Jennifer Katongole is a Process Improvement Specialist for Global Programs at Medical Teams International (MTI). based in Uganda. MTI is a global NGO that offers comprehensive medical care and mental health services to people experiencing crisis. In this podcast interview with the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA Uganda), she shares an overview of Toyota […]
The Blackbelt Unincorporated Wastewater Program (BBUWP) was established to address acute Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) challenges in rural Alabama, where over 375,000 residents in unincorporated areas lack access to essential wastewater services. This problem is compounded by socioeconomic factors, as race is a significant predictor of sanitation access in the U.S., leaving many low-income […]
Written by Brion
Veolia Eau France, which manages public drinking water and sanitation services, implemented Lean methodologies to move beyond rigid transformation plans toward a dynamic of continuous, step-by-step improvement. Central to this shift is the use of an Obeya, a dedicated space where management reviews key indicators (such as safety, quality, and cost control) to ensure they […]
Written by Brion
On the Lean Six Sigma for Good podcast, Brion interviews Mike Wrathall, an Agile and Sustainability consultant about his extensive work background helping organizations in the private and public sector improve. Projects included social housing, homelessness, domestic violence victims, public education and regenerative agriculture. You can view the notes and transcript at https://leansixsigmaenvironment.org/index.php/e131-agile-and-sustainability-in-the-uk-with-mike-wrathall/, or watch […]
Written by Brion
The dominance of Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs) as the “gold standard” for evaluating social programs presents significant challenges for nonprofit organizations. While a well-implemented RCT can demonstrate that a program causes a specific, measurable outcome, this singular focus often comes at the cost of continuous learning and organizational strength. In the Fall 2025 issue of […]
Written by Brion
Lean management was successfully implemented by the humanitarian organization Medair Somalia despite the highly challenging context of a conflict-ridden nation, Somalia. Abdinoor Hassan and Andrew Parris conducted training and kaizen event facilitation to lead the teams in four impact areas. A one-day Lean training was conducted in the capital Mogadishu, with 22 Medair staff and leaders, and […]
Written by Brion
In this insightful session, hosted by the Lean Forum Charity network within S A Partners, Dr. Sanjay Bhasin explores one of the most common and costly challenges facing third-sector (charity or nonprofit) organizations: sustaining improvement over the long term. He emphasizes that CI is a culture, not merely a process, and highlights common organizational pitfalls in sustaining […]
Written by Brion
This online event with Brian Elms, hosted by ICMA, was designed to address the pervasive issue of inefficiency within the public sector and government agencies, specifically focusing on local government. By highlighting key bottlenecks, invisible inefficiencies, and proven strategies from his experience, the event aims to equip public sector professionals with actionable techniques to drive […]
Written by Brion
Christy Cook, co-host of the Going Zero podcast, is joined by Mike Wrathall, an sustainability strategist who’s helped organizations across sectors, from social housing to defense, navigate complexity and accelerate their impact on the environment. Mike shares his journey from a childhood passion for recycling to leading sustainability and climate strategy efforts at major firms […]
Written by Brion
Food for the Poor, a nonprofit organization, transformed its manual container shipping process into an efficient digital workflow. Previously, the Gift-in-Kind (GIK) team relied on printed documents and informal communications, leading to frequent delays and errors. On average, 13 to 15 containers missed their shipping deadlines weekly, incurring over $180,000 annually in penalty fees. The […]
Written by Brion