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Justin Starbird .
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August 12, 2025 .
Solving the Strategy-Execution Gap with Toyota's Mark Reich
Are your B2B strategies collecting dust instead of driving results!?
Join Justin Starbird of The Aebli Group as he sits down with Mark Reich from the Lean Enterprise Institute, a former Toyota executive and author of "Managing on Purpose," to tackle one of the most persistent challenges for business leaders: bridging the gap between strategic vision and operational reality.
In this insightful episode, Mark draws on over two decades of experience at Toyota to reveal the transformative power of Hoshin Kanri.
Often overlooked in Western business, this proven management system is Toyota's secret to:
👉 Defining clear mid-term and long-term objectives and targets.
👉Building vertical and horizontal alignment throughout the entire organization, ensuring everyone is pulling in the same strategic direction.
👉Rigorously managing annual execution to achieve those defined goals.
👉Developing the capability of people at all levels, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and shared responsibility rather than mere accountability.
Mark shares candid observations from his work with diverse industries, from healthcare and construction to manufacturing and software, highlighting how the struggle with strategy execution is universal.
He emphasizes the critical need for a situational approach to implementation, understanding your organization's unique current state before charting its future.
This discussion is a must-listen for any business leader seeking practical, actionable advice to:
👉Overcome organizational silos.
👉Foster true responsibility within their teams.
👉Embrace introspection and structured self-reflection to improve organizational functioning.
👉Sustain improvements and ensure strategic initiatives translate into tangible success.
Mark also guides listeners on how his workbook, "Managing on Purpose," serves as a practical guide for implementing Hoshin Kanri, utilizing a compelling case study and actionable templates.
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🚀 Discover how The Aebli Group helps B2B brands build momentum and grow smarter: https://www.aebligroup.com/
Justin Starbird
About the Author: Justin Starbird I have been fortunate to have had several entrepreneurs that came before me take the time to “pull back the curtains” and allow me to be a part of their multi-million dollar companies… and actually value my input. They allowed me to see their mistakes and learn from their real-world lessons so that I wouldn’t have to pay the expensive costs of experience on my own. Additionally, they taught me what really works and the importance of action - not just ideas.