Amazon

Continuous Improvement Manager

Area Manager

Site Manager

Junior Site Manager

Syddansk Universitet - University of Southern Denmark

Junior Research Assistant

Kverneland Group Kerteminde A/S

Master Thesis Project

ForeFlight

Data Consultant

Odense University Hospital

Semester Project

Follow for daily posts about Lean, CI & Innovation | Continuous Improvement Manager @ Amazon

Hi!👋 Ivan here

I'm an industrial engineer with 7+ years of experience in Operations Management and Continuous Improvement.

I serve two main groups of people:

	• Business owners and executives who want to turn their broken processes into brilliant ones (and save so much damn money) through Kaizen and Innovation

	• Founders and consulting firm owners within CI, Lean or Innovation who want to promote their businesses and make LinkedIn a legit revenue channel

(DM me for the details) 


I started writing on LinkedIn in October 2023. 

Since then, I have been sharing actionable, educational, and entertaining content to support LinkedIn community members in their continuous improvement journey. This helped me grow my audience from 9,000 to 100,000 followers in a year.

Join my newsletter here: https://lnkd.in/ddQncJM5

Ivan Carillo

26 Kaizen Leadership Mantras

Here are the 4 principles that I believe are most powerful (and why):

1/ Gemba never lies; go and see for yourself.

I've seen leaders make terrible decisions because they trusted Excel sheets over their own eyes. The problems that cost us millions are often visible on the shopfloor, but nobody bother to look. Reports tell you what people want you to know. Gemba tells you what's actually happening. I think the moment you stop walking the floor is the moment you lose touch with reality. Your operators won't lie to you if you show up regularly, ask good questions, and actually listen to their answers.

2/ Without psychological safety, Kaizen dies.

I've watched brilliant Kaizen programs collapse because people were terrified to speak up. Companies that blame individuals for systemic problems get exactly what they deserve. Silence. Workers hide defects, skip reporting near-misses, and watch waste happen rather than risk looking stupid or getting punished. I think this is why most Kaizen initiatives fail within a year. You can't improve what people won't talk about, and people won't talk about problems in a culture of fear.

3/ The person doing the work knows it best.

I learned this the hard way early in my career when I implemented a Kaizen idea. The operators supported it, then immediately went back to their old method the moment I left. Every time I've ignored frontline expertise, I've wasted time and money solving the wrong problem. I think we underestimate how much knowledge lives in the hands and muscle memory of people who do the same task hundreds of times daily.

4/ Kaizen culture doesn't support strategy. Kaizen culture is strategy.

I spent years thinking CI was something that helped execute our "real" strategy. I was wrong. Companies with a strong Kaizen culture adapt faster, survive disruptions better, and outperform competitors with superior strategic plans. I think this is the principle most executives miss. Your competitors can copy your products in months, but they can't copy a culture where thousands of people solve problems every single day.

P.S. What's your fav one in the list?

Founder of Gemba Walk AI — I help executives cut waste and fix the broken processes costing them millions

Brutal truth: most Kaizen implementations fail within 6 months.

Here's why (and how to fix it):

Common failure pattern..

↓ Launch with great enthusiasm 
↓ Form improvement teams 
↓ Run some workshops 
↓ See initial results 
↓ Get distracted by other priorities 
 ↳ Kaizen activities fade away

The missing ingredient? 
Systems thinking.

Successful Kaizen requires these systems working together:

1/ Total Quality Management

+Customer focus throughout organization
+Process-oriented improvement mindset

2/ Just-In-Time Production

+Elimination of waste in all forms
+Flow-based operations

3/ Total Productive Maintenance

+Equipment reliability and efficiency
+Operator involvement in maintenance

4/ Policy Deployment

+Clear targets cascading from top to bottom
+Aligned improvement efforts

5/ Suggestion Systems

+Employee engagement in daily improvement
+Recognition of participation

6/ Small Group Activities

+Quality circles and improvement teams
+Collaborative problem-solving
 
Most companies try to implement Kaizen 
…without these foundations. 

Remember:

Success requires patience.

+Start with one system
+Build it thoroughly
+Connect it to others gradually

…and never stop improving!

Founder of Gemba Walk AI • I help executives cut waste and fix the broken processes costing them millions

Most companies create fantastic value stream maps.

Then file them away. (I've seen it dozens of times) 

Video credit to Krish Sengottaiyan. Give him a follow

Teams spend weeks mapping their current state. 

They identify waste. 
They draft the future state

Then ...nothing changes.

You know why?

No one is responsible for the customer experience.

Traditional organizations are function-based.

→ Finance reports to CFO 
→ Operations reports to COO 
→ Sales reports to CRO

Each leader knows their department.
But nobody understands how value flows end-to-end.

No single leader owns value stream performance.

"Everyone" is responsible = No one is responsible

VSM needs an owner with authority. 
One leader who can make decisions across silos.

CEO could, but they operate too high to manage CI.

So it's key to assign executive-level VSM ownership. 

Before you map your next value stream, answer this:

Who owns the complete customer journey?

If you can't name them...
save yourself the effort.

P.S. Does anyone in your organization have E2E accountability for value delivery?

Remote HR Employee Experience & People Business Partner Consultant

Remote

Global Employment Operations & Compliance

Webhelp

Senior Global HR Operations Specialist

Teleperformance

Senior Human Resources Generalist

TIM Business

HR/People Partner

Adecco

Recruiter

HR Operations I Human Resources Business Partner in HR Tech I Ex- Remote I Leadership & Personal Growth for Linkedin

Hello, I'm Costas, a dedicated Senior HR Employee Experience - Culture Professional and Remote work advocate with a deep focus on HR processes, workplace culture and employee lifecycle management. 

My journey in this field has honed my expertise in the Labor Laws of EMA countries and in optimizing HR operations. Through the fast pace environment I've worked in, I have developed my ability to streamline onboarding and offboarding processes, which has led to significant time and resource savings. My approach is always employee-centric, ensuring that HR solutions not only meet organizational needs but also enhance employee satisfaction and engagement.

Accomplishments:

-Achieved a 30% reduction in onboarding time and a 50% decrease in paperwork within 6 months, streamlining HR processes efficiently.

-Improved employee satisfaction rates by 35% and reduced query resolution time by 30% in one year, demonstrating my ability to handle employee relations and HR inquiries effectively in global teams.

-Specialized in multiple employment laws, significantly reducing legal risks and navigating complex HR situations with expertise.

-Collaborated cross-functionally with the Product team to design scalable processes, tools, and systems to enhance operational efficiency by 20%.

-Managed payroll and benefits for over 400 employees, maintaining 100% accuracy in payroll data and statutory filings.

-Enhanced HRIS administration, increasing user satisfaction by 50% through effective customization and training.

Costas K. G.

Degrees impress.

But self-education transforms.

Because:

1. Formal learning ends with a certificate.
- Self-learning never stops.

2. Traditional training sets the baseline.
- Self-education sets you apart.

3. Many wait to be taught.
- Few teach themselves.

That’s the real edge.

5 Methods to Grow Through Self-Education:

1. Turn downtime into growth time
- Replace 30 minutes of scrolling with one podcast or TED Talk.
- Small swaps compound over weeks.

2. Build your personal curriculum
- Pick 3 topics that excite you.
- Read books, watch videos, take notes.
- Curiosity makes learning stick.

3. Practice in real time
- Don’t just absorb, apply.
- Test new ideas in your projects, habits, or conversations.
- Knowledge without action fades.

4. Track your growth
- Keep a simple journal of what you learned this week.
- Reflection turns information into wisdom.
- Progress becomes visible.

5. Teach it forward
- Share what you’ve learned with a friend, colleague, or online.
- Explaining is the fastest way to master.
- Teaching multiplies impact.

Never underestimate an employee who invests in themselves.

They’re not just upgrading skills.
They’re reshaping possibilities.

Learn relentlessly.
Grow intentionally.
Lead boldly.

---

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Keynote Speaker I HR Operations I Human Resources Business Partner in HR Tech I Ex- Remote I Leadership & Personal Growth for Linkedin

A paycheck sustains you.

But leadership shapes you.

One funds your life.
The other defines it.

Because:

Work should build you... 
Not break you.

Leadership should protect you... 
Not drain you.

Here's the difference:

1. Bosses silence.
- Leaders listen.

2. Bosses demand.
- Leaders develop.

3. Bosses chase control.
- Leaders build trust.

4. Bosses call burnout “commitment.”
- Leaders call rest “fuel.”

5. Bosses use fear to get results.
- Leaders use belief to inspire them.

6. Bosses take credit.
- Leaders give it back.

7. Bosses see roles.
- Leaders see humans.

5 Things Great Leaders Do Differently:

1. They trust with autonomy
- Freedom replaces control.
- Decisions are shared, not dictated.
- Trust builds ownership.

2. They listen to understand
- Conversations flow both ways.
- Safe spaces welcome ideas.
- Listening becomes power.

3. They fuel your growth
- Development is a daily act, not a yearly formality.
- Support replaces anxiety.
- Growth becomes identity.

4. They protect your balance
- Rest is respected.
- Humanity comes before productivity.
- Balance keeps brilliance alive.

5. They honor your effort
- Progress gets noticed, not just results.
- Gratitude fuels consistency.
- Recognition builds belonging.

Leaders don’t build followers.
They build people.

And people build everything else.

---

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Leadership is about hero-making.

Hero-making because:

1. It builds belief in others.
- This is their courage.

2. Courage creates action.
- This is their breakthrough.

3. Breakthroughs spark growth.
- This is your legacy.

Not being the loudest voice.
Not having all the answers.

But seeing the gold in others...
Even when they don’t see it yet.

Think about the best leader you ever had...

They didn’t try to outshine you.
They made you feel like you could do anything.

That’s what great leaders do.
They pass the torch.
They build people, not egos.

When you lead like this, people don’t just follow you.

They believe in themselves.
They try harder.
They grow faster.
They become the kind of teammate others trust.

Leadership is not self-referential.
It is service-driven.

7 Ways to Lead like that:

1. Give ownership, not just tasks.
- Let your team take charge of real projects.
- Trust them to make decisions.
- Mistakes? They’re part of growth. Support, don’t micromanage.

2. Teach critical thinking, not following.
- Ask, “What do you think?” instead of always giving answers.
- Let them solve problems before stepping in.
- Critical thinking builds confident leaders.

3. Show the way.
- Be the example they follow.
- Show integrity, resilience, and empathy daily.
- Leadership is caught, not just taught.

4. Be their mentor.
- Share your wins, and your failures.
- Give real feedback that helps them improve.
- Great leaders invest in others.

5. Inspire with vision.
- Help them see the bigger picture.
- Show them why their work matters.
- Leaders don’t just complete tasks; they drive purpose.

6. Create opportunities for growth
- Give them a chance to lead a project, or a meeting.
- Growth happens outside comfort zones.
- The more they step up, the more they believe in themselves.

7. Celebrate leadership initiatives.
- Recognize when someone takes initiative.
- Highlight leadership actions, not just performance.
- What gets celebrated, gets repeated.

Managing tasks keeps a business running.
Developing people makes it thrive.

Because leadership isn’t about being the hero.
It’s about creating a team of heroes.

Make your leadership about them.
Not yourself.

---

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Ego blocks growth.

Teachability unlocks it.

You don’t need to know everything.
You just need to stay open.

Because:

1. Being smart helps you today.
- Being teachable shapes who you become tomorrow.

2. Knowledge can run out.
- Curiosity never does.

3. Being “right” wins arguments.
- Being teachable wins opportunities.

The real leaders aren’t the loudest in the room.
They’re the ones still willing to learn.

And in leadership, the difference is massive:
- Bosses want to be right.
- Leaders want to get it right.

5 Signs You’re Actually Teachable:

1. You listen to understand, not reply
- You pause instead of defend.
-  You absorb instead of react.
- Feedback feels like fuel, not an attack.

2. You admit what you don’t know
- No pretended expertise.
- No fear of looking inexperienced.
- Humility becomes your advantage.

3. You change your mind when new truth appears
- Stubbornness drops.
- Flexibility rises.
- Growth replaces ego.

4. You seek mentors, not mirrors
- You welcome challenge.
- You want perspective, not validation.
- You’d rather learn than be praised.

5. You’re willing to unlearn
- Old habits don’t run the show.
- Outdated beliefs get questioned.
- You evolve at every level.

Being teachable doesn’t make you weak.
It makes you unstoppable.

The world changes fast.
The people who grow with it…
Are the ones who stay open.

Stay curious.
Stay humble.
Stay teachable.

Lead with openness.

---

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Positions can be refilled.

Trust can’t.

Because:

1. You can replace a role.
- But not the bond behind it.

2. You can fill a desk.
- But not the belief that once lived there.

3. You can rehire talent.
- But not the loyalty that left with it.

That’s where many leaders stumble.

They see people as functions, not foundations.
They confuse presence with loyalty.
They think, “We’ll just replace them.”

But trust doesn’t reboot.
And loyalty doesn’t grow back once it’s broken.

10 Habits That Make People Stay:

1. Notice the unseen effort
- Results get applause.
- Effort gets ignored.
- What goes unnoticed, eventually disappears.

2. Protect reputations fiercely
- Back your people when rumors rise.
- Silence speaks louder than gossip.
- Loyalty grows in defense, not distance.

3. Guard their well-being
- Overwork isn’t pride, it’s pain.
- Rest is part of performance.
- Energy is your team’s most valuable currency.

4. Celebrate their evolution
- Don’t cling when they’re ready to rise.
- Growth is proof you led well.
- Wings were meant to fly.

5. See the human, not the title
- Job descriptions don’t tell their story.
- Care about the person behind the task.
- Belonging starts with being seen.

6. Make feedback a safe space
- Truth without empathy wounds.
- Empathy with truth builds.
- Growth lands softer when it feels human.

7. Feed their future
- Stagnation suffocates potential.
- Challenge them before comfort does.
- People stay where they can still evolve.

8. Give their voice real weight
- Input isn’t inclusion, impact is.
- Let their ideas shape outcomes.
- That’s ownership, not observation.

9. Honor life, not just labor
- Remember milestones, not just metrics.
- Humanity is the strongest retention strategy.
- People stay where they feel celebrated.

10. Ask. Don’t assume.
- Needs shift as people do.
- Listening once isn’t enough.
- Care means checking in again and again.

Numbers fade.
Deadlines vanish.

But how you made people feel...
that’s what stays.

Lead through care.
Lead through trust.
Lead through presence.

---

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Costas K. Gian

Kindness is Leadership.

It isn’t a tactic.

It’s the heart of real leadership.

And real leadership isn’t about titles or authority.
It’s about making people feel valued, seen, and inspired.

Kindness in leadership looks like:
- Listening without judgment.
- Recognizing effort, not just results.
- Helping others rise without expecting credit.

Never believe that leadership is about power or control.
It’s not.

True leadership transforms relationships.
- It builds trust and belonging.
- It turns teams into communities.
- It fosters growth, not fear.

Because:
People perform their best when they feel supported.
And yes, kindness creates loyalty and lasting success.

It’s proof that kindness is contagious.

If you lead with ego or strategy alone...
Here’s the truth:
You might get short-term wins... 
But you’ll lose hearts along the way.

If you want to lead with impact, start here: 
Make kindness your default.

5 Ways to Lead with Kindness:

1. Be Empathetic
- Pause and put yourself in their shoes.
- Every person has a story you don’t know.

2. Be Consistent
- Kindness isn’t occasional.
- It’s a daily practice, even when it’s hard.

3. Celebrate Others
- Shine the light on their contributions.
- A small “thank you” can go a long way.

4. Lead by Example
- Show kindness in your actions.
- What you model, others will follow.

5. Listen, listen, listen.
- There no better act of kindness.
- Listen, interpret the problem, act.

Kindness isn’t weakness. 
It’s strength that lifts everyone.

Lead with heart when needed.
It makes the difference.

➡️ What is an act of kindness that you make as a leader?

---

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Bosses manage.

Leaders transform.

Because:

Power doesn’t make you a leader.
How you treat people does.

A manager may direct your work.

But a real leader…
They change your world.

One manages tasks.
The other unlocks people.

Bosses:

- Use fear instead of trust.
- Treat people like roles, not humans.
- Demand output without giving support.
- Take more than they give.


This builds stress.
Not strength.

Performance, maybe…
But without passion.
Without motivation.

True leaders:

- Bring calm when chaos surrounds you.
- Believe in your potential before you do.
- Push you to dream bigger, then stand with you to chase it.
- Share credit, carry blame, and grow with you.
- Make you feel seen, capable, and unstoppable.


This kind of leadership…
It never leaves you.

Because it doesn’t just change your career.
It changes your confidence.

Your choices.
Your life.
Titles fade.

Leaders are remembered for how they made you feel:

Safe. 
Brave. 
Believed in.

The power of leadership isn’t control.
It’s the gift of elevating:

Dreams
Minds
Futures


Be that leader.

---

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Fixed is stuck.

Growth is fluid.

Fixed needs to prove.
Growth wants to improve.

Fixed avoids challenge.
Growth gets curious.

The difference is everything:

1. Fixed says “I can’t.”
- It closes the door before trying.

2. Growth asks “How can I?”
- It finds a way forward.

3. Fixed fears mistakes.
- It sees them as failure.

4. Growth uses mistakes.
 – It turns them into fuel.

6 Mindset Shifts that will change your life:

1. “I’m giving up” → “I’m changing direction”
 - Letting go isn’t failure , it’s wisdom.
 - Better to shift now than stay stuck climbing the wrong hill.

❌ “I’ve put in too much to stop.”
✅ “It’s time to use what I’ve learned and try a new path.”

2. “I’m not ready” → “I’m ready to begin”
 - Waiting to feel ready is the fastest way to stay stuck.
 - Progress starts when you do, not when it feels perfect.

❌ “I need more time.”
✅ “I’ll learn more once I start.”

3. “That was a rejection” → “That was redirection”
 - Every “no” is a nudge toward a better fit.
 - It might hurt now, but it’s helps you find where you truly belong.

❌ “I guess that path is now blocked for me.”
 ✅ “Maybe that path wasn’t meant for me. I’m still moving forward.”

4. “What if I fail?” → “What if I grow?”
 - Fear makes you imagine the worst.
 - But growth comes from doing it anyway, even if you wobble at first.

❌ “What if it goes wrong?”
✅ “What if this takes me to the next level?”

5. “I always mess this up” → “I’m still learning this”
 - You’re not bad at it. You’re just not done yet.
 - Mistakes are part of getting better.

❌ “I suck at this.”
✅ “I’m still getting the hang of it.”

6. “I hope it works out” → “I’ll make it work”
 - Hope is a feeling. Ownership is a decision.
 - Take the wheel. Build the outcome.

❌ “Let’s see what happens.”
✅ “I’ll do what it takes to figure it out.”

Growth begins when your thinking shifts.

If you don’t build thoughts that serve you...
You’ll live with ones that hold you back.

Choose them. 
Shape them. 
Grow through them.

---

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Costas K. G.

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The Battle

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Costas K. G.

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