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The Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast

The Innovation Meets Leadership Podcast

By: Natalie Born
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 We exist to empower your innovation and leadership transformation journey. Collaboration, innovation, and transformation are not just concepts they are how business gets done.610182 Economics
Episodes
  • 22. Value Stream Mapping with Ron Crabtree

    22. Value Stream Mapping with Ron Crabtree
    Dec 14 2025
    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born welcomes back Ron Crabtree—founder and CEO of MetaOps and MetaExperts, global process improvement leader, and one of the most respected voices in Lean and operational excellence. This conversation takes a deep dive into value stream mapping, a powerful visual methodology that helps leaders uncover hidden inefficiencies, reduce cycle time, improve quality, and identify the smartest opportunities for digitization and AI.If you want a clearer view of where your business is wasting time, losing money, or missing value, this episode is your blueprint.[00:00 – 03:00] Why Value Stream Mapping Still MattersRon returns to discuss deeper layers of process improvement and Lean thinking.Deming’s foundational principle: If you can’t describe your work as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.Value stream mapping as a visual + data-driven methodology to understand workflow end-to-end.[03:01 – 07:00] Defining the Mission: What Problem Are We Solving For?Understanding the organizational challenge: cost, quality, speed, or customer experience.Toyota’s SQDCMP hierarchy (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, Productivity, Morale).Selecting the scope and granularity of a mapping effort based on the business challenge.[07:01 – 10:00] Where Digitization and AI Fit InWhy not all automation opportunities are equally valuable.Using value stream mapping to identify high-ROI areas for digitization and AI.[10:01 – 14:00] Beyond Manufacturing: Value Stream Mapping for Any IndustryHow even non-technical environments—like historical sites—benefit from mapping their visitor and customer journey.[14:01 – 17:00] Swim Lanes, Roles & the Hidden Complexity in HR ProcessesUsing swim lane diagrams to visualize handoffs, approvals, and compliance requirements.A real-world hiring example showing a six-month cycle time inside a government agency.[17:01 – 20:00] The Power of Hard Numbers in Decision MakingWhy mapping requires both visuals and data to measure true performance.Ron’s example from a defined benefits company: identifying the percentage of time spent on rework, verification, and corrections.[20:01 – 23:00] When Processes Are Physically InefficientHow spaghetti diagrams expose unnecessary movement, travel time, and equipment downtime.Distinguishing internal vs. external activities to reduce waste during machine setup or maintenance.[23:01 – 26:00] The University Email Story: From 17 Steps to ZeroA university’s onboarding process involved 17 steps and two weeks of delays.A powerful demonstration of innovation + efficiency working hand in hand.[26:01 – 27:00] Efficiency vs. Innovation: Why Leaders Need BothMany companies over-index on either efficiency or innovation—but not both.Understanding your value stream helps leaders see where inefficiencies hinder innovation.Ron shares where listeners can find his work, his podcast, and how to connect.Quotes“If you can’t describe what you’re doing as a process, you don’t know what you’re doing.” – Ron Crabtree“Value stream mapping helps you see where to apply digitization and AI with laser focus.” – Ron CrabtreeConnect with Ron CrabtreeWebsite: metaexperts.comLinkedIn: Ron Crabtree, MetaOps & MetaExpertsPodcast: MetaExperts Workforce ExcellenceIf this conversation inspired you, leave a review and share this episode with a leader who’s ready to rethink how their organization creates value.🎙️ And don’t forget to check out Natalie Born’s book, Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co—a proven guide for leaders who want to transform their innovation approach.Visit innovationmeetsleadership.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.Don’t just get out of the box—break the box and set it on fire.Let’s go transform something!
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    27 mins
  • 21. Courageous Investing with Quentin Florence & Doug Vanderlinde

    21. Courageous Investing with Quentin Florence & Doug Vanderlinde
    Nov 30 2025
    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, Natalie Born sits down with Quentin Florence and Doug Vanderlinde, the founders of Coplanar Capital, to explore a powerful reframing of wealth, investment, and calling. With a faith-driven mission and a deep belief in stewardship, Quentin and Doug unpack why the future of investing isn’t just about capital — it’s about identity, leadership, and multiplying what’s been entrusted to you.Together, they demystify early-stage investing, share how founders can position themselves for meaningful funding, and introduce their signature framework: I Am. I Have. I Do. [00:00 – 04:00] Introducing Coplanar Capital & the Heart Behind Investing- Why Quentin and Doug see investing as stewardship, not speculation.- How the parable of the talents shapes their view of multiplying what you’ve been given.- Reframing investing as a calling, not just a financial discipline.[04:01 – 08:00] What’s Really Happening in the Investment Landscape- Why big funds are getting bigger — often through marketing rather than performance.- Coplanar Capital’s mission: generate outstanding returns while doing good.[08:01 – 12:30] What Investors Look for First: The Founder- Why leadership matters more than the invention itself.- The I Am. I Have. I Do. framework: clarity of identity, resources, and action.- What your company communicates about who you are as a leader.[12:31 – 16:30] The Psychology of Founders & Investors- Fear, rejection, and shrinking comfort zones — and why both sides experience them.- Why humility, clarity, and emotional security matter during the pitch process.- How investors evaluate founders beyond the pitch deck.[16:31 – 18:30] Identity Investing: Leading With Both Head and Heart- Why metrics alone won’t guide you — and intuition alone won’t protect you.- The shift from public to private markets and why identity matters more there.- Finding investments that “make your heart spark.”[18:31 – 22:00] What Makes a Startup Attractive? Market, Fit & Optionality- Understanding TAM (Total Addressable Market) and why market size matters.- Optionality: the importance of having more than one way to win.- Why agility, pivots, and adaptability matter more than perfect plans.[22:01 – 24:00] The Relentless Mindset Founders Must Have- Why valuing the process over the results is essential for survival.- How to process failure through learning instead of shame.- Why every investor has failed — and founders shouldn’t fear that reality.[24:01 – 28:30] Double-Result Investing: Better Returns and a Better World- Breaking the myth that you must choose between returns and impact.- Why scarcity thinking limits innovation — and how founders can rise above it.Quotes“The leaders who perform the best are the ones completely secure in their calling.” — Quentin Florence“Great investing is both head and heart — metrics matter, but so does what sparks your passion.” — Doug Vanderlinde“You don’t need either great returns or a better world. In the right hands, you can have both.” — Doug VanderlindeConnect with Coplanar CapitalWebsite: coplanarcapital.com LinkedIn – Quentin Florence: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quentin-florence-750137b/LinkedIn – Doug Vanderlinde: https://www.linkedin.com/in/douglas-vander-linde/If this conversation inspired you, don’t forget to leave a review and share this episode with a founder, investor, or leader who’s ready to grow through innovation.🎙️ Grab Natalie’s book, SET IT ON FIRE: The Art of Innovation, at setitonfire.co.These are proven tools to transform your leadership and innovation approach.Visit innovationmeetsleadership.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.Don’t just get out of the box, break the box and set it on fire.Let’s go transform something!
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    25 mins
  • 20. The Power of Play with Jolynn Ledgerwood

    20. The Power of Play with Jolynn Ledgerwood
    Nov 16 2025
    In this episode of Innovation Meets Leadership, host Natalie Born sits down with Jolynn Ledgerwood, learning and development expert, certified Gallup Strengths coach, and founder of Elevate Your Talent. With over 25 years of experience working with global brands like PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, and Toyota, Jolynn introduces us to a transformative methodology called LEGO® Serious Play, a hands-on approach that sparks creativity, strengthens collaboration, and unlocks hidden insights within teams.Together, Natalie and Jolynn explore how “thinking with your hands” activates up to 80% more brain power, why play is vital for innovation and well-being, and how leaders can create environments where every voice, from the CEO to the intern, has a seat at the table. From high school athletes to corporate teams, this episode proves that the opposite of play isn’t work, it’s stagnation.[00:00 – 03:00] Jolynn’s Journey into LEGO® Serious PlayFrom corporate learning roles at PepsiCo and Toyota to creative facilitation.How LEGO® reinvented itself and how Jolynn discovered its team-building power.Only 100 certified practitioners in the U.S. versus 15,000 in Europe, why Americans still struggle to see “play” as productive.[03:01 – 07:00] The Science of Thinking with Your HandsUsing LEGO® unlocks up to 80% more brain power.The four-step methodology: question → build → share → reflect.How creativity allows all personality types, even quiet thinkers, to express themselves fully.[07:01 – 10:00] Building Trust and Curiosity Through PlayLEGO® Serious Play creates safe, judgment-free conversations.Why every build is “right” for the person who made it.Metaphors and subconscious meaning in simple pieces and the power of asking, “Tell me more about what you built.”[10:01 – 14:00] Real-World Example: A Basketball Team’s TransformationFacilitating a workshop with a high school girls’ team to build unity.How players gained empathy and emotional awareness through their builds.Discovering that supporting teammates means seeing beyond performance.[14:01 – 18:00] Courageous Leadership and Unexpected InsightsWhy it takes a brave leader to invite play into the workplace.LEGO® as a tool for perspective-taking and emotional intelligence.Seeing the same model from different angles and how it changes interpretation.[18:01 – 22:00] Building Culture in Times of ChangeHow LEGO® sessions rebuild morale after layoffs or restructuring.The danger of calling connection “fluff” and why it’s business-critical.Creating “simple guiding principles” from each session to carry forward.[22:01 – 25:00] Play as a Pathway to InnovationThe opposite of play isn’t work, it’s depression.Inviting creativity through LEGO®, Play-Doh, or even watercolor.How play fosters engagement, focus, and retention in teams.[25:01 – 27:00] Final Reflections and Call to LeadersWhy leaders must make space for curiosity and fun at work.Mary Poppins wisdom: “In every job that must be done, there’s an element of fun.”When teams play together, innovation follows naturally.Quotes:“It takes a courageous leader to bring play into the workplace.” – Jolynn Ledgerwood“Leaders who embrace creativity give permission for authenticity.” – Jolynn Ledgerwood“You never know what your team is capable of until you invite play into the process.” – Jolynn LedgerwoodWebsite: elevateyourtalent.coLinkedIn: Jolynn Ledgerwood Podcast: Play for PerformanceIf this conversation inspired you, leave a review and share this episode with a leader who’s ready to reimagine what creativity and connection look like at work.🎙️ Check out Natalie Born’s book, Set It on Fire: The Art of Innovation, available now at setitonfire.co. These are proven tools to transform your leadership and innovation approach.Visit innovationmeetsleadership.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.Don’t just get out of the box, break the box and set it on fire. Let’s go transform something!
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    27 mins
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