The Operational Excellence Show

In this special episode of The Leaders' Lounge, Marianne Rutz sits down with none other than Kevin Wilkinson - Founder of Ethical Maintenance and her husband! Together, they share an in-depth conversation about Kevin's inspiring journey from a successful corporate career to building a Community Interest Company (CIC) that's revolutionising property factoring in Scotland. Kevin opens up about his decision to leave a well-established career and embrace entrepreneurship in a notoriously unloved industry. He shares insights into why property factoring in Scotland has been so problematic, and how Ethical Maintenance has risen to the challenge by putting homeowners first and creating a community-focused service model. In this episode, Kevin and Marianne discuss: The history behind Ethical Maintenance and how it empowers homeowners to take control of their communal areas. Kevin's role as an advisor to the Scottish Government during the creation of the Property Factors Act 2011 and his input in shaping the industry's code of conduct. The challenges of serving an entire community versus individual homeowners, and how clear communication and transparency are key. The unique approach of Ethical Maintenance as a Community Interest Company and why that sets them apart from traditional property managers. This episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Ethical Maintenance continues to disrupt the property factoring industry while staying true to its ethos of transparency, empowerment, and community engagement. Resources Mentioned: Ethical Maintenance: ethicalmaintenance.org Connect with Kevin Wilkinson and Marianne Rutz on LinkedIn Subscribe to The Leaders' Lounge for more insights on operational excellence, leadership, and creating lasting impact in your industry.

In this very special episode of the Leaders' Lounge, I'm taking you on a personal journey—a story of resilience, transformation, and leadership. I often get asked, "How did you move from the corporate world to leading a property maintenance company?" Today, I'm opening up about that journey, reflecting on pivotal moments that shaped my path. 💡 Highlights from this episode: Cancerversary reflections: How a cancer diagnosis changed my life's direction three days before my wedding. Phases of transformation: From "Who am I now?" to exceeding expectations and embracing new opportunities. Customer experience as my superpower: How my love for CX and leadership shaped my role at Ethical Maintenance. Empowering communities: How I've applied the lessons I've learned to elevate property maintenance and create better living environments for homeowners. This episode is for anyone facing life's curveballs while trying to lead with purpose. It's about finding your path, empowering yourself, and empowering those around you.

In this episode, I'm joined by digital marketing guru and LinkedIn strategist Mike Roberts, the mastermind behind Making Digital Real. Mike's also the talented producer and editor of OUR podcast! 🎙️ We dive deep into the evolving digital landscape, LinkedIn strategies, and the importance of staying human in an increasingly digital world. Mike shares how he's turned LinkedIn into a powerful platform for meaningful connections and real business growth—no spammy bots or fake news here! 💡 Tune in to hear: How Mike found his niche in LinkedIn strategy. Why staying real and human on digital platforms is key. The game-changing power of newsletters on LinkedIn. How to build authentic, lasting connections without the sales pitch. REHUMANISATION  This episode is packed with tips on making digital marketing real and effective, whether you're a CEO or just getting started on LinkedIn. Plus, we share some behind-the-scenes insight into how Mike helps me run my own podcast and content strategy.

In this final instalment of the CEO Playbook series, I explore the final set of powerful lessons that shaped my journey as CEO of Ethical Maintenance. In this episode, I discuss the importance of embracing unexpected changes, finding peace at your own pace, and understanding that professional growth often means leaving behind those who don't align with your vision. Learn how to handle project delays with grace, tackle customer service challenges, and stay true to your strengths, even when faced with obstacles or distractions. Whether it's managing the complexities of outsourcing or building raving fans for your brand, these tips will help guide you through the ups and downs of leadership. Tune in to explore how embracing your unique lane can lead to profound success and fulfillment in your career. This episode is all about staying the course and making the most out of your journey.

Perseverance, Pivots, and Personal Growth - The CEO Playbook (Part 2) In this second part of the CEO Playbook series, I dive deeper into the realities of leadership. From understanding that pivoting is perfectly okay, to managing self-doubt, and even resisting the temptation to quit, I share candid lessons from my first year as CEO of Ethical Maintenance. This episode covers key insights, such as embracing new skills, dealing with confusion, and the ultimate reward of perseverance. I also talk about the power of forming new partnerships and expanding your professional network. It's not always easy, but these connections can be the key to overcoming challenges and finding success in unexpected places. Tune in to discover actionable tips that will help you push through difficult moments and come out stronger on the other side. This episode is all about growth, resilience, and embracing the surprises that come your way.

In this episode of the Leaders Lounge, I dive into the first part of my CEO playbook - a series of practical tips and insights that I've gathered from my first year leading Ethical Maintenance. As someone who's passionate about customer experience, stepping into the property maintenance management world was a significant shift. I share my journey, the challenges I faced, and the strategies that helped me succeed, from fostering a fun and creative work environment to mastering the complexities of a new industry. This episode is packed with actionable advice to help you thrive in your leadership role. This is Part 1 of a 3-part series, so be sure to stay tuned for the upcoming episodes where I'll continue to unpack my CEO playbook.

As I record this episode on 22 May 2023 - Dave D'Arcy who is well known in the employee engagement & leadership world is launching his own business. We discuss the aspects of leadership beyond Net Promoter Scores, Trust Pilot or Google reviews!  With his experience in the Corporate World, Dave is bringing Leadership Skills and Fun at work, putting your employees first, together!   Links: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davemdarcy/ Web: https://www.davedarcy.co.uk/ Contact us at [email protected] or email me directly [email protected] Website: https://rutzconsulting.com/   This Podcast is produced by: Andrew Madden Photography & Media Production

Monday, 24th April marked the 5th anniversary of Rutz Consulting limited! Yeah - We made it to 5 years in business! We registered our limited company 5 years ago!  In this episode we look at some of the reasons why 20% of businesses fail in their first year and 60% of businesses go bust in the first 3 years of trading! What are the pitfalls to avoid & how we managed to deal with some of the difficult scenarios of the past 5 years. Enjoy!   Links: https://fundsquire.co.uk/startup-statistics/ https://www.nerdwallet.com/uk/business/start-up-failure-statistics/ Contact us at [email protected] or email me directly [email protected] Website: https://rutzconsulting.com/   This Podcast is produced by: Andrew Madden Photography & Media Production

Today's podcast is of a rather personal nature! This is for two reasons:  You might be a new listener to the operational excellence show and wondering who I am, where I came from and what we do at Rutz consulting Over the past 6/7 months I have been doing some deep work for myself and for the business - today I'm sharing this with you. Join me as I deep dive in to the difficulties many consultants face with their own identity, that of their business' & the importance of discovering your individual unique qualities & what it means to your personal, career & overall success .  Links: Contact us at [email protected] or email me directly [email protected] Website: https://rutzconsulting.com/   This Podcast is produced by: Andrew Madden Photography & Media Production

In today's bonus episode of the foundation series "Customer Service Delivery Made Easy" I'm talking you through how you can become a better leader in 9 simple steps! Resources: We have created an amazing downloadable workbook for you - covering the content of this foundational series! Go and DOWNLOAD IT HERE… Links: Contact us at [email protected] or email me directly [email protected] Website: https://rutzconsulting.com/   This Podcast is produced by: Andrew Madden Photography & Media Production