Lean Solutions - Cliff Notes (Ep. 38)

Feeling stuck in a culture rut? You're not alone! In this episode, Mapi and Christine  sat down to spill the tea on everything they learned from their case study series. The conversation uncovers some real gems about building a workplace where people actually want to come to work. Our conversation is a bit of a road trip, starting with recognizing that something is broken to investing in a culture where people are excited to show up to work. Join us for a twenty-two minute roadmap to a more joyful work culture, we promise it is a journey worth taking.

In this episode, we sit down with Geri Ewing, the Director of the Clean Product Value Chain’s Central Support Group. Geri exemplifies exceptional leadership by candidly sharing what it means to lead through challenging times. She opens up about receiving feedback on her leadership and team that was initially hard to accept, even leading her to briefly consider retirement. However, instead of retreating, Geri empathized with the feedback provider and decided to take action. She led her team through a transformative journey of addressing the issues head-on, fostering courageous conversations, and collaborating on solutions. Over time, this approach not only resolved the problems but also brought back joy and laughter to the office. We're grateful Geri shared her inspiring journey with us. Tune in—you'll be glad you did.

Are you born a chief joy officer or do you become one?Is joy leadership a natural trait, or can it be learned? This episode of the 9 to 5 Joy podcast dives into the nature vs. nurture debate of Joyful Leaders. Mapi and Christine explore the question: Do our backgrounds push us towards joy or away from it, and how does that impact our leadership style? They analyze past guests who embody a passion for people, relationships, and creating positive experiences. Feeling stuck with a joyless leader? We discuss the implications of a CEO's disposition on their team and explore the spectrum of leadership styles - from those who ignite joy in their teams to those who unintentionally stifle it.  Join us as we unpack these joyful dilemmas and help you identify the leaders who cultivate a thriving workplace.

Join us as we chat with Robert Cadena, CEO and Co-founder of Lean Solutions Group, a company that is supporting over 500 U.S. based companies with logistics through satellite offices with over 900 employees. Robert’s authenticity is on blast in this episode, he shares the surprisingly simple driving force behind his success: helping people. He'll reveal how focusing on the details that matter to your team, empowering your high performers, and fostering a culture of respect can make all the difference. If you're looking for actionable tips to create a thriving workplace, this episode is a must-listen!

In this episode, Mapi travels to Colombia for a conversation with Lean Solutions Director, Kristell Pardo. Kristell shares her journey of professional evolution within a company. She has seen the company go from 100 employees to over 10,000 employees. A huge part of this success is that the culture not only champions the growth of employees  but also integrates employees' contributions into a culture that fosters joy. It’s not just rhetoric; it's quantifiable, with impressive annual team retention rates. What's their secret? Kristell reveals that the foundation of their success lies in nurturing an environment of constant communication, trust, and authenticity, where employees are encouraged to be their full selves. This approach has created a supportive network that bolsters both personal and professional development. Curious about how multinational companies cultivate thriving cultures? This episode is for you!

n this episode, Mapi and Christine reflect on insights from their chat with Wesley Hitchcock, highlighting the importance of “taking the next best step” and practicing humility in cultivating joy. Wes's philosophy underscores that joy doesn't require perfection but is built through small, intentional acts - whether it's uplifting a colleague, bringing humor into meetings, or remembering a small detail like someone's favorite treat. This conversation is a testament to the significant impact of mindful, everyday actions on our overall joy and well being. Tune in to discover how simple gestures can enrich your life and those around you. Join us and let this episode be your 'little thing' for today.

In this episode, we meet Wes Hitchcock, a well-being expert and consultant at a global consulting firm, who shares his journey from battling performance anxiety which eventually led to an anxiety attack and bout of hives. These highly personal experiences informed him as he explored well-being deeply, eventually guiding others in his organization. He emphasizes the value of understanding how excellence, leading from your strengths and health complement each other. offering practical advice for professionals facing similar challenges. He uses his character strengths of prudence, creativity, critical thinking and a broad perspective to encourage others to find their character strengths and lead into them.  We want you and your character strengths to join us for this episode!

Let's debrief! Mapi and Christine sit down and reflect on their conversation with Reeve and Gary from Denso. They discuss the importance of viewing competitive marketplace challenges as opportunities to improve culture. Denso's joy journey highlights the significance of experimentation and pushing ourselves outside of our comfort zone to reach our goals. We hope you will join us for this conversation!

In this episode, Reeve Rummel, Director at DENSO, and Gary Best, Senior Manager, sit down to talk with us about taking ownership of culture, stand-up meetings, and little cards that lead to big conversations. In our first case study, Reeve and Gary discuss their journey at DENSO, encountering marketplace challenges that led to opportunities for cultural shifts. As part of that journey, they both took ownership of their own leadership and learning and began to run experiments that resulted in more transparency, collaboration, purpose, and, of course, joy! This episode is not to be missed.

In this mini episode, we debrief about our conversation with Sheene Eizemendez and that pursuing a culture of Joy is not just about meeting an HR requirement and that while it impacts the bottom line, that cannot be the driving motivation. We also share a sneak peak into our plans for next season, which we are SO excited about. Listen in!