Leadership as The Foundation of Lean Culture

About the Event

“Culture eats strategy for breakfast.” – Peter Drucker

Too often, organizations focus on tools and tactics while ignoring the behaviors and beliefs that hold everything together. The result? A Lean initiative that looks good on paper—but never quite takes root.

In this session of The Problem Solver’s Dojo, we’re revisiting one of Lean’s most iconic visuals: the House of Lean. But this time, we’re asking a bold question—what if the foundation is wrong?

Sarah will share how she first learned about the House of Lean, and why she now believes leadership behavior belongs at the very bottom. You’ll see how the model has evolved at The KPI Lab and explore what becomes possible when we lead culture change from the ground up.

Then it’s your turn. You’ll sketch, reflect, and build your own vision for a culture of Lean—one that fits your team, your mission, and your leadership style.

Key Takeaways

• Rethink the Foundation: Explore why leadership behavior—not just tools—is the key to sustainable Lean transformation

• See a Modern House of Lean: Learn how The KPI Lab has reimagined the model to reflect today’s cultural and operational realities

• Build Your Own Blueprint: Create a vision for what Lean culture could look like in your own organization

• Lead the Change: Walk away with concrete ideas to strengthen the foundation of your team, department, or org.

About Sarah

Sarah Tilkens is the CEO of The KPI Lab, a Six Sigma Black Belt, Lean strategist, and leadership coach who believes culture is the real system. With 10,000+ hours coaching teams and building operational frameworks, she’s led organizations through the messy, meaningful work of culture change. Her version of the House of Lean reflects what she’s learned: that sustainable systems are built on behavior, not just process.