In this episode, Matt is joined by Stacey Franklin, a widely recognised Lean thinking leader and one of Ireland’s most respected voices in continuous improvement.

Stacey is the founder and CEO of Kanso, a consultancy inspired by the Japanese concept of simplicity, helping organisations cut through complexity and create clarity in how they work. With experience spanning telecommunications, healthcare, service industries, and higher education, Stacey brings a grounded, practical, and refreshingly honest perspective on what Lean really looks like in the real world.

Together, Matt and Stacey explore the reality behind Lean belts, what they truly represent, and why the way we teach and learn continuous improvement needs to evolve. They unpack the gap between certification and capability, the pressure placed on CI professionals to justify their existence, and why behaviours and culture matter far more than rigid frameworks and toolkits.

The conversation also dives into modern Lean, micro learning, accessibility, and how technology and AI should support learning rather than replace thinking. Stacey shares insight from her work designing accredited programmes and lecturing at Master Black Belt level, alongside candid reflections on leadership, decision making, and the loneliness that can come with CI roles.

This episode is for anyone who wants Lean to mean something more than a certificate on the wall, and who cares about building improvement capability that actually lasts.

Key Takeaways

Lean belts show a pathway, not proficiency Belts can provide structure and direction, but they do not automatically equal capability. Real competence comes from application, reflection, and experience.

Certification without standards creates confusion Not all belts are equal. Without robust accreditation and assessment, the value of Lean qualifications becomes diluted and misleading.

Continuous improvement is about people, not project plans CI professionals are often expected to be project managers and change managers. These are different disciplines. Lean works best when people are supported, not overloaded.

Culture beats firefighting every time Fixing problems one by one without changing behaviours only creates new problems later. Sustainable improvement starts with how people think and work together.

Learning must reflect how people actually learn today Long courses, static slides, and textbook heavy delivery no longer work for many learners. Learning needs to be relevant, practical, engaging, and designed around real life.

Tools support understanding, they are not the goal Lean tools exist to help people think clearly and solve problems. They should be adapted to context, not applied rigidly.

Decision-making is one of the biggest blockers to improvement Fear of making the wrong call often stalls progress, even when evidence and data are clear. Strong leadership is required to move from analysis to action.

AI is a support, not a substitute for thinking Technology can help with research and structure, but it cannot replace judgement, context, or human insight. The thinking still belongs to the practitioner.

Respect for people is not optional When improvement becomes something done to people rather than with them, it fails. Engagement, ownership, and trust are essential.

Stacey’s Resources

Website 👉 https://kanso.ie/

LinkedIn 👉 https://ie.linkedin.com/company/kansolean

Find out more about Ever-So-Lean, including our learning programmes at 👉 www.eversolean.com

Explore the Lean Competency System 👉 https://www.leancompetency.org/

Learn more about the British Quality Foundation 👉 https://www.bqf.org.uk/

If you’re enjoying the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, please take a moment to rate and review it. It genuinely helps more people find the show and keeps these conversations going.

Where people thrive, performance follows.

In this special Ever-So-Lean Podcast Extra episode, we come together with some of the award winners to celebrate the Lean Competency System Awards 2025.

Recorded following the awards ceremony at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, this episode captures honest reflections from individuals and organisations who are making a real difference through continuous improvement. From healthcare to global logistics, sustainability to learning and development, each story is different, yet the thread that connects them is clear. Respect for people. Commitment to learning. And the courage to make things better, every day.

You will hear directly from award winners as they share what the recognition means to them, the journeys behind their achievements, and how improvement has shaped their teams, cultures, and results. There are moments of humour, humility, and powerful insight, alongside practical lessons on developing people, building confidence, and creating environments where improvement becomes part of everyday work. This episode is not about awards. It is about people. About belief. And about what is possible when continuous improvement is lived, not just taught.

Put the kettle on, settle in, and join us as we celebrate the champions of improvement who are quietly shaping the future of our community.

Learn more about the LCS Conference & Awards - https://www.leancompetency.org/

Learn more about Ever-So-Lean - https://eversolean.com/ever-so-lean-podcast/

The 2025 BQF UK Excellence Awards took place at Wembley Stadium on 27 March, bringing together finalists, guests, industry leaders, and BQF Patron HRH The Princess Royal for a remarkable celebration of excellence on one of the most iconic stages in the country.

This is Part III of a three-part special of the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, where we'll take you right into the heart of this prestigious event. From the pre-event build-up to the stories of dedication and improvement shared by the finalists, this episode captures the spirit of organisations and leaders who put people, learning, and continuous improvement at the centre of everything they do.

You’ll hear reflections from award winners, sponsors, and guests as they speak openly about their journeys, the challenges they’ve navigated, and the moments that shaped their success. You’ll also hear from HRH The Princess Royal herself, sharing her thoughts on BQF and the awards. It’s a powerful snapshot of what happens when people come together to raise the bar, support one another, and drive meaningful change.

Featuring content recorded live at Wembley, this episode celebrates not just the winners but the effort, pride, and passion that every finalist brought to the stage. A genuine highlight for the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, and a powerful reminder of what excellence looks like in the real world.

Tune in, be inspired, and enjoy reliving an unforgettable day.

2025 Award Winners:

• Transformation Excellence: BT Networks – Galaxy Programme
• Excellence in CI Culture in Service: Tesco
• Excellence in CI Culture in Infrastructure: Scottish & Southern Electricity Networks
• Excellence in Collaboration: Balfour Beatty
• Excellence in Customer Experience: National Express
• Excellence in Employee Health and Wellbeing: Tesco
• Excellence in Innovation: Kesslers London
• Excellence in Sustainability: The Corporation of the Church House
• Excellence in Lean Six Sigma: British Heart Foundation
• Excellence in Equality: Diversity and Inclusion: Chevron Traffic Management
• Excellence in People Engagement & Development: GXO and Centrica
• Excellence in Project Delivery in Service: Newcastle University
• Excellence in Project Delivery in Infrastructure: GXO
• Being Excellent Best Team: RAC
• Being Excellent Practitioner: Rebecca Bowes
• Being Excellent Emerging Leader: Pepper Clayton-Fisher
• Being Excellent Established Leader: Gwakisa Stadi
• Patron's Award - Excellent Organisations Judges Winner: Hypo Hounds
• Patron's Award - Excellent Organisations People Choice: Hypo Hounds
• Patron's Award - Excellent People Judges Winner: Margaret Rylands
• Patron's Award - Excellent People's Choice: Grenville Jones
• Exceptional Excellence Performance Judges Winner: Le Antiche Mura
• Exceptional Excellence Performance People's Choice: Daryl Brown MBE DL

Visit BQF to find out more about the UK Excellence Awards, and the wonderful work they do - https://www.bqf.org.uk/

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

If you’re enjoying the Ever-So-Lean Podcast, take a moment to rate and review it - it really helps more people find it, and your feedback genuinely makes a difference.