SAVE THE DATE – Our editor introduces the theme of this year’s Lean Global Connection, which focuses on rethinking leadership to ensure our organizations can tackle daily issues while keeping an eye on their long-term strategy.

Words: Roberto Priolo

At last year’s Lean Global Connection, Jim Womack told us that our challenge is not to rethink Lean, but how we apply it in an era where stability is no longer guaranteed. The onus of figuring this out will fall on leaders. They will have to set a direction, ensuring the organization stays the course while helping their people address the many problems that our unpredictable world throws at us.

Indeed, leadership is being tested like never before. In every industry, every country, and at every level of an organization, leaders are facing relentless waves of change — fast-evolving markets, technological disruption, complex geopolitical shifts, and new workforce expectations. For too many, the instinct is to double down on control, centralize decision-making, or chase the latest quick fix. But that’s not leadership. That’s survival.

We need a different way to lead — one that creates long-term resilience while making a tangible difference today. This is why the theme of this year’s Lean Global Connection is RETHINKING LEADERSHIP: Lean Thinking for Daily Impact and Long-Term Resilience.

It’s time to revisit what leadership really means in an era defined by uncertainty, complexity, and opportunity. This November, join us for the biggest online lean conference in the world, where we’ll gather voices from the shop floor to the boardroom to explore how Lean Thinking can help us build organizations that not only survive but thrive — capable of adapting, improving, and delivering lasting value in the face of constant change.

WHY THIS THEME?

The old playbook is obsolete. Traditional models of leadership — where strategy is defined at the top and all that happens below is execution — no longer work in environments that are volatile, unpredictable, and fast-moving. No single leader or executive team can possibly have all the answers. Leadership can’t be about command and control; it has to be about enabling, guiding, and developing capability across the organization.

Lean Thinking offers exactly that: a practical, human-centered approach to leadership that builds capability in people at every level — not just in the C-suite. It’s about empowering individuals to solve problems, experiment, and improve daily, all while working toward a shared strategic purpose. In Lean, leadership is much more than a title. It’s a responsibility shared by everyone who helps others succeed — team leaders, managers, coaches, senior executives. Everyone.

The image illustrating this year’s event hopes to convey this message. We can see our beloved mascot Smed the Chameleon looking into the distance, toward a far-away destination – symbolizing long-term thinking – but also at the many obstacles along the way, which it will solve one at a time with the help of people (and the stack of post-it notes in its hand).

THE STAKES ARE HIGH

We are at a critical period. The acceleration of Artificial Intelligence, the uncertainties of global markets, and the persistent need for organizations to be both stable and innovative demand a different kind of leader. One who can:

• Address today’s problems without losing sight of tomorrow’s direction.
• Create alignment without imposing rigidity.
• Encourage autonomy while maintaining coherence around purpose.
• Lead with humility, curiosity, and a genuine commitment to developing people.

In short, we need leaders who embrace Lean Thinking and Practice.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT LEAN GLOBAL CONNECTION 2025

This year’s Lean Global Connection will bring together thinkers, practitioners, and leaders from around the world to answer the most pressing leadership question of our time: how do we lead steadily in a world that’s all but steady?

Through a rich program of keynotes, interactive panels, and real-world case studies, we’ll explore:

• What Lean leadership looks like in action — from factories and hospitals to tech startups.
• How to develop leadership capabilities at every level, ensuring that everyone, not just a select few, contributes to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
• The role of Lean in building adaptable, resilient organizations that can navigate crises and come out stronger.
• How Lean Thinking aligns daily action with long-term strategic goals, ensuring that no improvement is disconnected from the bigger picture.
• How to face today’s most urgent business challenges, including geopolitical turbulence, sustainability, workforce engagement, and of course, the rise of AI.

Whether you’re a CEO, a front-line team leader, a lean coach, or an aspiring leader looking to make a difference — this event is for you.

A CALL TO ARMS

Join this global gathering of minds committed to learning, sharing, and challenging each other to lead differently, with humility, adaptability, and resolve.

We’re calling on all leaders — formal and informal — to participate. To rethink what leadership means in your organization. To learn how to generate impact today while building resilience for tomorrow. To understand that lean leadership is not about having all the answers — it’s about creating the conditions where answers emerge, from everywhere in the organization.

Save the date. Join the movement. Rethink leadership with us. The world isn’t slowing down — and neither should we.

_{Lean Global Connection 2025 will start at 2PM UTC on November 13th and go on for 24 hours. The event is online and can be accessed from anywhere. It's also completely FREE. Register here}

_THE AUTHOR