In this episode of KPI Fireside, host Keith Norris sits down with Bryan Schmidt, a CPA, author, and finance transformation leader who spent more than two decades turning manual, paper-heavy finance processes into streamlined, automated systems.

🔻 Why ERP systems are the foundation of any successful finance transformation

🔻 The simple ROI math executives expect and how to frame improvement ideas for approval

🔻 Why quick wins matter more than big projects early on

🔻 How automation can improve morale, not just efficiency

🔻 Why honesty and trust are essential when leading change

🔻 Practical advice for CI leaders on prioritization, governance, and learning from every project

🔗 Connect with Bryan Schmidt on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bryan-schmidt99/

🔗 Learn more about Bryan's book: https://www.financeautomationblueprint.com/my-book

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you make innovation and transformation actually stick instead of stalling out in planning decks and dashboards? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Claire Quigley, founder of Tech Team Whisperer. With more than 20 years of experience spanning strategy, innovation, digital transformation, and people leadership across startups and global organizations, Claire explains why most transformations fail and what leaders must do to become truly transformation-ready.

🔻 Why transformation success rates have barely changed in the last decade and what leaders overlook.

🔻 What it really means to be “transformation ready” before launching major initiatives.

🔻 Why purpose, not technology, is the anchor for successful innovation and change.

🔻 How leadership assumptions quietly derail improvement efforts.

🔻 The difference between tracking green dashboards and recognizing real progress on the floor.

🔻 Why adoption and utilization matter more than rolling out new digital tools.

🔻 How AI anxiety and “AI shame” show up inside organizations and what leaders can do about it.

🔻 Why visual thinking, value stream mapping, and simple CI tools still matter in digital teams.

🔻 How storytelling and better questions help leaders drive alignment and engagement.

🔗 Connect with Claire Quigley on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/claire-quigley-innovation-change-strategy-culture-consultant/

🔗 Learn more about Tech Team Whisperer: https://www.techteamwhisperer.com/

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.

How do you build a continuous improvement system that works across industries, scales with growth, and actually changes how people think and act? In this episode, Keith Norris talks with Keshawn Cupid, CEO of Modern Kaizen. Drawing on his journey from the U.S. Navy to consulting across manufacturing, healthcare, food service, government contracting, and more, Keshawn shares why mindset comes before tools and how organizations can move from good intentions to real, repeatable results.

🔻 How mindset shifts unlock better problem solving, ownership, and engagement.

🔻 Why standard work is essential for consistency, learning, and sustainable improvement.

🔻 The difference between solving the current state and solving the gap.

🔻 Why over-motivated employees can unintentionally create risk without clear structure.

🔻 How CI managers act as translators between leadership goals and frontline execution.

🔻 Real-world examples of how chasing the wrong metric drives the wrong behavior.

🔻 Why Lean works in any industry where work is repeatable, from manufacturing to hospitals to food service.

🔻 How AI can turn complexity into clarity when paired with sound improvement thinking.

🔗 Connect with Keshawn Cupid on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keshawn-cupid-2ba86855/

🔗 Learn more about Modern Kaizen: https://modernkaizen.com/

🔗 Learn more about KPI Fire: https://www.kpifire.com/

🎙 Hosted by Keith Norris: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithnorris/

🎧 Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, and everywhere you get your podcasts.