GA 643 | Asking Better Questions with Kabrina Ashley

GA 643 | Asking Better Questions with Kabrina Ashley

Author: Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy July 30, 2026 Duration: 36:53

Most organizations say they want high performers, yet quietly punish them for being too valuable to lose. Kabrina Ashley, a coach and behavioral science practitioner based in Nashville, makes the case that the real barriers to change, growth, and improvement are not strategic, they’re neurological. The conversation covers why good intentions still produce bad outcomes, and what leaders can do differently once they understand what is actually happening inside their employees’ heads.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How inertia shapes the way people respond to change (8:57)
  • What the high performers paradox costs organizations over time (10:57)
  • Why personality frameworks can mislead leaders who rely on them too heavily (14:51)
  • How asking better questions changes what people believe is possible (18:47)
  • Why most corporate training fails to produce lasting retention (22:57)
  • What running old code means and where it comes from (26:49)
  • How the habit loop connects to the rewards we give ourselves at work (30:56)
  • Why the quality of your questions determines the quality of your results (35:10)

“The quality of your life is determined by the quality of questions that you ask.” – Kabrina Ashley

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If the conversation about habit change, running old code, and why training rarely sticks resonated with you, the School of Leadership covers the human side of building organizations that actually improve.
Learn More About School of Leadership at https://www.gembaacademy.com/leadership

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What Do You Think?

When you look at your highest performers right now, are they growing toward their potential or quietly being held in place by how much you need them where they are?


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 639 | Putting the Customer First with Slaytor Baldwin [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:30
A suppressor manufacturer in Utah started its lean transformation about a year ago. Twelve months later, inventory turns had doubled, changeover time dropped from 3.5 hours to 9 minutes, and a rollout planned for a year…
GA 638 | Separating Risk from Being Reckless with George Barrios [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 betwe…
GA 637 | Developing Organizational Maturity with Norman Wolfe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:38
Most organizations have the systems. They have the processes, the KPIs, the structured meetings, the strategic plans. And they are still stuck. Norman Wolfe has spent decades helping leadership teams understand why, and…
GA 636 | Taking Control of Your Life with Joel Steele [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Most people trying to improve their lives are doing it without a clear picture of what they are building toward. For Joel Steele, a near-miss with prison forced him to start making different choices. His book "Life Switc…
GA 635 | Emotions Are Not the Enemy with D. Earl Johnston [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:07
Most continuous improvement practitioners are trained to prize logic and treat emotion as noise in the system. D. Earl Johnston spent nine years and thousands of research hours across twelve disciplines discovering that…
GA 634 | Doubling Profits in 90 Days with Ben Hansen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:41
This week's guest is Ben Hansen. Ron and Ben discussed how Ben helps companies improve their profit margins, dealing with "profititis," shifting your focus from revenue to profitability, and more. An MP3 audio version of…
GA 633 | Be Curious and Seek Knowledge with Andy Olrich [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:41
This week's guest is Andy Olrich. Ron and Andy discussed the roles of people and tools in continuous improvement, what NOT to do when building a lean culture, teaching younger generations, and more. An MP3 audio version…
GA 632 | Performance Unleashed with Chris Libutti [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:25
This week's guest is Chris Libutti. Ron and Chris discussed Chris and his wife Yamila's book, "Performance Unleashed," his time in the military, the importance of self-discipline, and more. An MP3 audio version of this e…
GA 631 | What We Can Learn from Tetris with Michael Parent [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:33
This week's guest is Michael Parent. Ron and Michael discussed an interesting AI conundrum, the impact that systems and design have on performance, Michael's Tetris experiment, and more. An MP3 audio version of this epis…
GA 630 | Why Tone Matters with Shahab Shah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:05
This week's guest is Shahab Shah. Ron and Shahab discussed the importance of balancing human empathy with the demands of reality, why tone matters, first steps for making improvements, and more. An MP3 audio version of t…