GA 638 | Separating Risk from Being Reckless with George Barrios

GA 638 | Separating Risk from Being Reckless with George Barrios

Author: Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy June 25, 2026 Duration: 30:20
  Confidence and arrogance can look identical from the outside. George Barrios has spent a career in rooms where the difference mattered, from running a semiconductor division at 29 to co-leading a $20 billion merger between WWE and UFC. His book, Sometimes Wrong, But Never in Doubt, started as a phrase buried in a performance review and grew into a full operating philosophy about where real conviction comes from. The answer is less inspiring than most people want to hear, and more actionable than most people expect. In this episode you'll learn: What "chip on shoulder equals chips in pocket" means to founders (2:29) How early circumstances shape a lifelong drive to prove something (3:38) How a career spanning Praxair, WWE, and global sports investment came together (5:45) Where the title "Sometimes Wrong, But Never in Doubt" actually came from (8:47) The difference between confidence earned through deep work and false bravado (13:18) What conviction looks like in practice when pressure hits (17:09) How to treat failure as a signal rather than a verdict (20:27) What separates smart risk from recklessness (24:24) Why doing work you are naturally good at changes everything (27:31) "To get through that, you need to do the work that drives the conviction to push through." - George Barrios Keep Learning If George's point about deep work as the foundation of leadership conviction resonated, the School of Leadership offers structured ways to build that same discipline in yourself and your team. Learn More About School of Leadership at https://www.gembaacademy.com/leadership Podcast Resources George's Website Get All the Latest News from Gemba Academy Stay current on new courses, podcast episodes, and continuous improvement resources. Sign up for the Gemba Academy newsletter at gembaacademy.com/news What Do You Think? When you look at the leaders around you who project strong conviction, can you tell whether it comes from deep preparation or from something else entirely?

Hosted by Ron Pereira, a lean thinker and co-founder of Gemba Academy, the Gemba Academy Podcast is a deep and practical resource for anyone looking to build a better organization. The conversations here move beyond theory, focusing on the real-world application of methodologies like Lean Six Sigma and Toyota Kata. You’ll hear from practitioners and leaders who share stories from the front lines, detailing how they tackle complex problems, foster genuine productivity, and develop effective teams. Each episode feels like a candid workshop, breaking down concepts into actionable steps you can apply immediately. This isn't about abstract ideals; it's about the tangible work of improvement, from the shop floor to the executive suite. Tune in for a learning experience that challenges conventional wisdom and provides the tools for meaningful change. The Gemba Academy Podcast turns the philosophy of continuous improvement into a clear and accessible path forward for business professionals and educators alike.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

Gemba Academy Podcast: Lean Six Sigma | Toyota Kata | Productivity | Leadership
Podcast Episodes
GA 619 | Don’t Walk By a Mess with Chad Bareither [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:50
This week's guest is Chad Bareither. Ron and Chad discussed making culture changes in the workplace, powerful aspects of Japanese culture, the importance of cleaning up, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is…
GA 618 | MORE Is Better with Kathy Miller [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:02
This week's guest is Kathy Miller. Ron and Kathy discussed manufacturing, Kathy's new book "MORE Is Better," optimism, psychological safety, and the art of making high-quality connections. An MP3 audio version of this ep…
GA 617 | What Alignment Looks Like with Hanna Bauer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:09
This week's guest is Hanna Bauer. Ron and Hanna discussed the role of emotional intelligence in success, balancing empathy and accountability, navigating love languages, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is…
GA 616 | Teaching Lean with Noah Waech [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:56
This week's guest is Noah Waech. Ron and Noah discussed Noah's experiences teaching lean, what happens when things don't go as planned, Value Stream Mapping, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available fo…
GA 615 | Radical Product Thinking with Radhika Dutt [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:20
This week's guest is Radhika Dutt. Ron and Radhika discussed OKRs, Toyota Kata, the target mentality, the OHLA puzzle framework, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this epis…
GA 614 | Getting Lean to Stick with Joel Hugghins [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:21
This week's guest is Joel Hugghins. Ron and Joel discussed dealing with CAVE people, intellectual property, getting lean to stick, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for download here. In this ep…
GA 613 | Revealing Hidden Truths with Billy Taylor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:23
This week we're ringing in the New Year with Billy Taylor. Ron and Billy discussed strategy and KPAs, hidden truths, clarity, being hard on the process, and more. An MP3 audio version of this episode is available for dow…
GA 612 | Gratitude, Giving, and Growth with the Gemba Academy Team [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:47
This week, we're sharing a special Christmas episode featuring insights from the Gemba Academy team. Each individual answered the question: What does continuous improvement mean to you in your own life? An MP3 audio vers…