I'm excited to announce that I'll be speaking at the 2025 Lean Solutions Summit, which will take place September 24-26 in Detroit, Michigan.
This year's theme, “Catalysts of Tomorrow: Shaping Future Leaders,” is a powerful call to action–and it aligns perfectly with what I'll be sharing in my session.
The Real Challenge: Culture Before Tools
Too often, organizations try to copy and paste Lean tools from one environment to another–5S here, huddle boards there–hoping they'll produce results. But without the right culture in place, especially one rooted in psychological safety, those tools don't stick. They become surface-level gestures that fail to unlock real improvement.
In my talk, I'll be building on ideas from my book The Mistakes That Make Us and decades of experience helping organizations move from blame and fear to trust and learning. We'll explore how companies like Toyota and leading healthcare systems create environments where people feel safe to speak up–and how that safety becomes the engine for continuous improvement and innovation.
If your organization is struggling to sustain problem-solving efforts or get frontline engagement, this session will offer more than theory. You'll leave with actionable leadership behaviors that help build a culture where improvement thrives.
Join a Strong Lineup of Thought Leaders
I'm also looking forward to connecting with fellow Shingo Award-winning author Patrick Adams, host of the Lean Solutions Podcast (where I've been a guest) and a past guest on my Lean Blog Interviews show. Patrick has built a fantastic community of leaders who care about more than just tools–they care about people, purpose, and long-term progress.
The Summit brings together voices from across industries–healthcare, manufacturing, tech, and more–focused on building resilient leaders and organizations that can adapt, learn, and lead into the future.
Don't Miss It
Whether you're a senior leader, CI professional, or team facilitator, the Lean Solutions Summit is a unique opportunity to learn, connect, and get inspired to take your next step. I hope you'll join us in Detroit.
Register now and explore the agenda
And if you're attending, I'd love to meet you there–please say hello!
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Check out my latest book, The Mistakes That Make Us: Cultivating a Culture of Learning and Innovation:
