In this episode of WLEI Podcast, we welcome Sandrine Olivencia, author of Build to Sell and expert in applying Lean principles to software development. Sandrine shares her journey from waterfall to Agile and eventually to Lean Product and Process Development (LPPD), which she sees as a more holistic and sustainable system for building great products and lasting businesses. The conversation explores:

• The importance of Gemba and why leaders at all levels need to stay closely connected to customers and the problems they face.

• How Lean thinking can help companies avoid “feature frenzy mode” and maintain a clear focus on delivering customer value.

• Why even mature tech companies often struggle to develop people and the steps leaders can take to build a culture of problem-solving and continuous improvement.

• Practical advice on where to start implementing Lean principles, including Sandrine’s three key strategies for building a more product-led company.

• The limitations of so-called “founder mode” and “manager mode” and how an alternative “Lean management mode” addresses the shortcomings of both.

In this episode of the WLEI podcast, we speak with Regis Megina, a software industry veteran who has undergone a journey from Agile to Lean. Regis shares insights on:

• How he transitioned from early frustrations with waterfall development to embracing Agile and Extreme Programming

• The challenges he faced in spreading these new ideas, and why he ultimately sought a deeper understanding of Lean principles

• Regis' current work applying Lean Thinking to startups and scale-ups, including creating educational materials and training programs

• The importance of continuous learning, technical mastery, and developing team capabilities - rather than just focusing on process improvement tools.

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In this episode of the WLEI podcast, LEI speaks with prolific author and business leader Art Byrne.

During the discussion, Art shares his decades-long journey leading lean transformation, from running kaizen events with the first wave of ex-Toyota consultants in the US to leading manufacturer Wiremold to record profitability.

For a decade, Art wrote 100 "Ask Art" columns, answering the lean community's most pressing questions. He has compiled the best of those into a new book, The Lean Turnaround Answer Book: 40 Years of Lean Observation.

Our conversation covered:

• The transformative impact of implementing the Toyota Production System to improve efficiency, quality, and customer service.
• The critical role of leadership and involving top executives in driving successful lean transformations through setting stretch goals and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• The challenges of traditional accounting methods in a lean environment and the need to transition to lean accounting practices.
• The strategic advantages of reducing setup times and lead times in manufacturing, allowing companies to gain a competitive advantage.
• Practical insights from the author's experience writing a book to provide answers to common questions about implementing lean principles across various industries.