Laudy Allan, SVP Global Operations, Crayola: Stop Solving the Wrong Problem
Senior Vice President of Global Operations Laudy Allan discussed Crayola’s approach to problem‑solving on the People Solve Problems podcast. She emphasizes involving the people closest to an issue, using simple structured tools like A3s, and starting with a handful of measurable metrics to surface process health. Allan limits active problem‑solving initiatives to three‑to‑five at a time and has shifted from a hands‑on role to coaching teams, fostering a culture that welcomes challenges. Her methodology blends Six Sigma, Agile and curiosity‑driven inquiry across manufacturing, logistics and new‑product development.
Grace Bourke, Consulting Director, Baker Tilly: The Problem Isn’t the Technology
Grace Bourke, Consulting Director at Baker Tilly, explains why healthcare technology projects often flop: organizations deploy solutions without first clarifying the underlying problem. She cites Sutter Health’s EHR rollout, where communication gaps—not software—were the true issue, and a Pacific Northwest...
Chief Improvement Officer Skip Steward on Leading Change in Healthcare
Skip Steward, VP and Chief Improvement Officer at Baptist Memorial Health Care, has spent the past thirteen years embedding a strategic A3 deployment process that organizes work around right care, right time, right place, and right cost. By drilling down...
The Appearance of Wisdom: What Can Plato Teach Us About AI?
The piece uses Plato’s dialogue on writing to warn that AI can grant an appearance of wisdom while eroding genuine critical thought. It argues that unthinking adoption risks superficial productivity and misplaced trust. By comparing past technologies—writing, the printing press,...
William Harvey, Program Manager & Professor: The Question That Ended Finger-Pointing
William Harvey, a program manager and university professor, advocates a flexible, situational leadership style that adapts to ownership, coaching or sponsorship as needed. He stresses that teams must first agree a situation is a problem and rank its priority before...