Leading Lean Leadership Transformations
Join hundreds of other leaders just like you
Get your 90-Day Roadmap to confidently lead lean continuous improvement without complex lean jargon, team resistance, high turnover or high-cost consultants so you can deliver breakthrough results and
Accelerate Your Career & Personal Income Growth!
The clearest and most comprehensive lean leadership roadmap for anyone serious about leading lean continuous improvement transformations without the lean jargon, complexity, resistance, turnover or consultant price tag.
Who We Serve....
Most Industries
Manufacturing
Healthcare & Medical Operations
Transportation & Logistics
Warehousing & Distribution
Financial & Professional Services
Software Development
IT Operations
Retail Operations
Hospitality
And many more....
Operations Leaders
Front line Salaried Leaders with Hourly Team Leaders & Direct Reports.
Are you feeling professionally stuck and craving a career breakthrough? Frustrated by Lean's Complexity & lack of a clear path? Struggling with Team Resistance? Hopeful for a solution that finally makes sense? Ready to take action and need a Partner to help get started?
Managers
Mid-Senior Level Salaried Managers of Salaried Leaders.
Are you unsure if your leaders have what it takes to lead lean? Need to quickly deliver breakthrough results across your business? Concerned with the complexity of Lean? Is Turnover a concern? No budget for high-cost consultants? Ready to take action and need a Partner to help get started?
Executives
Senior Level Executives & Business Owners
Do you want to transform the culture of your organization? Think Lean could be your competitive advantage? Want to do this organically & avoid high-cost consultants? Need help getting your leaders prepared & engaged? Ready to take action and need a Partner to help get started?
Our Solution Is Dynamic
Unlike traditional lean training programs that are rigid, jargon-heavy or reliant on high-cost consultants, our solution offers a simple, adaptable and people-first approach that empowers leaders like you to lead lean transformations from within - without overwhelming your team or culture.
Through our expert-guided, hands-on partnership, we teach you to apply Lean in your business, with your team - using practical tools, real-world strategies and dynamic leadership coaching.
Instead of prescribing "best practices" from the outside, in the traditional "square peg - round hole" approach, we guide you in discovering what works best inside your business - helping you build engaged, resilient teams that own the change, deliver breakthrough results and sustain the gains.
Hi there, I'm Darren. I founded the Higher Level Partners & created our Dynamic Lean Accelerator Program. I've been leading lean transformations for over 25 years in both manufacturing and non-manufacturing environments. The Dynamic Lean Accelerator is my 25 years of practical, hands-on experience packed into a 90-day Lean Roadmap that includes a full year of 1:1 partnership with your own dedicated and experienced Higher Level Partner.
Why The Dynamic Lean Accelerator is Unique (And Valuable)
No rigid, one-size-fits-all formulas
We teach the principles, then guide the adaptation - so Lean fits your business, your team and your customers.
No High-Cost Consultants
Lean is intended to be done By You, Not To You. You lead the change. We support you through it.
No Jargon or Academic Complexity
We simplify lean into human language, so you can understand and explain it - and your team can engage with it.
No Resistance-Driven Burnout
Our approach helps you build trust, safety and ownership in your team at every step. Trust starts with you and your leadership team and we help you in every step of the program.
Real Career-Changing Outcomes
You'll not only transform your business - you'll gain a leadership skillset that sets you apart for promotions, higher income or even independent consulting - if that's your thing.
What's Included in The Dynamic Lean Accelerator Program
Everything You Need To Confidently Lead Lean Transformation In Your Business
Without Overwhelm, Resistance, High-Turnover or High-Cost Consultants
90-Day Roadmap
You'll not only transform your business - you'll gain a leadership skillset that sets you apart for promotions, higher income or even independent consulting - if that's your thing.
Why it matters: You'll never feel lost, unsure where to start or how to move forward. You'll have total clarity.
1:1 Executive Coaching
Work directly with a Higher Level Partner for personalized guidance, feedback and leadership development throughout your lean implementation journey.
Why it matters: You'll never face challenges alone - you'll have expert support to navigate team resistance, change fatigue and high-stakes decisions with confidence
Group Coaching & Shared Learning
Join interactive group sessions with other lean leaders navigating the same lean journey - to learn from each other's breakthroughs, learnings and best practices.
Why it matters: You'll accelerate learning and gain perspective from a trusted peer community that actually gets what you're trying to do.
On-Demand Video Training
Gain access to clear, jargon-free instruction that simplifies complex lean concepts into practical strategies & tactical activities you can implement immediately.
Why it matters: You'll finally understand how Lean works - and how to communicate it to your team in a way that builds trust, not confusion.
Lifetime Access To The Dynamic Lean Leader Resource Library
Templates, playbooks, leadership tools, communication scripts, event guides and more - we give you everything you need to lead confidently, now and in the future.
Why it matters: You'll save hours of time and avoid "blank page syndrome" with plug-and-play tools that grow with you.
The Dynamic Lean Leader Community
Get 24/7 access to a private online community of like-minded leaders committed to Lean done right - not rigid, top-down checklists.
Why it matters: You'll never feel isolated or second-guess your progress. You'll have a tribe that keeps you motivated and supported.
Career & Results Documentation Support
Learn how to capture your improvement wins, leadership skills and business impact in a way that positions you for your next promotion, raise or career move.
Why it matters: You won't just deliver results - you'll know exactly how to leverage them to grow your income, influence, impact and opportunities.
A Proven Alternative To High-Cost Consultants
This is the same roadmap we've used to help businesses save six figures - but instead of outsourcing the change, you'll learn to lead it from within.
Why it matters: You'll build real capability and credibility - not dependence on outsiders who don't understand your business or your people.
Expert Mentorship Rooted In Real-World Lean Leadership
You'll be coached by seasoned experts who've led lean continuous improvement transformations in complex, high-stakes environments - not theory-driven "lean police."
Why it matters: You'll be mentored by people who speak your language and have actually done the work - not just studied it.
What's Been Holding You Back
Overwhelmed by Lean Complexity & Jargon
"I don't even know where to start - everything I read just confuses me more."
Lean continuous improvement materials are filled with technical language, charts, Japanese terms and frameworks that feel more academic than actionable.
You're afraid to look unqualified in front of your team or leadership, so you hesitate to act.
You don't want to "fake it" - but you also don't feel confident enough to take the leap.
No Clear Proven Roadmap
"I've seen a lot of ideas - but nothing that shows me exactly what to do in my situation."
There's no end-to-end guide you trust that applies to "your" business model, "your" industry and "your" leadership level.
You've picked up bits and pieces (a webinar here, a book there), but not a cohesive strategy you can own and execute.
As a result, you delay action or fall back on reactive management - your uncomfortable comfort zone.
Fear of Team Resistance & Turnover
"If I push this too hard, I'll lose people or create more problems."
You've seen or led past initiatives that backfired - causing stress, confusion or attrition.
You're hesitant to introduce new ideas without a way to gain buy-in.
You carry the burden of wanting to improve things without hurting morale or creating fear.
Lack of Time & Mental Bandwidth
"I'm already stretched thin - how am I supposed to lead a whole transformation effort?"
You're buried in daily firefighting, meetings, reports and operational chaos.
You "want" to learn and lead differently, but your calendar doesn't allow space.
You assume improvement efforts will take too long or add more work.
No Internal Support
"There's no one here to guide me - and I don't want to look incompetent."
You lack a mentor or internal Lean Continuous Improvement champion to help you build momentum.
Your leadership may be skeptical of lean or only focused on short-term gains.
You feel alone - expected to lead change without support or a safe space to learn and grow.
Can't Afford (or Don't Trust) Consultants
"We don't have the budget - and I don't want a stranger telling my team what to do."
External consultants are expensive, and often seen as temporary fixers, not culture builders.
You want to lead change "organically" - without it feeling imposed or artificial.
You've had bad experiences or seen others get burned by cookie-cutter solutions.
Fear of Failure or Looking Incompetent
"What if I try and it doesn't work? What if I look like I don't know what I'm doing?"
Your reputation is on the line. You feel like you should already know this.
Starting something you're unsure about feels risky - to your confidence and your career.
It's safer to maintain the status quo than to risk visible failure.
You Doubt Lean Will Work in Your Business
"Lean is for Factories - I don't see how it applies to our type of work."
You've seen or heard of lean success in manufacturing, but not in transactional, healthcare or service environments like yours.
Without real-world case studies or proof, you hesitate to commit.
You're unsure how to adapt lean principles to your specific context.
Why You're Stuck
Even though you "want" to lead change and advance your career, you're held back by:
Complexity & Confusion
Fear of Team Resistance
Lack of Time, Support or Direction
Budget Constraints
Internal Doubt or Uncertainty
Industry-specific Skepticism
What You'll Gain in The Dynamic Lean Accelerator Program
Transform Your Business, Your Team & Your Career - From the Inside Out
Finally Deliver Breakthrough Results
Implement a Proven Lean Roadmap that helps you reduce cost, improve service and eliminate waste in a way your team actually supports!
You'll stop spinning your wheels and start delivering measurable & sustained, executive-level results.
Gain Total Clarity On Where To Start & What To Do Next
Eliminate the guesswork and overwhelm with a simple step-by-step plan tailored to your environment.
You'll stop feeling stuck and start moving forward with confidence & direction.
Build A Team That's Engaged, Not Resistant
Learn how to rally your team around meaningful improvement - without fear, burnout or skepticism.
You'll shift from pushing your team to watching them take ownership and lead alongside you.
Lead Lean With Confidence - Not Consultants
Stop depending on expensive outsiders and start becoming the trusted expert within your own business.
You'll earn the respect that comes from solving problems others couldn't - without needing to outsource it.
Transform From Firefighter to Strategic Lean Leader
Leave behind the daily chaos and start leading with vision, systems & structure.
You'll be seen as a builder of culture, not just a manager of tasks.
Accelerate Your Career & Income Growth
Document & showcase your impact in a way that makes hiring managers, executives or clients say, "We Need Someone Like You."
You'll finally have the proof, positioning and confidence to move up - or even go out on your own.
Learn How to Lead Change That Sticks
Gain the leadership tools to drive real, lasting transformation - even in resistant or complex environments.
You'll create improvements that sustain, scale and elevate your reputation.
Experience The Freedom of Leading With Simplicity
No jargon, fluff or complicated tools. Just real principles, applied with clarity & purpose.
You'll stop feeling buried under complexity & start leading with ease & precision.
Reignite Your Passion & Purpose
Rediscover why you became a leader in the first place - by creating meaningful impact with your team.
You'll trade burnout for momentum and feel proud of the work you're doing again.
Join A Community That Has Your Back
You're not in this alone. Surround yourself with people on the same journey, facing the same challenges.
You'll feel supported, encouraged and never isolated again.
The Bottom Line:
The Dynamic Lean Accelerator doesn't just teach Lean...
It helps you become the confident, respected and results-driven leader you were meant to be.
It's Time To Decide
Consequences of Inaction
Here's the Risk of Doing Nothing Today:
career plateau becomes permanent
"I've been here 12 years, but they keep bringing in outside hires for leadership roles."
performance declines or flatlines
"We've done a few events, but nothing sticks. The team doesn't take it seriously anymore."
loss of credibility & influence
"I used to be at the table. Now I'm barely in the loop."
growing doubt & leadership fatigue
"I don't know how much longer I can keep pushing like this."
high turnover & team disengagement
"We've lost good people because of how past changes were handled - now nobody trusts any new initiative."
missed financial & career opportunities
"I thought by now I'd be in a different position - or even out on my own. But I'm still here, wondering what happened."
regret for wasted time & untapped potential
"I had a chance. I just didn't take the leap, when I knew I should...."
If you don't solve this problem, you risk becoming:
Stagnant in your role
Overlooked by Leadership
Disconnected from your Team
Burned Out & Demoralized
Undervalued - with little to show for years of hard work.
The cost isn't just professional - it's personal. Time, Fulfillment, Income & Impact are all on the line.
Consequences of Taking Action Today
Wins You Will Begin To Achieve By Starting the Dynamic Lean Accelerator Now:
Clarity on Where To Start
"I finally know what the first step is - and it makes sense."
Simplified Lean Concepts You Can Actually Use
"Now I can explain this to my team without sounding like a textbook."
A Quick Win With Your Team
"My team actually got engaged in this - and we made progress."
Positive Feedback From Leadership
"My boss noticed - and liked what we were doing."
Increased Team Engagement & Idea Flow
"People are actually bringing up ideas now - without me pulling teeth."
Documented Small Wins & Results
"We eliminated a waste, saved time or improved a small process - and I captured it."
A Sense of Momentum
"For the first time in a while, I feel like we're moving forward."
Confidence You Can Do This Without a Consultant
"I don't need to spend $100k on an outside expert - I've got this."
Quick Wins You Will Begin to Experience - If You Take Action Now
Clear first steps
Simplified and useable Lean Tools
A Small Success with your Team
Positive Attention from Leadership
Increased Engagement & Energy
Tangible early results you can document
Confidence you can do this yourself
A Renewed Sense of Forward Motion.
JUST A FEW CASE STUDIES WE'RE PROUD OF
FORMER VP NOW CEO
This leader was a VP of marketing when I met him. He was unsure of how to apply the lean methods to his marketing processes, and truth be told he didn’t believe lean was applicable to his “non-manufacturing” process.
He had been in his VP of Marketing role for several years and was beginning to feel like he was being passed by his peers.
Over several months, and some direct coaching and indirect support, he was able to apply the transactional lean methodologies to his marketing processes and deliver the breakthrough results he was looking for.
He now refers to himself as a “Proven Turnaround Leader” and is a Group CEO and Board Member to several companies.
FORMER SUPERVISOR NOW VP OPS & STRATEGY
This young leader was a Production Supervisor in a very run down and disorganized factory when I met him. He was new to his position and had very limited knowledge of lean or of leadership.
I partnered with him, helped him refine his leadership approach and develop his continuous improvement plan and in 6 months he had completely transformed his factory leveraging two basic lean tools: Value Stream Mapping & 5S/Standard Work.
That was all it took for this leader to grasp the lean principles, leverage his newfound leadership skills and launch his career that has led to his current role as Vice President of Operations & Strategy.
FORMER HEALTHCARE VP NOW CONSULTANT CEO
This senior leader in the country’s 2nd largest privately held healthcare company in the nation was a Vice President when I met her. She was charged with implementing a Lean Transformation across the entire primary care service line of the company. She had no background in the lean methodologies and was a traditional operations leader who would naturally struggle with implementing lean with doctors. I partnered with her to help develop the lean training, and in 18 months, we developed a standard care model for the family medicine, internal medicine, Pediatrics and OBGYN disciplines. Then I helped her build a 50-person implementation team to spread the solutions across 135 disparate clinics in 18 months, improving patient throughput by 32%, improving provider utilization by 23%, closing patient care gaps 68%, improving patient satisfaction scores 19% and delivering $44M ROI. She has since launched her own healthcare consulting firm that delivers data-driven solutions to optimize patient access, provider efficiency and revenue performance leveraging her refined skills in the lean methodologies applied to healthcare. She affectionately refers to herself as my grasshopper, and I as her Sensei.
FORMER CONTRACT ENGINEER NOW VP
This young leader was a contract engineer when I first met him – making around $60k/year. He was a degreed engineer from a prestigious university and with a very young family, he was trying to manage a real estate side-hustle to make financial ends meet. He was worn out physically and emotionally and was just feeling completely stuck and lost in his career. He had done everything right – went to college, got his degree, but he was really struggling to get the team’s trust and buy-in, to generate breakthrough results, and to achieve the career growth he was looking for. He just needed someone to listen, to coach/mentor him and give him a roadmap to achieve his goals. I partnered with him to help him grow his leadership skills, teaching him the lean methodologies and how to deliver truly breakthrough results that sustain. His transition from a “black and white” classically trained Engineer to a dynamic and transformational leader was remarkable. In the first 6 months of working with him, he was hired full-time and promoted to a Value Stream Manager role making $120k/year. He is currently a Vice President, has been promoted multiple times and his salary is north of $210k/year. We talk regularly and he is a much happier and more fulfilled leader today than he was when I first met him. He’s currently entertaining several options to become a General Manager – his dream job.
FORMER SUPERVISOR NOW VP
This young leader was an early-career production supervisor managing a very complex manufacturing process when I first met him. He was going through a divorce and was burning the candle at both ends! He was a complete stress ball and (being a redhead) was constantly red-faced. He gave off the appearance that he was just a timebomb waiting to go off, and his Team knew it. But he was genuinely frustrated – he had followed the right “path” in getting his degree (he put himself through night school while working), but things just didn’t go well for him. And when I met him, he was about to quit his job. In about 2 months of working with him, we had a continuous improvement plan, and he was taking my coaching well – he softened his approach with his team, became more empathetic to their concerns and focused on being his authentic self. One weekend, he decided he was going to “bite the bullet” and knock out 3 months of kaizen in a weekend. He had the support of his team, and they were all committed to getting it done. In 3 days, this leader and his team (that now loved him) completely transformed their entire factory – moving every piece of equipment and every assembly cell – and on Monday morning they were back up and running full production. That was an amazing feat, especially given they were an FDA regulated company! This leader absorbed my coaching, listened to my suggested approach with his team and transformed himself and his business operation in less than 3 months! He is now a Vice President of Continuous Improvement. We keep in touch, and he is a much happier Red Head now….
10 YEAR VP WITH 0 DIRECT REPORTS
This young leader was truly done a dis-service. He had been placed in multiple Vice President roles over a span of 10-years but had never really been in a Vice President role and therefore was completely stuck in his career. While it was nice to have the VP title, the fact that he was given the title without the actual responsibility of the title meant that he would never move into larger roles. He also wrote his resume indicating lean continuous improvement experience, but it was primarily academic awareness. Sometimes we must have difficult conversations with leaders to get them what they want in their career. Working with this leader, he is now in a Director of Operations role with over 50 direct reports (he did not take a pay cut), and I am working with him to learn the lean methodologies in a Distribution Center environment. He has embraced the lean methods and is refining his leadership style. He has already delivered significant improvements to his business in only 4 months, and his team is embracing him as a seasoned operations leader – they don’t know he has never led a team before! This project is still in process, but this leader will have a bright future due to a crucial conversation I had with him and the mentoring and coaching I am doing with him. “
Testimonials
A few comments from leaders just like you.... We've helped hundreds of great folks like you maximize their results.
Amod K.
Group CEO
“Darren is a great talent when it comes to operational excellence. It is not his understanding of the lean processes but his supportive attitude in change management that sets him apart from the rest of his peers.
Anyone can improve operational metrics for a process optimization, but to drive culture change and sustain the change over a period of time to consistently deliver superior results, Darren is the right person to have on your team.”
Michael D.
Engineering Executive
“I had the benefit of learning from Darren for close to 2 years.
When it comes to TPS [Lean] and lean manufacturing, it is an understatement to say that Darren is passionate!
In addition, he has knowledge and experience in the practical application of lean that are extremely valuable.
Pair this with his great leadership style and love for teaching and you have one amazing sensei!”
Mary D.
Human Resources Consultant
“Darren is an Operations Leader who I had the pleasure to work with for almost 2 years.
While working with Darren on several initiatives and projects I truly saw him come alive when Facilitating events or trainings. Darren was able to make boring material, well…less boring.
Darren is detail-oriented and very focused. You can count on him meeting deadlines and delivering to or exceeding your expectations.”
Ben S.
Lean Manufacturing Executive
“I had the pleasure of working with Darren for almost two years.
Darren is a great teacher of Lean Principles. He is a very detail-oriented manager that understands how to communicate no matter who the audience.”
Cassandra S.
Business Executive Consultant
“Darren has excellent teaching skills and is very personable. He has a unique ability to break down a process in a simpler way that allows for better understanding enabling you [to] have better insight into the problem at hand. As a DBS [lean] Leader, he enabled me to have a broader understanding of the Kaizen process and to implement and utilize the correct tools for problem resolution.
Darren is always approachable and willing to help out when he could. He takes a hands-on approach when needed, but [is] not afraid to delegate where needed and still remained well respected amongst his peers. Darren is a very humble colleague that will be a valuable asset to any organization that is fortunate enough to hire him.”
Shashi S.
VP Ops & Strategy
“Darren has the ability to lead, train and mentor lean principles successfully and simultaneously.
During the time I worked with Darren, he was able to patiently and effectively drive change by applying lean principles, giving thorough training, performing 1:1 mentoring and obtaining a high level of buy-in.
He integrates process with strategic business planning and key performance indicators to determine the road map for continuous improvement and executes with discipline and integrity.”
Jake B.
EVP Sales & Marketing
“Darren’s focus on and determination to achieve core objectives ensured that we continuously improved factory processes, helped people develop and met customer requirements leading to our continued success.”
Adam M.
Procurement & Supply Chain Professional
“Darren has extensive lean manufacturing and leadership experience. This enabled him to be a contributor and begin driving operational improvements from day one in his role. [He] is an experienced operations manager with advanced lean manufacturing skills. His continuous improvement mentality and ability to “raise the bar” is unparalleled.”
Patrick G.
President
“I had the pleasure of working with Darren for over five years at Danaher. He was well liked by those who worked with him and those who reported to him. He utilized continuous improvement to help those around him and was rewarded by their respect and loyalty. It was my pleasure to work with Darren, and I would be honored to work with him again.”
Leading Lean Leadership Transformations
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