From a single laptop in Vancouver to a 30-strong global team, Lean Six Search's journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and relentless ambition. CEO Derek shares a moving letter on how the company was built from scratch after a major life pivot, growing into an internationally recognized executive search firm.

Philip Ideson, founder of Art of Procurement, spoke with Lean Six Search about transforming procurement from a cost-focused, compliance-driven department into a strategic enabler that orchestrates ecosystems. He urges leaders to think beyond contracts and metrics, to embrace technology without losing sight of the importance of human-driven collaboration.

Today’s most effective supply chain executives no longer choose between upskilling and cross-skilling—they become polymaths. By mastering multiple disciplines and connecting silos, polymath leaders like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Benjamin Franklin have repeatedly transformed organizations and industries.

Is your supply chain being held back by outdated “one size fits all” hiring? Uncover evidence-based recruitment strategies to attract and retain the specialized talent every modern supply chain needs, from digital-savvy planners to data-driven engineers. Learn how targeted assessments and new technology are transforming talent acquisition (and boosting your team’s value).

In a world where business is truly global, centralized leadership teams create blind spots and slow innovation. Derek Lutz shares insights on why decentralizing your executive team across continents and embracing cultural diversity isn’t just a trend, it’s a strategic imperative for building competitive, adaptable, and responsive companies that win in today’s complex markets.

Digital twins act as always-on, virtual control towers for your supply chain, offering real-time visibility, predictive analytics, and instant scenario testing. This tech helps you spot issues, boost efficiency, and stay ahead of disruptions, moving your operations from reactive firefighting to proactive optimization

Interviewing for a management position is not the same as vying for an executive role. Dean Bagnall explains how interview formats, expectations, and evaluation criteria differ for managers and executives. Gain actionable insights to approach your next leadership interview with confidence and clarity.

Discover how supply chain breakdowns at Hershey’s, KFC, and FoxMeyer led to lost sales, store closures, and even bankruptcy. Hershey’s missed Halloween shipments, KFC ran out of chicken, and FoxMeyer’s ERP project triggered its collapse. These cases underscore the crucial importance of meticulous planning and effective change management in supply chain operations.

The global supply chain industry is amid a historic talent crisis. As demand for skilled professionals outpaces supply six to one, organizations must adopt modern, strategic frameworks to attract, assess, and retain top supply chain talent. This guide delivers actionable strategies and evidence-based tools to help hire the leaders and specialists needed for success today and in the future.

The debate between generalist and specialist search firms is a strategic issue for supply chain hiring. As supply chains become more complex and digital, the choice between broad, adaptable generalists and deeply knowledgeable specialists can define a company’s ability to secure high-impact talent and future leaders.

Imagine a procurement specialist receiving a pop-up tutorial on supplier risk assessment right as they evaluate a new vendor, or a chatbot guiding them through the steps of creating a compliant purchase order in the ERP system. This is lean, just-in-time learning designed to turn new hires into value creators from day one.

Starting a new job is more than just learning tasks; it’s an emotional journey filled with excitement, self-doubt, and the challenge of fitting in. Understanding these feelings can help new hires and employers create a smoother, more successful transition. Discover the hidden emotions behind those first crucial weeks and why supporting them matters.

We reveal our proven, lean-driven executive search process designed to save you time, eliminate guesswork, and connect your business with talent committed to operational excellence.
Dive in to see how our commitment to lean processes sets us, and the candidates we place, apart from the rest.

Derek Lutz redefines remote work as “work from anywhere”-not just from home, but from coworking spaces, airport lounges, or even a gas station parking lot. Drawing from his experience leading distributed teams across continents, Lutz demonstrates that productivity and innovation thrive when leaders build systems rooted in flexibility, trust, and clear priorities.

In a world where tariffs and geopolitical risks are transforming global supply chains, this article explores how organizations are navigating trade disruptions, leveraging scenario planning, and redefining their leadership needs to stay ahead.

U.S. tariffs are disrupting the Medical Device and Food & Beverage sectors, spiking costs, squeezing packaging, and straining labor, but could ignite domestic innovation and job growth. Dean Bagnall unpacks the immediate chaos and long-term opportunities reshaping procurement, logistics, and production.

Learn how leading companies like Toyota and Moderna are achieving unprecedented accuracy by blending human ingenuity with AI. This HBR analysis reveals the secret to successful AI-driven workflow automation: empowering employees, not replacing them. Discover the kaizen legacy reimagined for the AI era.

The narrative around AI in supply chains often leans toward futuristic visions, leaving out the practical, here-and-now applications. However, a recent study pulls back the curtain to reveal how AI is solving concrete supply chain challenges today.

Abhijit Supekar, Head of Supply Chain at Aeva Technologies, also ex-Google/Fitbit, shares his thoughts on integrating Gen AI to transform fragmented networks into competitive advantages

The most successful supply chain leaders distinguish themselves through adaptability, communication, and strategic thinking-skills often mislabeled as “soft.” This article challenges the outdated term, arguing these are essential professional skills that drive organizational success