About Podcast
Welcome back to our Growth Strategies Masterclass! Our first two episodes featured how to vet and validate ideas for growing your business. Now it’s time to develop a strategic plan around those ideas that made the cut.
Are you ready to take your business to the next level and achieve breakthrough growth? If you’re feeling like strategic growth planning is just too “corporate” and is something that only large enterprises do, then think again. In this next class, John Kamp, a seasoned strategist, project manager, and Lean Six Sigma consultant talks about the X-matrix and how you can use this tool to revolutionize your approach to growth and scale your business.
With a keen focus on linking strategy with execution, John’s insights are invaluable for both small business owners and executives seeking the business infrastructure required for repeatable, profitable, and scalable growth. His practical approach and 40+ years of experience make him a trusted authority in the strategic growth planning process known as Hoshin Kanri.
In this episode, John explains how to:
- Implement the Hoshin Kanri strategic planning process based on your growth ideas,
- Use the X-matrix as a simple yet highly effective tool for defining, linking, and aligning long-term strategic goals with tactical projects for achieving those goals, and
- Develop action plans and continuous check-in points to ensure your strategic growth goals are met.
Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from a seasoned corporate executive with years of experience in operations, finance, and strategy as he provides a blueprint for small business growth.
Uncover the art of crafting innovative and effective growth strategies that can revolutionize your business’s operations and lead to profits you didn’t think were possible!
- Strategic Alignment through Hoshin Kanri: Learn how organizations use Hoshin Kanri to align long-term strategic goals with short-term actions across all levels of leadership.
- Using the X-Matrix for Clarity and Accountability: Understand how the X-matrix visually connects objectives, annual goals, improvement priorities, and metrics in a single page to promote focus and ownership.
- Building Consensus with Leadership Teams: Explore techniques like “catch ball” and “intense fellowship” to resolve conflicting priorities and align executive teams on shared strategic objectives.
- Tracking Progress with Bowler Charts: Discover how Bowler charts serve as a visual follow-up tool to monitor progress, assign responsibility, and maintain momentum toward goals.
- Bringing Strategy to Life with Business Infrastructure: See how tools like the X-matrix and Bowler chart support broader business infrastructure by linking people, processes, and tools to drive sustainable growth.
Special Guest: John Kamp, CEO – The Business Kamp
Location: San Francisco, CA USA
Air Date: April 22, 2025
Website:
- The Business Kamp: the website home to John’s business where you can learn more about him and his Lean Six Sigma, Agile, Scrum, and Project Management training and consulting services.
Book:
- The Hoshin Success Compass – Set Your Priorities Straight with the Strategic Alignment Process of the World’s Best Companies: a book by Matthew Cross where you can learn more about the Hoshin Kanri process and its flagship tool, the X-Matrix.
Template:
- X-Matrix – a free downloadable template.
Software:
- Amplon.io: a Hoshin Kanri AI-assisted software “…with an interactive X matrix and integrated project and performance management.”
Articles:
- The Ultimate Hoshin Kanri X Matrix Guide: an article by Amplon.io that describes and illustrates how the X-Matrix aligns goals, projects, and KPIs, simplifying strategy deployment into a clear, visual framework.
- Producer & Host: Alicia Butler Pierre
- Audio Editor: Olanrewaju Adeyemo
- Sound Design: Sabor! Music Enterprises
- Video Editor: Gladys Jimenez
- Production Assistant: Hashim Tale
- Sponsor: Equilibria, Inc.
More About Guest, John Kamp:
John Kamp is a seasoned expert in Lean Six Sigma, project management, and strategic planning, renowned for helping organizations optimize their operations and scale efficiently. With a career spanning over 25 years, John has transformed businesses across a range of industries, including aerospace, healthcare, and manufacturing, by leveraging process improvement methodologies and aligning operations with overarching business goals. His mission is to help companies build resilient infrastructures that support sustainable growth and long-term success.
John’s expertise in Hoshin Kanri, a strategic planning method, has been instrumental in guiding businesses through the complexities of aligning teams and executing strategies with precision. As the founder of Kamp Consulting, he specializes in streamlining processes, improving productivity, and facilitating continuous improvement in organizations. His consulting firm has helped companies at various stages of growth, from startups to Fortune 500 enterprises, develop the systems and strategies they need to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
In addition to his consulting work, John is a passionate educator and thought leader, having mentored hundreds of business leaders and professionals on Lean Six Sigma practices and operational excellence. He is a sought-after speaker at industry events and has contributed to various publications on topics related to process optimization, business infrastructure, and strategic planning.
John’s commitment to empowering organizations extends beyond his work with clients. He’s also dedicated to fostering the next generation of leaders through his educational initiatives, including workshops, webinars, and leadership development programs. His goal is to help others unlock the full potential of their teams and systems, ensuring businesses achieve scalable and sustainable success.
Throughout his career, John has been recognized for his impactful work in transforming business operations. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Project Management Professional (PMP), and his work has been credited with saving companies millions of dollars through process optimization and waste reduction.
When he’s not consulting or speaking, John enjoys mentoring emerging leaders and exploring innovative ways to integrate new technologies into business infrastructures to drive efficiency and growth. He believes that businesses of all sizes can achieve lasting success by focusing on the fundamentals of strong infrastructure and continuous improvement.
More About Host, Alicia Butler Pierre:
Alicia Butler Pierre is the Founder & CEO of Equilibria, Inc.. Her career in operations began over 25 years ago while working in various chemical plants and oil refineries. She invented the Kasennu™ framework for business infrastructure and authored, Behind the Façade: How to Structure Company Operations for Sustainable Success. She is the producer of the weekly top 2% Business Infrastructure podcast with a global audience across 70+ countries.Alicia is also an adjunct instructor of Lean Principles at Purdue University and serves as the USA Chair of the G100’s Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises. The Process Excellence Network recognized her as a Top 50 Thought Leader in Operational Excellence. A chemical engineer turned entrepreneur, she’s designed and optimized processes for small businesses, large enterprises, non-profits, and government organizations alike.
More About Sponsor, Equilibria:
Equilibria, Inc. is a 20-year-old boutique operations management firm. We build the business infrastructure necessary for fast-growing businesses to scale with less pain. With a range of services and products, entrepreneurs can get the operational support and resources they need on demand.
