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.

Welcome to 6 Steps to Superpower Your Career Development with Juan Steigerwald.

In this podcast, we dive into practical strategies to accelerate your growth, enhance your skills, and take your career to the next level. Whether you're just starting out or looking to reach new heights, these six steps will give you actionable insights to stay ahead.

Let’s get started on your journey to career excellence.

Timestamps:

01:45 The Alignment with Your Manager.

03:10 Career Development Essential Trainings.

07:35 The Importance of Mentorship.

08:50 You Are Your Own Brand.

15:50 Understanding Your Value.

20:00 Networking and Attitude.

22:30 Envisioning Your Future Role.

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:

Courses For Employees

For Managers

Feel free to contact Wave team at any time.

Sybille Walz, eine leidenschaftliche Expertin, arbeitete zunächst bei der Allianz im Bereich Kundenakquise und leitete später OPEX-Projekte im Projektmanagement, die Millionen einsparten. Später wechselte sie zu Cardif, einem Unternehmen der BNP Paribas-Gruppe, wo sie als Produktmanagerin im Marketing tätig war. Dort lernte ich sie während des Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Zertifizierungsprogramms kennen, bei dem ich ihr Coach war. Nach erfolgreichem Abschluss ihres Black Belt Projekts erhielt sie die Zertifizierung und erzielte jährliche Einsparungen von über einer halben Million Euro.

Seit 5 Jahren ist sie Senior Managerin bei der W&W-Group in der Nähe von Stuttgart. Sie hat sich im IT-Produktmanagement und der IT-Portfolio-Koordination weiterentwickelt. Parallel dazu absolvierte sie im November 2023 erfolgreich ihre Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt Zertifizierung mit WAVE-Business Excellence Footprint. Es erfüllt mich mit Stolz, Teil ihrer Reise als Coach zu sein.

Ich freue mich, dir Sybille vorzustellen, und hoffe, unser Gespräch über ihre Karriere und Lean Six Sigma Erfahrungen gefällt dir!

Zeitstepmpel:

[02:52] Mentale Stärke in Herausforderungen.

[04:45] Karriere-Herausforderungen und Wege zum Weiterkommen.

[10:25] Motivation für die Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Zertifizierung.

[13:48] Die Aufwertung der Arbeit durch den Black Belt Kurs.

[16:35] Anwendung von Black Belt-Methoden Jahre später.

[20:35] Erfolgs-Mindset bei der Arbeit.

[23:58] Karriereplanung oder spontane Entwicklungen?

[27:55] Erfolge als Master Black Belt und Einsparungen.

[28:45] Leidenschaften und Hobbys neben der Karriere.

Koordinaten, Sybille Walz:

Sybille Walz - LinkedIn

Allergiekinder (meinallergiekind.de) - Website

Meinallergiekind.de - Instagram

Koordinaten, Juan und WAVE-Business Excellence Footprint:

Wave Business Excellence Footprint - Website

Juan Eduardo Steigerwald - LinkedIn

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - LinkedIn

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - YouTube

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - Instagram

Links zu Kursen:

Wave Business Excellence Footprint - Website

Courses For Employees

Courses For Managers

Kontakt: Wave team

Excited to introduce our next podcast episode with the remarkable Rick A. Morris!

Rick is a certified Scrum Agile Master, best-selling author, and sought-after international keynote presenter. With credentials like PMP, MPM, Scrum Agile Master, and more, he's made a lasting impact across various industries. Rick has over 100 successful Project and Portfolio Management implementations to his name.

As the author of four books, including the Amazon #1 best-seller "No Day But Today!" and a regular voice on "The Work/Life Balance" radio show, Rick's insights are invaluable. He's now the National Delivery Lead for Enterprise Portfolio and Program Management Services at Centric Consulting, continuing his pursuit of excellence.

Today, our conversation explores SCRUM's compatibility with other project management methodologies.

If you already heard the conversation with Rick in the Business Excellence for Managers podcast, then please note that this is the same recording, because I find this content very helpful for you as well.

Timestamps:

[03:10] Rick’s journey to where he is today.

[09:35] Exploring the world of SCRUM/Agile.

[14:45] The first steps in implementing Agile.

[26:20] Pros and cons of the SCRUM method.

[28:15] Agile vs. other project management methods: a closer look.

[31:10] Rick Morris: author of insightful books.

[38:55] Project manager at GE.

[42:40] Services offered by Rick and where to find him.

If the links are not clickable on your platform, please access them directly from our website at www.wave-bef.com under the 'Podcasts' category.

Where to find Rick Morris:

Rick A Morris - Instagram

Rsquaredconsulting.com - Website

Rick A Morris - LinkedIn

Rick A Morris - Twitter

R2Consulting - Facebook

Where to find Juan and WAVE-Business Excellence Footprint:

Wave Business Excellence Footprint - website

Juan Eduardo Steigerwald - LinkedIn

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - LinkedIn

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - YouTube

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - Instagram

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 today's episode we delve into the art of storytelling and explore how you can learn a couple new tips and tricks to further improve your presentation and meeting skills.

It's my privilege to introduce you to Doug Thompson, a resident of Austin, Texas, and a seasoned storyteller plus TEDx Speaker. He specializes in telling stories and helping others learn storytelling skills and makes complex topics understandable for everyone.

He spent over two decades at Microsoft as their Director Technology Strategist and Artificial Intelligence Ambassador. 

Today, Doug is the Chief Education Architect at Tanium, and he also hosts his own podcast titled The Doug Thompson Podcast.

In case you have heard about Doug in the Business Excellence for Managers Podcast, then please note that this is the same interview with him as the content he shared for managers hold equal significance and relevance for those not in managerial roles as well.

Timestamps:

[02:00] Doug’s journey to storytelling.

[07:05] World-renowned individuals who have successfully applied storytelling techniques.

[08:55] The secrets of effective storytelling.

[12:05] The art of listening; good storyteller is a better listener.

[18:15] The power of storytelling in the modern corporate world: transforming employees and managers.

[22:35] Incorporate storytelling techniques into meetings and acquisitions.

[28:50] 3 Do's and don'ts for storytellers.

[41:45] Exploring Doug Thompson's offerings and reach.

If the links are not clickable on your platform, please access them directly from our website at www.wave-bef.com under the 'Podcasts' category.

Where to find Doug Thompson:

Doug Thompson - Instagram

Doug Thompson - Website

Doug Thompson - LinkedIn

Doug Thompson - Twitter

The Doug Thompson Podcast

Doug Thompson TedX Talks - YouTube

Courses recommended by WAVE:

Courses For Employees

Courses For Managers

Check out the Lean Six Sigma for Managers (LSSfM) Course in this 1.5 minute video

Where to find WAVE-Business Excellence Footprint:

Juan Eduardo Steigerwald - LinkedIn

Wave Business Excellence Footprint - website

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - LinkedIn

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - YouTube

WAVE Business Excellence Footprint - Instagram

Feel free to contact Wave team at any time.