GA 645 | Why Leadership Is Failing with Keith Wyche

GA 645 | Why Leadership Is Failing with Keith Wyche

Author: Ron Pereira: Lean Thinker & Co-Founder of Gemba Academy August 13, 2026 Duration: 24:18

Trust in leadership has been declining for decades, and Keith Wyche has the research to prove it. A 40-year veteran of AT&T, IBM, and Walmart, Keith opened up to us about a few mistakes he’s made in his career. The real conversation here is what changed him, and what he thinks it will take to reverse the broader collapse.

In this episode you’ll learn:

  • How a career spanning AT&T, IBM, and Walmart shapes a leadership philosophy (2:26)
  • Why a 15-year-old’s question became the catalyst for serious research (4:05)
  • How the thirst for power quietly replaced the calling to serve (6:08)
  • What happens when results become the only measure that matters (7:27)
  • Why vulnerability is harder for leaders than it looks (10:42)
  • How admitting a mistake in front of 30,000 employees built more trust than any win (11:08)
  • How to rebuild trust one promise at a time (16:48)
  • The difference between listening to defend and listening to understand (18:53)
  • Why people never forget how a leader made them feel (20:42)

“My successes may have inspired me, but my failures taught me.” – Keith Wyche

Keep Learning

If Keith’s point about creating followership through trust, listening, and character resonated with you, the School of Leadership is a practical place to build those same skills in yourself and your team.
Learn More About School of Leadership at https://www.gembaacademy.com/leadership

Podcast Resources

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 listen in a conversation, are you listening to understand the other person, or are you already forming your response?


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 650 | Train It Before You Trust It with David Osagie-Igiehon [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:13
Most continuous improvement practitioners are using AI the same way they use Google, and getting roughly the same quality of results. David Osagie-Igiehon has taken a different approach. He builds custom agents trained o…
GA 649 | Accountability Starts in the Mirror with Michael Caito [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
Most organizations have a strategy. Far fewer can actually execute one. Michael Caito built and sold a food delivery business decades before DoorDash existed, then spent years helping other companies close the gap betwee…
GA 648 | Discovering Lean in High School with Ted Pendergrass [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:11
Most lean practitioners spend their careers trying to change the minds of adults who have been doing things the same way for decades. Ted Pendergrass decided to start earlier. Over 20 years coordinating a career technica…
GA 647 | Making Sleep a Priority with Tim Thomas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:20
Most organizations measure productivity, absenteeism, and safety incidents without ever asking what all three have in common. Tim Thomas, a former Australian Special Forces soldier turned sleep specialist, argues the ans…
GA 644 | Defining Propaganda with Owen Fitzpatrick [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:01
Most leaders assume that the right argument, delivered clearly, will change minds. Owen Fitzpatrick has spent 30 years studying why that assumption is wrong. A psychologist who has worked inside some of the world’s most…
GA 643 | Asking Better Questions with Kabrina Ashley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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 barri…
GA 642 | The Future of Work with Jonathan David Lewis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:54
Something fundamental has shifted in how people relate to work, and most leaders are still operating from a story that the workforce has already left behind. Jonathan David Lewis, president of brand strategy firm McKee W…
GA 641 | What Makes a Good Teammate with Eric Reveno [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:33
Most organizations spend enormous energy developing leaders and almost none developing teammates. Stanford Associate Head Men’s Basketball Coach Eric Reveno has spent 30 years watching what actually determines whether a…
GA 640 | Optimistic Fear with Cornelia Choe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:11
Most leaders think their biggest risk is making the wrong call. Cornelia Choe argues the real danger comes earlier, when a leader stops questioning the mental map they're using to make calls in the first place. In her bo…