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GA 417 | Steel Toes and Stilettos with Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels

Avatar photo By Jessica Bush Updated on March 30th, 2022

This week’s guests are Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels. They shared what it’s like being women in manufacturing, their experiences leading lean transformations, and the inspiration behind their book Steel Toes and Stilettos. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here.

In this episode you’ll learn: 

  • The quotes that inspire Kathy and Shannon (2:45)
  • Their backgrounds (3:44)
  • Why they wrote their book (8:48)
  • About the title Steel Toes and Stilettos (10:34)
  • About the model plant (12:53)
  • How long it took to see results (17:21)
  • Their approach to safety (19:07)
  • The importance of having fun (25:24)
  • Advice on lean leadership (29:47)
  • Their predictions for the future (32:48)

Podcast Resources

What Do You Think?

How can you promote both fun and safety in a lean environment?

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Jessica Bush

Jessica is responsible for the editorial aspects of Gemba Academy’s content, focusing on course materials, podcast production, social media, and other copywriting efforts. An avid advocate of entrepreneurship, Jessica has worked with two technology startups as co-founder and head marketing strategist. Jessica received her BS in Business Administration from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, with a minor in Music.

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