Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership

Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy

Lean Thinking, Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Kata, & Continuous Improvement

  • 23 minutes 40 seconds
    GA 611 | The Role of Games in Continuous Improvement with Alexandra Suchman

    This week’s guest is Alexandra Suchman. Ron and Alexandra discussed the concept of relational waste, playing games in continuous improvement, the role of personality differences, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • Alexandra’s favorite quote (2:33)
    • Her background (3:21)
    • Her thoughts on playing games in continuous improvement (5:39)
    • All about relational waste (8:02)
    • How personality differences factor in (10:56)
    • A time when a game didn’t work out (17:10)
    • Alexandra’s go-to games for those just getting started (18:51)
    • Her advice for incorporating games (20:46)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    Have you ever played games in a continuous improvement setting? What kinds of games?

    18 December 2025, 10:00 am
  • 35 minutes 32 seconds
    GA 610 | Lean and AI in the Legal Field with Heather Underwood and Adam Marsland

    This week’s guests are Heather Underwood and Adam Marsland. Ron, Heather, and Adam discussed how lean is being applied in legal settings, the status quo when it comes to AI, what the future might look like, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • The quotes that inspire Heather and Adam (3:44)
    • Their backgrounds (5:37)
    • The role of lean (7:36)
    • Examples of using lean in a legal setting (10:20)
    • What they’re learning (13:01)
    • The future of AI and its effect on humanity (17:38)
    • Challenges as it relates to lean and AI (19:14)
    • What things will look like in five years (24:52)
    • The adoption of lean in the legal industry (27:01)
    • Moving from control to curiosity (29:10)
    • Their final words of wisdom (33:33)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    Are you concerned for the future in regards to AI? Why or why not?

    11 December 2025, 10:00 am
  • 32 minutes 19 seconds
    GA 609 | Leveraging Overall Equipment Effectiveness with Caleb Wilczynski

    This week’s guest is Caleb Wilczynski. Ron and Caleb discussed Caleb’s experience getting his Master Black Belt with Gemba Academy, the challenges his organization has faced, design engineering, leveraging OEE, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • The quote Caleb likes (3:57)
    • His background (5:07)
    • What he’s up to in continuous improvement (8:42)
    • About Caleb’s design engineering role (12:06)
    • Their change management journey (17:20)
    • How else Caleb is using his new skills (21:24)
    • How Caleb plans to share his knowledge (25:45)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    What are your thoughts on Overall Equipment Effectiveness?

    4 December 2025, 10:00 am
  • 29 minutes 41 seconds
    GA 608 | Leading Without Authority with Ricky Banks

    This week’s guest is Gemba Academy Senior Coach and Instructor Ricky Banks. Ron and Ricky discussed what it means to lead without authority, working with incarcerated individuals, the importance of building relationships, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • Ricky’s background (3:17)
    • What “leading without authority” means to him (4:15)
    • Whether it’s more or less important today (6:10)
    • Building trust and credibility (7:47)
    • An example of a spectacular leader (10:49)
    • How it feels working with incarcerated individuals (15:02)
    • How these skills work in the coaching context (18:24)
    • The importance of relationships (22:27)
    • The role of likeability (23:32)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    What does the phrase “leading without authority” mean to you?

    27 November 2025, 10:00 am
  • 34 minutes 6 seconds
    GA 607 | Improving Your Internal Operating System with Michelle Troseth and Tracy Christopherson

    This week’s guests are Michelle Troseth and Tracy Christopherson. Ron, Michelle, and Tracy discussed the concept of an internal operating system, dealing with both burnout and boredom, the importance of personal alignment, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • Michelle and Tracy’s favorite quotes (3:12)
    • Their backgrounds (4:37)
    • Characterizing burnout (6:03)
    • Dealing with boredom (9:27)
    • About the “internal operating system” (11:24)
    • How to prevent leaders from self-sabotaging (16:22)
    • “Upgrading” your operating system (20:52)
    • The importance of personal alignment (24:23)
    • An example anecdote (26:52)
    • How that kind of impact makes them feel (30:56)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    What about the concept of an internal operating system can you relate to?

    20 November 2025, 10:00 am
  • 26 minutes 25 seconds
    GA 606 | Fixing What Bugs You with Nick Klein

    This week’s guest is Nick Klein. Ron and Nick discussed how Nick applies lean at his organization, the challenges they’re facing, and why quick improvements like cleaning up your desktop do more than you think. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • The quote Nick likes (2:37)
    • Nick’s background (3:34)
    • His journey (5:52)
    • An example improvement (8:30)
    • The size of their organization (10:08)
    • The challenges they’re facing (13:57)
    • A breakthrough moment (17:08)
    • One of Nick’s favorite mistakes (19:20)
    • Advice for anyone who is new to lean (22:55)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    What’s a quick fix you could do today to make your life easier?

    13 November 2025, 10:00 am
  • 36 minutes 39 seconds
    GA 605 | The Katalyst Framework with Katie Anderson

    This week’s guest is Katie Anderson. Ron and Katie discussed Katie’s most recent book, the Katalyst framework she created, her experiences leading trips in Japan, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • The quote Katie likes (2:55)
    • Her background (4:52)
    • What she’s learned since writing the book (7:54)
    • The model she created (9:49)
    • The mistake organizations and leaders make (13:05)
    • Katie’s podcast journey (17:48)
    • Her experiences in Japan (26:51)
    • Katie’s take on AI (30:18)
    • Her final words of wisdom (34:48)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    What interests you most about the Katalyst framework?

    6 November 2025, 10:00 am
  • 40 minutes 15 seconds
    GA 604 | Creating a Culture of Problem Solvers with Sarah Tilkens and Leah Roe

    This week’s guests are Sarah Tilkens and Leah Roe. Ron, Sarah, and Leah discussed the problem solver revolution, building trust in yourself and others, working with younger generations, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • A favorite quote (2:16)
    • How Sarah and Leah met (4:15)
    • Ron’s confession (9:25)
    • Building a culture of problem solvers (11:15)
    • His advice for when trust isn’t where it should be (13:23)
    • Trusting yourself (17:34)
    • The problem solver revolution (22:32)
    • How kaizen plays a role (25:49)
    • Working with the younger generations (29:11)
    • The most important concept Ron took away from today’s episode (37:33)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    How do you build trust in yourself? In coworkers?

    30 October 2025, 10:00 am
  • 37 minutes 48 seconds
    GA 603 | The Culture of Calm with Gui Costin

    This week’s guest is Gui Costin. Ron and Gui discuss fostering a calm company culture, bringing out the best in people, dealing with different generations and personality types in the workplace, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • Gui’s favorite quote (2:49)
    • His background (4:22)
    • The concept of continuous improvement culture (5:45)
    • The definition of kindness (10:46)
    • Gui’s take on personality types (13:53)
    • The culture of calm (18:01)
    • Managing employees of a younger generation (21:04)
    • Some actionable steps you can take to improve your company’s culture (30:50)
    • Gui’s final words of wisdom (36:44)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    How do you deal with generational differences at work?

    23 October 2025, 10:00 am
  • 29 minutes 26 seconds
    GA 602 | Clues from the Factory Parking Lot with George Pesansky

    This week’s guest is George Pesansky. Ron and George discussed taking gemba walks, what we can learn from factory parking lots, the Kano model, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • George’s quote (2:51)
    • His background (4:39)
    • His take on gemba walks (6:33)
    • Leadership and setting expectations (9:28)
    • The idea of failure (11:37)
    • Clues from the factory parking lot (14:03)
    • The Kano model (15:43)
    • How George uses A3s (21:09)
    • His final words of wisdom (27:18)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    How else could the Kano model be used in continuous improvement?

    16 October 2025, 10:00 am
  • 36 minutes 18 seconds
    GA 601 | The Power of NLP with Josh Davis and Greg Prosmushkin

    This week’s guests are Josh Davis and Greg Prosmushkin. Ron, Josh, and Greg discussed NLP, or Neuro-Linguistic Programming, why it matters, how it can help in difficult situations, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

    In this episode you’ll learn: 

    • Their favorite quotes (3:07)
    • Their backgrounds (4:21)
    • What NLP is and why we should care (7:38)
    • What a well-formed outcome means (10:47)
    • Whether or not NLP is manipulative (15:38)
    • Examples of when NLP has helped others (17:59)
    • The techniques of NLP (20:27)
    • How NLP can help in difficult situations (24:17)
    • What NLP helps (29:29)

    Podcast Resources

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    What Do You Think?

    Have you heard of NLP before?

    9 October 2025, 10:00 am
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