In today’s episode, we’re talking about Kaizen-the Japanese concept of continuous improvement. At its core, Kaizen is simple: small, consistent changes that make work better for everyone. Kai means change, Zen means good, and together they describe a mindset where employees, supervisors, and leaders improve processes a little bit every day.

But this episode isn’t about theory. It’s about you and why joining a Kaizen workshop can actually accelerate your career, make your workday smoother, and give you a real voice in how things evolve.

We’ll look at how Kaizen builds problem-solving skills, increases your visibility, strengthens teamwork, and gives you genuine ownership over your area. You’ll see how continuous improvement isn’t just a business strategy, it’s a way to make your job easier, more meaningful, and much more satisfying.

And at the end of the day, you always have a choice: you can be on the side that has to adapt when change happens, or you can be part of the team that shapes the change. In this episode, I’ll show you what becomes possible when you choose to be involved.

Time stamps:

00:45 Introduction to Kaizen and Its Importance.

03:45 Benefits of Participating in Kaizen Workshops.

05:20 Career Development Through Kaizen.

07:45 Empowerment and Ownership in the Workplace.

10:55 Making Daily Work Easier.

14:50 Recognition and Visibility in Your Role.

16:30 Personal Motivation and Job Satisfaction.

Where to find Juan and Wave Business Excellence Footprint:

Website Wave BEF: www.wave-bef.com

Website: Health, Happiness & Planet: https://www.wave-bef.com/health-happiness-planet

LinkedIn Juan Steigerwald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-eduardo-steigerwald-01710b1/

YouTube WAVE BEF: https://www.youtube.com/@wavebusinessexcellencefoot1034

Instagram: Health, Happiness & Planet: https://www.instagram.com/health_happiness_planet/

Feel free to contact Wave team at any time.

Check out our courses for PROFESSIONAL AND PERSONAL GROWTH:

For Employees: https://www.wave-bef.com/courses-for-employees

For Managers: https://www.wave-bef.com/courses-for-managers

How does someone keep growing, evolving, and creating massive impact across different roles and industries without ever losing their passion for the job?
Today, I’m thrilled to introduce an amazing guest from Germany: Sybille Walz. Her career is a true masterclass in development and transformation. She spent many years at Allianz, starting in client acquisition before moving into project management, where she led multinational OPEX projects that saved the company millions. Later, she joined Cardif, part of BNP Paribas, as a Product Manager in Marketing, where I first met her while she was earning her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification, a project that delivered over half a million euros in annual benefits.

Today, Sybille is a Senior Manager at W&W-Group near Stuttgart, Germany, evolving in IT Product Management and IT Portfolio Coordination. Alongside her role, she’s tackling exciting projects and pursuing her Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt certification and I’m honored to once again be her coach on this journey.

Timestamps:

02:00 Developing the right mindset when facing challenges.

04:20 Overcoming career roadblocks and finding a path forward.

06:50 Choosing to pursue a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt certification.

07:33 How the Black Belt added value to an already successful career.

09:50 Favorite aspects of the certification process and Black Belt experience.

10:25 Applying Black Belt tools and methods years later.

10:55 Cultivating a mindset for happiness and success at work.

13:50 Career direction: planning vs. letting things unfold.

16:15 Personal passions and hobbies outside of work.

Where to find Sybille Walz:

Website: https://www.meinallergiekind.de/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sybille-w-9b782a103/

Email: walzsy@web.de

Where to find Juan and Wave Business Excellence Footprint:

Website Wave BEF: www.wave-bef.com

Website: Health, Happiness & Planet: https://www.wave-bef.com/health-happiness-planet

LinkedIn Juan Steigerwald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-eduardo-steigerwald-01710b1/

YouTube WAVE BEF: https://www.youtube.com/@wavebusinessexcellencefoot1034

Instagram: Health, Happiness & Planet: https://www.instagram.com/health_happiness_planet/

Courses recommended by Wave-BEF:

Wave Business Excellence Footprint - website

Courses For Employees

For Managers

Feel free to contact Wave team at any time.

In this podcast episode we’ll walk through a simple but powerful 7-step approach that I’ve used with employees just like you—those preparing to start their Lean Six Sigma training. You’ll learn how to identify a real-world project you can apply your new skills to—one that delivers measurable impact for your team and helps you earn a globally recognized certification.

This is a win-win approach: you grow your capabilities and career, while your company benefits from real results—and in many cases, your project’s impact covers the cost of the training itself!

So grab a notebook, get ready to take notes, and let’s set you up for success.
Let’s dive into the 7-Step Approach to Finding Your Project.

Timestamps:

02:10 Step 1 – Schedule the Meeting.

02:55 Step 2 - Alignment of Ideas.

05:30 Step 3 - Identification of Further Project Through FACT Model.

11:10 Step 4 – Further Brainstorming.

12:10 Step 5 – Selecting a Project That Fits to Six Sigma Characteristics.

17:20 Step 6 – Prioritization.

20:30 Step 7 –Filling Out Project Charter Template.

Where to find Juan and Wave Business Excellence Footprint:

Website Wave BEF: https://www.wave-bef.com/

Website: Health, Happiness &Planet: https://www.wave-bef.com/health-happiness-planet

LinkedIn Juan Steigerwald: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-eduardo-steigerwald-01710b1/

YouTube WAVE BEF: https://www.youtube.com/@wavebusinessexcellencefoot1034

Instagram: Health, Happiness & Planet: https://www.instagram.com/health_happiness_planet/

Courses recommended by Wave-BEF:

Courses For Employees

For Managers

Feel free to contact Wave team at any time.