Ask the CEO: Bill Canady on Profitable Growth, 80/20 Leadership & Lean Culture

In this special episode, I'm joined by Bill
Canady, CEO of Arrowhead Engineered Products and
Chairman of OTC Industrial Technologies. Bill has spent over 30
years leading companies to profitable growth, building what he
calls the “Profitable Growth Operating System.” He’s also the
author of The 80/20 CEO, with a second book, From Panic to
Profit, on the way soon.


We recorded this live as part of the KaiNexus Continuous
Improvement webinar series. Bill shares hard-earned lessons on
strategy, execution, and what it really takes to align a company
around a few critical priorities.


We talk about:




How to apply the 80/20 principle as a business operating
system




Why many improvement efforts fail from lack of strategic
alignment




The CEO’s role in creating a culture of continuous
improvement




Lean as a condition of employment—and what that actually
means




Daily management, small wins, and sustaining momentum




Using Lean outside the factory—in sales, engineering, and the
office




The future of improvement, from AI tools to leadership
mindset shifts




What CI leaders should understand about a CEO’s perspective




Bill also discusses how he balances empathy and execution, shares
thoughts on transforming healthcare through Lean, and offers
advice for CI professionals who want to move into broader
operational leadership roles.


Links:




Bill’s books: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Bill-Canady/




KaiNexus Webinars: https://www.kainexus.com/webinars




Thanks again to Bill for sharing his time, his insights, and his
candor.