2026 N.E.W. Lean Conference - Lean Leadership for Lasting Change & Special Lean Project Competition

Keynote Speaker: Cheryl Jekiel, CEO of the Lean Leadership Center

Keynote: Stronger Systems, Stronger Results

Join us for the 2026 N.E.W. Lean Conference, where leaders, practitioners, and change agents come together to explore what it truly takes to make continuous improvement stick. This year’s theme, Lean Leadership for Lasting Change, focuses on the critical role leadership plays in building resilient systems and cultures that sustain progress over time.

New for 2026: An optional Lean Competition will be held on Tuesday, September 29, showcasing innovative improvement projects and team-based problem-solving in action.

The main conference takes place on Wednesday, September 30, featuring keynote speaker Cheryl Jekiel, who brings decades of experience in Lean transformation and leadership development. In her keynote, Stronger Systems, Stronger Results, Cheryl will share how organizations can move beyond short-term wins to create enduring success. You’ll learn how to:

• Clarify the results that matter most
• Reinforce the daily behaviors that drive those results
• Build systems that stand the test of time She’ll also reveal how viewing the workplace as a web of interconnected systems—and uncovering the hidden assumptions within them—can unlock powerful, lasting change.

Whether you're just starting your Lean journey or looking to deepen your impact, this conference will offer fresh insights, practical tools, and inspiring stories to help you lead with purpose and drive meaningful results.

Early Bird Special: Register by August 1, 2026 to receive 20% off — just $200 per person! Use promo code at check out: EarlyBird_Lean26

Schedule and more information coming soon!