This episode is all about real transformation, the kind that improves systems, empowers people, and makes a lasting difference.

I’m joined by Iolanda Pereira, a proven CI leader with a track record of delivering serious impact across healthcare, logistics, and corporate sectors. From leading award-winning stroke pathway redesigns in the NHS to driving $2 billion in financial recovery in the global shipping industry, Iolanda brings a people-first, no-nonsense approach to improvement.

We talk about what it really takes to build a sustainable culture of continuous improvement, why trust and communication matter more than any tool, and how to lead change that actually sticks, wherever you work.

Key Takeaways:

1. People First, Always

   Continuous improvement isn’t about tools or processes, it’s about people. Respect, empathy, and trust are the foundations of any lasting change.

2. Culture Can’t Be Trained

   You don’t create a CI culture by running a course. It grows over time through consistent leadership, day-to-day behaviours, and a shared sense of purpose.

3. Real Change Needs Real Involvement

   Change works best when people help shape it. Mandating it doesn’t stick, involvement, ownership, and relevance do.

4. Communication Needs to Be Targeted and Ongoing

   One-size-fits-all messaging doesn’t work. Tailor it, keep it human, and don’t stop communicating once the project’s live, that's how trust and momentum are maintained.

5. Leadership Is a Mindset, Not a Job Title

   Everyone has a role to play in making improvement happen. The most effective cultures develop leadership at every level, not just at the top.

6. Sustainment Takes Commitment

   Without long-term focus and consistency, change fades. The goal isn’t just implementation, it’s building something that thrives when you're not there.

🔗Iolanda's Resources:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/iolanda-leansolutions1

Website - https://iolandasolutions.com/

Find out more about Ever-So-Lean, working with us, and our learning programs at www.eversolean.com

Explore the Lean Competency System (LCS) - https://www.leancompetency.org/

Visit the BQF to learn more about the wonderful work they do - https://www.bqf.org.uk/

Enrol in the Online Improvement Kata & Coaching Kata Basics Course. Upskill your coaching skills with the ONLY Kata training created by Jeffrey K. Liker and Mike Rother! - https://toyota-way-academy.teachable.com/?affcode=43912_2uzhk5-x

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In this episode, we dive deep into the journey of purpose, authenticity, and alignment with Margarita Giles-Martinez, a globally recognised coach who’s helped hundreds of women reconnect with their true selves. Margarita shares how a life-altering moment in 2019 led her to strip back the layers of expectation and rediscover her purpose, one rooted in inner peace and energetic truth.

We explore how chasing conventional success can lead to burnout and why fulfillment comes from aligning your energy with who you truly are, not who you think you should be. Margarita explains the importance of listening to that inner whisper that says, “There’s more,” and how saying “hell yeah” to what feels right can be a radical act of self-love.

Together, we unpack the difference between ego-driven arrogance and grounded confidence, the value of reflecting on painful experiences, and the liberation that comes from releasing the pressure to please.

This episode is a reminder that who you were doesn’t define who you are now, and that finding your tribe and owning your energy can shift your entire life.

Key Takeaways:

1. As we grow and evolve, it’s completely natural to outgrow certain people and parts of our past. Revisiting those earlier chapters of life with a renewed sense of self can feel empowering rather than intimidating. When you're truly grounded in who you are today, the need for external validation begins to fade.
2. Pain is often the gateway to purpose. As Margarita beautifully put it, “Pain will push you until purpose pulls you.” Life’s toughest challenges often reveal who we’re not, guiding us toward who we truly are. While advice and theory can help, it’s lived experience—especially the hard ones—that become our greatest teachers. Real growth happens when we reflect on those moments and choose a new, more aligned path.
3. Success isn’t just about material gain—it’s about energetic alignment. Without that inner alignment, achievements can feel empty. Our energy speaks volumes, often louder than any status or title. It’s what people remember and connect with. That’s why it’s so important to adopt the “Hell Yeah” filter. If something doesn’t excite or resonate deeply, it’s probably a no. Saying yes just to please others often leads to burnout and disconnection from ourselves.
4. It’s also perfectly okay not to align with everyone or everything. Different energies don’t mean one is right and the other is wrong—they’re just different. We need to normalize respectfully stepping away from what doesn’t feel right, without guilt or judgment.
5. Much of our conditioning teaches us to view life in black and white—success or failure, right or wrong. But awareness allows us to move beyond that limited thinking. Doing the inner work helps us unlearn outdated programming and step into a more nuanced, authentic way of living.
6. There’s a key difference between arrogance and grounded confidence. Ego-based confidence tends to be loud and exclusionary, while true confidence is quiet, inclusive, and secure. When you’re truly comfortable with who you are, there’s nothing to prove.
7. Finding inner alignment starts with listening to that internal nudge—the one that whispers, “There’s more.” Don’t wait for discomfort to turn into suffering. And most importantly, find your tribe. Surround yourself with people who love you as you are, who uplift your energy, and who celebrate your truth without conditions or expectations.

🔗Margarita's Resources:

LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/margarita-giles-martinez-79624581

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/mgmpurposecoaching/

Find out more about Ever-So-Lean, working with us, and our learning programs at www.eversolean.com

Visit the BQF to learn more about the wonderful work they do - https://www.bqf.org.uk/

Enrol in the Online Improvement Kata & Coaching Kata Basics Course. Upskill your coaching skills with the ONLY Kata training created by Jeffrey K. Liker and Mike Rother! - https://toyota-way-academy.teachable.com/?affcode=43912_2uzhk5-x

Please don't forget to show your support and help the Ever-So-Lean Podcast thrive by taking a moment to rate and review it, your feedback matters!

In this eye-opening episode of the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, we go beyond traditional waste elimination and tackle one of the most overlooked yet critical inefficiencies in organisations—underutilised talent.

Joining me all the way from Queensland, Australia, is the brilliant Adam Bean—a bold thinker, strategic disruptor, and expert in Kaizen culture and Lean transformation. Known for challenging conventional wisdom, Adam shares powerful insights on why so many organisations fail to tap into their employees' full potential and how leadership behaviours, structures, and micromanagement are blocking creativity, innovation, and performance.

Together, we explore:

• The 8th waste: underutilised talent—why it’s the biggest threat to efficiency and engagement.
• How leaders can empower employees to take ownership and drive continuous improvement.
• The power of marginal gains—how small, consistent improvements lead to massive success.
• Why true leadership is about coaching, not just managing, and how to create an environment where people thrive.

Expect a bold, thought-provoking discussion that will challenge how you see waste—not just on the shopfloor, but in your people. Don’t miss this game-changing conversation!

Key Takeaways:

1. Underutilised Talent is the Biggest Waste

Organisations often overlook the untapped skills, creativity, and potential of their employees. Failing to engage employees fully is a significant form of waste, often more detrimental than process inefficiencies.

1. Empower Employees to Take Ownership

Leadership is about creating an environment where employees feel valued, heard, and empowered to contribute ideas. Engaged employees naturally reduce other forms of waste by taking ownership of continuous improvement.

1. Leadership Must Invest in Talent Development

Leaders need to step back and give people the opportunity to shine. Investing in leadership training and development, particularly in areas like change management, helps leaders support employees effectively.

1. Encourage Creativity and Autonomy

People perform best when they have autonomy and the responsibility to make decisions. Micromanagement stifles innovation, so empowering employees to find efficiencies is key to unlocking their potential.

1. Mastering the Fundamentals Leads to Success

Success is built on the basics. The greatest performers, whether athletes or business leaders, emphasise consistent practice and refinement of core skills. This applies to leadership and continuous improvement as well.

1. Embrace a Culture of Continuous Learning

A learning environment, like those seen in high-performing teams such as the All Blacks, is crucial. Regular feedback, clear standards, and space for growth lead to sustainable improvement.

1. Focus on Small Wins for Big Impact

Improvement doesn’t always need to come from big changes. Small, consistent fixes to everyday challenges can have a profound impact on productivity, engagement, and morale.

1. The Power of Marginal Gains

Small, incremental improvements—1% better each day—compound over time, leading to massive, sustainable gains. The key is consistency in making tiny improvements.

1. Leadership is about Coaching, Not Just Managing

True leadership involves coaching, guiding, and providing feedback in a way that encourages growth and innovation. The role of a leader is to support their team, not just direct them.

1. Unlock Potential through Practical Learning

Learning is not about memorisation but about applying knowledge in real-world situations. Leaders should focus on practical learning experiences that connect directly to employees’ roles and responsibilities.

1. Everyone’s Role is Vital

Every role in an organisation, no matter how seemingly "small," is crucial to overall success. Leaders must recognise and utilise the unique strengths of each team member to drive collective growth.

🔗Adam Bean LinkedIn - linkedin.com/in/askadambean

Find out more about Ever-So-Lean, working with us, and our learning programs at www.eversolean.com

Visit the BQF to learn more about the wonderful work they do - https://www.bqf.org.uk/

Enrol in the Online Improvement Kata & Coaching Kata Basics Course. Upskill your coaching skills with the ONLY Kata training created by Jeffrey K. Liker and Mike Rother! - https://toyota-way-academy.teachable.com/?affcode=43912_2uzhk5-x

Please don't forget to show your support and help the Ever-So-Lean Podcast thrive by taking a moment to rate and review it, your feedback matters!