Bimbo Bakeries, Carolan hit the ground running at Hershey a year and a half ago, and join…

1
Managing Projects Smarter with AI, ChatGPT, AI Agents & Businessmap 50:30

2M ago50:30

50:30

Send us a text Teodora Bozheva is back by popular demand! Her last talk had 1,000+ registrations—don’t miss this one! In this webinar, Teodora Bozheva, Head of Professional Service at Businessmap, will explore how AI is transforming project management by enhancing efficiency, data analysis and decision-making. In the webinar, you will learn why pro…

1
Ron Hetrick - Finding a Solution to Current Labor Shortages 47:02

2M ago47:02

47:02

Send us a text Ron Hetrick, Vice President of Staffing Strategy and Sr. Labor Economist at Lightcast, joins us in this episode to discuss the current labor shortage and its relation to shifting demographics in the workforce. He explores which industries are being hit hardest by labor shortages (and why), and he answers the question on many of our m…

1
It’s Our 300th Episode - What Have We Learned?, with co-hosts Peter Crosby, Lauren Livak Gilbert, and Rob Gonzalez 44:05

2M ago44:05

44:05

Three hundred freakin’ episodes of Unpacking the Digital Shelf! We celebrate by bringing together the 3 co-hosts to squeeze out the lessons learned from our generous and brilliant guests, and highlight where we think you’ll want to put your energies to make sure you, and your organization, are ready for the opportunities to come.…

1
We Closed Our Restaurant SMACK’N After 5.5 Years — Here’s What’s Next… 35:45

2M ago35:45

35:45

Send us a text In this heartfelt episode of It’s About Graham Time, we open up about one of the biggest transitions of our lives—closing our beloved restaurant, SMACK’N Guamanian Grill, on March 23, 2025, after 5.5 incredible years of serving our community. We pour out gratitude to our customers, friends, family, and staff who made the journey so m…

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Stefanie Krievins - The Holistic Impact of Change Management 36:39

2M ago36:39

36:39

Send us a text Stefanie Krievins, President of The Change Architects, joins us to pick up topics that were left on the cutting room floor when she last guested on the show. In this episode, she discusses how executive upskilling and reskilling has changed in recent years, the true impact of executive coaching, and why change management doesn’t get …

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The Keys To Becoming A Successful Founder with Laurent Grill 1:01:34

2M ago1:01:34

1:01:34

Welcome to the Demo Day Podcast – Your Inside Look at Venture Capital & Startups Hosted by Sean Goldfaden of Coefficient Labs, Demo Day brings you in-depth conversations with top venture capitalists, startup founders, and industry leaders to demystify the world of VC, fundraising, and startup growth. Each episode delivers insider insights on raisin…

1
The Power of Love: Lean Into Loyalty, with Chris Perry, Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr 37:55

2M ago37:55

37:55

Loyalty is one of the most important components of love. It can also be one of the greatest drivers of your competitive advantage and growth in financially challenging times. Chris Perry, Chief Learning Officer at firstmovr and our own Lauren Livak Gilbert teamed up to dig into the best new practices of loyalty and describe them in a new research r…

1
Beth White - The Evolution of AI in the Workplace 35:42

2M ago35:42

35:42

Send us a text Beth White, Founder and CEO of MeBeBot, joins us this episode to discuss lessons learned from working with AI. She also shares concerns regarding the continued widespread integration of AI in organizations as well as hopes for the future of AI. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Beth! Today’s Topic: The Evolution of AI in the Workplace [5:…

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Engineering for the Future: A Conversation with MIT D-Lab Founder Amy Smith 27:59

2M ago27:59

27:59

In this episode of WLEI Podcast, we welcome Amy Smith, Founding Director of MIT’s D-Lab, an innovative university-based program in international development and a senior lecturer in Mechanical Engineering at MIT.By Lean Enterprise Institute

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Lean Into Teaching as a Scientific Experiment! 24:32

2M ago24:32

24:32

As teachers, we constantly seek new ideas, strategies, and inspiration—but when does learning become a crutch instead of a tool for action? In this episode of Deep Roots, Flowers, and Fruit, we'll reflect on the balance between curiosity and implementation. From professional development to classroom experimentation, we'll explore how embracing the …

1
Are You a Leader or a Laggard in Your Retail Media Operation?, with Russ Dieringer, founder and CEO of Stratably 38:36

2M ago38:36

38:36

Retail media has been around long enough now for some clear trends to develop in terms of the best practices that lead to the best outcomes from your investment. Russ Dieringer, founder and CEO of Stratably, has returned with a refresh to their “How Brands Do Retail Media” report, which uses both quantitative and qualitative data from more than 70 …

1
Human Robot Agent: Redesigning Work in the Age of AI with Jurgen Appelo 51:20

2M ago51:20

51:20

Send us a text Embrace the transformative power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and its sweeping impact on the workplace, leadership, and organizational design. This session unpacks highlights from the new book Human Robot Agent, exploring practical strategies to embrace innovation, navigate complexity, and harness AI to thrive in a socio-techn…

1
Spring Cleaning Your Science Teaching! 19:41

2M ago19:41

19:41

As the school year winds down, do you ever feel that itch to shake things up? 🌱✨ That sense that what worked this year might need a refresh next year? In this episode, we’re talking about curiosity as an act of service—why great teaching isn’t a “set it and forget it” career, but one that evolves with time, students, and our own growth. I’m sharing…

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Ann Kuss - Minimizing Turnover's Financial and Psychological Costs 32:23

2M ago32:23

32:23

Send us a text Ann Kuss, CEO of Outstaff Your Team, joins us this episode to discuss common causes for employee turnover in organizations, the impact it has on remaining team members, and strategies to reduce turnover while managing its stress on the team. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, Ann! Today’s Topic: Minimizing Turnover’s Financial and Psycholo…

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Socially Responsible Design Meets Lean Product and Process Development: A Conversation with Cynthia E. Smith 27:33

2M ago27:33

27:33

In this episode of WLEI Podcast, we welcome Cynthia E. Smith, Curator of Socially Responsible Design at Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum and author of Design for the Other 90%. Cynthia speaks about design as a catalyst for change and what it means, as she says, to be in “the collective work of building capacity and agency in communities acr…

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From SEO to GEO - How to Win the Battle for the AI Agent’s Attention, with Max Sinclair, Founder & CEO at Ecomtent 36:36

3M ago36:36

36:36

In the 2024 holiday shopping season, use of AI chatbot shopping rose 6,000% over the prior year, according to Adobe. Those are searches driven by the intent of the shopper, and many never even make it to a product page. Winning your place in those shopping journeys will require mastering the new capabilities of generative engine optimization, or GE…

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Martha Curioni - How to Responsibly Integrate AI into HR 37:29

3M ago37:29

37:29

Send us a text Martha Curioni, People Analytics Consultant at Provisio Data Solutions, joins us this episode to discuss some best practices for responsible AI implementation in organizations. She also explains the importance of integrating AI models into existing processes and allowing users to submit feedback on the AI. [00:00] Introduction Welcom…

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Riding the Waves of AI Innovation, with Brian Yamada, Chief Innovation Officer at VML 27:43

3M ago27:43

27:43

Brian Yamada, Chief Innovation Officer at VML, says this era of AI innovation could be best described using the title of the Oscar Winner for Best Picture at the 2023: Everything, Everywhere All at Once. So Brian joined the podcast to take some of the craziness out of it all by digging into the 3 waves of AI innovation - content, experience, and ag…

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Next-Gen Agile: How AI is Elevating Scrum Masters with Aisling Finn 47:16

3M ago47:16

47:16

Send us a text Welcome to the future of Agile! In this session, we dive deep into how Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the Scrum Master role—turning them into leaders of innovation, efficiency, and strategic decision-making. What You’ll Learn: ✅ How AI enhances decision-making & risk navigation ✅ Automating routine tasks to boost tea…

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John Barrand - Modernizing Performance Management in the Public Sector 42:38

3M ago42:38

42:38

Send us a text John Barrand, Chief HR Officer for the State of Utah, joins us this episode to discuss the unique challenge of modernizing performance management in the public sector. [0:00] Introduction Welcome, John! Today’s Topic: Modernizing Performance Management in the Public Sector [8:18] What are the key differences between public and privat…

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Rooted in Science: Strengthening Student Connections to Inquiry-Based Learning 18:43

3M ago18:43

18:43

February is all about connection—but not just in relationships. In this episode of Deep Roots, Flowers, and Fruit, we explore what it means to truly connect students to science as a practice, not just as a set of facts. Too often, science instruction checks off the boxes—“I did a lab, so I included the science and engineering practices!”—but is tha…

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Creating A Global Approach to Omnichannel Execution Excellence with Local Control, with Vivian Valks, Global Ecommerce Acceleration Manager at Arla Foods 33:23

3M ago33:23

33:23

After a decade of rapid growth and experimentation, ecommerce for many is moving into a more mature phase, while of course still being incredibly dynamic. Many companies are finding that the new opportunities for category growth lie in establishing the best practices for omnichannel execution and then scaling those capabilities while adapting it to…

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30-Plus Years with Hoshin Kanri 1:03:03

3M ago1:03:03

1:03:03

This week The Management Brief presents a podcast with Josh Howell, LEI President, and Mark Reich, LEI Chief Engineer, Strategy. They discuss Mark’s 30-plus years working with hoshin kanri — two decades at Toyota and then coaching executives while with LEI — and the impact that the strategic planning and execution process has had on Toyota and the …

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Lean Labs Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen