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Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond

Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond

Released: 2026-01-21
© All content copyright Mark Graban & Constancy, Inc, 2006 - present
Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations in Healthcare and Beyond - QR Code
598 Episodes
Audio
Listen on Apple Podcasts
598 Episodes
Audio
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Released: 2026-01-21
© All content copyright Mark Graban & Constancy, Inc, 2006 - present
Most Recent Episode
Creating Value Without Command-and-Control — John Rizzo

Creating Value Without Command-and-Control — John Rizzo

John Rizzo joins Mark Graban to discuss why sustainable improvement depends on empowering people — not command-and-control leadership or short-term value extraction. Links and more:  John is a senior executive, investor, and change leader who has l
Time: 52:31
John Rizzo joins Mark Graban to discuss why sustainable improvement depends on empowering people — not command-and-control leadership or short-term value extraction.
Links and more: 
John is a senior executive, investor, and change leader who has led transformational improvement efforts across manufacturing, healthcare, retail, services, and nonprofit organizations. He is the author of Creating Value: Empowering People for Sustainable Success, a book that deliberately avoids Lean jargon while describing a holistic continuous improvement business system rooted in humility, listening, and people development.
In this episode, John shares lessons from Wiremold, private equity–backed companies, and healthcare organizations, including the powerful “six-inch move” story that shows how small acts of listening can unlock trust and transformation. The conversation explores what real empowerment means (and what it does not), why leaders must shift from firefighting to developing problem solvers, and how organizations can create lasting value for employees, customers, and owners.
This episode is especially relevant for CEOs, executives, managers, and internal change agents looking to improve results without burning out their people or relying on command-and-control leadership.
Episode ID: 1000746011872
GUID: leanblog.podbean.com/88140dc5-151f-320a-89eb-357455e7876b
Release Date: 21/01/2026, 13:41:00

Description

Lean Blog Interviews: Real-World Lean Leadership Conversations features thoughtful, in-depth discussions with leaders, authors, executives, and practitioners who are applying Lean thinking in the real world.
Hosted by Mark Graban—author of Lean Hospitals, Measures of Success, and The Mistakes That Make Us—the podcast explores Lean as a management system, a leadership philosophy, and a people-centered approach to continuous improvement.
Episodes span healthcare, manufacturing, startups, technology, and professional services. Guests share candid stories about what actually works—and what doesn’t—when organizations try to improve.
This is not a podcast about chasing tools, jargon, or “Lean theater.” Instead, you’ll hear honest conversations about leadership behaviors, culture, psychological safety, learning from mistakes, and building systems that help people do their best work.
If you believe improvement starts with respect for people—and that better systems beat blaming individuals—this podcast is for you.
Find show notes and all episodes at LeanCast.org.
Learn more about Mark Graban at MarkGraban.com.

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