Accelerating Operational Performance

Unique Training & Development · uniquedevelopment.com

The Accelerating Operational Performance podcast, hosted by leadership author and expert Greg Schinkel, is your destination for breakthrough strategies in manufacturing, supply chain, and operational leadership. Here, a diverse array of guests delivers a trifecta of value in every episode: accelerating projects, engaging teams, and enhancing leadership skills for a stress-reduced path to success.

40 episodes

13d ago latest

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Episodes 40

An HR Director’s 3-Word Leadership Mantra | Seanna Pickard
13d ago · 32:02
Seanna Pickard, HR Director at the Federal Bridge Corporation, breaks down the 3-word mantra she uses to make every decision: fair, equitable, transparent.
Umesh Vendargon: Structure Gets You By. Culture Gets You Ahead.
27d ago · 32:24
Structure will get a team to its KPIs, but it doesn’t always get them past them. In this episode of Accelerating Operational Performance, host Greg Schinkel talks with Umesh Vendargon, COO of Core Linen Services, about the gap between management and leadership. Umesh traces his own path from the operations floor through a […]
BONUS: Greg on the Chemical Engineering Podcast — Career Paths & Leadership Skills for Engineers
1mo ago · 32:07
On this bonus episode, we're sharing a conversation from the Chemical Engineering podcast. Senior editor Scott Jenkins speaks with Greg Schinkel, CEO here at Unique Training & Development and host of the Accelerating Operational Performance podcast. The conversation focuses on career paths open to engineers and offers thoughts on what engineers and companies can do to develop leadership skills for their teams. This episode originally aired on the Chemical Engineering podcast.
Mimi Brown: How to Build Confidence as a Leader
1mo ago · 28:46
What does it actually take to build confidence as a leader? Communication expert and keynote speaker Mimi Brown joins Greg Schinkel to break down her “Own Your Swag” framework and her new book, Lead at Full Volume: The 10 Beats to Amplify Your Confidence, Influence and Presence. Mimi shares the moment a boss […]
5 Mistakes New Plant Managers Make in Their First Year
1mo ago · 11:19
Most plant managers pick up one or two of these five patterns in their first year — not because they’re bad leaders, but because nobody warned them. In this special edition of Accelerating Operational Performance, Greg walks through five common mistakes first-year plant managers make, from thinking day-to-day instead of long-term to confusing […]
What 49 Interviews Taught Us About Leading People
2mo ago · 16:08
After 49 interviews with senior leaders, operators, engineers, and executives — including a former London, Ontario mayor — Greg pulls back the curtain on the three themes that keep surfacing no matter who’s in the chair. What do success and struggle actually have in common across industries, roles, and experience levels? Spoiler: it’s […]
B2B Sales Strategy for Manufacturing Leaders: Stop Being a Commodity
2mo ago · 32:26
If you’re an operations leader with any responsibility for growth, sales isn’t someone else’s problem — it’s yours. In this episode of Accelerating Operational Performance, Greg Schinkel sits down in-studio with sales strategist, speaker, and author Shawn Casemore to tackle the sales challenges that manufacturing and operations leaders face every day — whether […]
Josh Post: What a Fractional COO Does For Organizations
3mo ago · 29:33
Most business owners have heard of a fractional CFO. Far fewer have heard of a fractional COO, and that might be exactly the role their business needs. In this episode of the Accelerating Operational Performance podcast, Greg Schinkel sits down with Josh Post, a fractional COO and executive coach who spent more than […]
Kevin Schinkel: Manufacturing Leadership Lessons From the Plant Floor
3mo ago · 31:27
Kevin Schinkel, President of Schinkel’s Legacy, joins Greg on the Accelerating Operational Performance podcast to share what 14 years on the plant floor taught him about leadership. From the Easter ham disaster that humbled him, to overcoming imposter syndrome, to the simple question that transformed how he delegates—Kevin opens up about the real […]
Nadia Dawe: Frontline Leadership Development That Builds Trust
4mo ago · 28:48
Nadia Dawe, a people, learning, culture, and operations leader with deep experience in transportation, transit, maintenance, safety, compliance, and frontline leadership, shares what she learned as she moved from L&D into Operations and why the work ultimately comes back to people. Together, Greg and Nadia explore how leaders can get closer to the work, […]
Darcy Scott: Building High-Velocity Teams
4mo ago · 33:57
How do you transition from a “top-down” manager to a strategic leader who drives operational excellence? Greg sits down with industry veteran Darcy Scott to unpack over 30 years of experience in high-velocity logistics and 3PL. Darcy shares his personal journey of leadership evolution. This conversation provides a roadmap for empowering teams, leading […]
Jeff Gallant: How Leadership Drives Results
5mo ago · 32:58
Greg sits down with Jeff Gallant, an operations leader with over 30 years of experience driving transformation across some of Canada’s most recognized industrial organizations. Jeff has led billion-dollar investments, large teams, and major operational change—but what stands out most is his perspective on leadership. This conversation gets into what actually drives results on the floor: - The shift from technical expert to people leader - Why employee engagement directly impacts KPIs - How to implement change that actually sticks - And what great leaders do differently Chapters: 00:00 – Introd
Kandis Neth: Making Frontline Leadership Training Stick
5mo ago · 31:25
Discover how to turn frontline leadership training into lasting behavior change. Greg Schinkel and Kandis Neth share secrets to making operational learning stick.
Rick Richkowski: Scaling Operational Excellence
6mo ago · 38:36
In this episode, Rick Richkowski, VP of Operations at Arrow TruLine, shares leadership insights. He discusses scaling operational excellence through a situational problem-solving approach, the impact of automation on high-volume manufacturing, and the importance of leadership stability in driving long-term sustainability.
Rob Szabo: From Micromanagement to Open Book Management
6mo ago · 41:00
In this episode of the Accelerating Operational Performance Podcast, Greg sits down with entrepreneur Rob Szabo, owner of Palasad and Escapology, to talk about his journey of leadership growth. Rob shares how he evolved from a hands-on operator in the hospitality industry to a strategic leader running multiple locations with a strong management […]
Ted Bezner: How to Elevate Your Team with Frontline Leadership Training
6mo ago · 33:53
Greg is joined by Ted Bezner, instructor with Unique Training & Development and an expert in cross-cultural communication and frontline leadership development. Ted shares his journey into training, his experience teaching leadership programs across North America, Latin America, Europe, and Asia, and what it really takes to engage adult learners—especially frontline leaders who […]
Steve Cohen: Building a Leadership Training Strategy That Works
7mo ago · 41:55
Greg Schinkel and Dr. Steve Cohen share how to build a leadership training strategy that drives real behavior change.
Plant Manager Effectiveness: 3 Tips for Better Results
7mo ago · 8:35
In this special edition of the Accelerating Operational Performance Podcast, Greg Schinkel shares critical insights gained from his recent manufacturing site visits in 2025. As we enter the new year, Greg discusses the common traps that keep plant operations from reaching their full potential and provides a roadmap for leaders to go from good to great.
Accelerating Operational Performance Rewind: Leadership Lessons That Stick
8mo ago · 17:55
On this Accelerating Operational Performance Rewind, Greg Schinkel and Kirk Langford look back at some of the most impactful conversations from the podcast—episodes that resonated most with plant managers, operational leaders, and manufacturing executives. This episode isn’t about theory. It’s about what actually works on the shop floor and in leadership roles where pressure is real, and results matter. We revisit insights from guests and colleagues on topics like: - Taking the work seriously without taking yourself too seriously - Building psychological safety in manufacturing teams - Managin
Michael Farrell: 5 Essential Operational Leadership Lessons
8mo ago · 35:11
Learn operational leadership lessons from Graphic Packaging EVP Michael Farrell. In this AOP podcast episode, Greg and Michael discuss accountability, breaking silos, and leading with authenticity to drive efficiency and productivity in any manufacturing or operational environment.
Employee Development Strategy: Stop Decision-Making Waste
9mo ago · 8:31
Are you spending thousands on training—forklift certifications, safety modules, and leadership seminars—only to see your "Professional Development" scores tank on the annual employee survey? You aren't alone. There is a massive disconnect between what HR calls "investment" and what employees call "mandatory compliance." In this Special Edition of the Accelerating Operational Performance podcast, Greg Schinkel breaks down why traditional training isn't enough. He introduces the concept of Decision-Making Waste—the costly inefficiency that occurs when senior leaders solve problems that should be
Beverly Beuermann-King: Workplace Stress and Resilience in Manufacturing
9mo ago · 38:46
The manufacturing workplace is full of pressure, but the real enemy isn't the busy schedule—it’s burnout and the invisible drain of workplace toxicity. In this episode, Greg sits down with certified speaking professional and resilience expert Beverly Beuermann-King to deliver a practical blueprint for leaders and professionals struggling to stay engaged and healthy.
Emily Nichols: Human Skills for Manufacturing Leaders
10mo ago · 36:09
Master the human skills—connection, communication, and creativity—and the leadership skills needed to bridge the skill gaps in manufacturing. In this episode, Greg sits down with the brilliant Emily Nichols, engineer, keynote speaker, and founder of Connect Better Inc. Emily is a rare blend of technical expertise and human connection. She spent two decades improving products and processes from breakfast cereal to automotive paint. Today, her focus has pivoted to restoring the human skills—connection, communication, and creativity—that are still desperately needed in our increasingly technical
Ed Holder: Building a Leadership Tapestry | Part 2
10mo ago · 49:33
In Part 2, Ed Holder continues his story, detailing his successful entry into federal politics, his time as a Federal Minister, and his eventual return home to serve as Mayor of London, Ontario.
Ed Holder: Building a Leadership Tapestry | Part 1
10mo ago · 41:40
In this first part of a powerful two-part interview, Greg sits down with Ed Holder to map his incredible career journey, which holds powerful lessons on resilience, service, and leadership in both business and politics.

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Accelerating Operational Performance

Episodes 40

An HR Director’s 3-Word Leadership Mantra | Seanna Pickard

Umesh Vendargon: Structure Gets You By. Culture Gets You Ahead.

BONUS: Greg on the Chemical Engineering Podcast — Career Paths & Leadership Skills for Engineers

Mimi Brown: How to Build Confidence as a Leader

5 Mistakes New Plant Managers Make in Their First Year

What 49 Interviews Taught Us About Leading People

B2B Sales Strategy for Manufacturing Leaders: Stop Being a Commodity

Josh Post: What a Fractional COO Does For Organizations

Kevin Schinkel: Manufacturing Leadership Lessons From the Plant Floor

Nadia Dawe: Frontline Leadership Development That Builds Trust

Darcy Scott: Building High-Velocity Teams

Jeff Gallant: How Leadership Drives Results

Kandis Neth: Making Frontline Leadership Training Stick

Rick Richkowski: Scaling Operational Excellence

Rob Szabo: From Micromanagement to Open Book Management

Ted Bezner: How to Elevate Your Team with Frontline Leadership Training

Steve Cohen: Building a Leadership Training Strategy That Works

Plant Manager Effectiveness: 3 Tips for Better Results