The Squawk Box Chronicles

We had just turned the department around. Then came the news: shut it down. In this episode of The Squawk Box Chronicles , i take you back to one of the hardest moments of my early leadership career—being tasked with closing a department that had finally found its footing. What followed was more than a business decision. It was a lesson in empathy, accountability, and the kind of leadership that s...

We’ve all seen it. A new initiative rolls out with big expectations… and just a few months later, it’s barely hanging on. So what’s going wrong? In this episode of The Squawk Box Chronicles , I’m digging into the real reason so many programs fail, and it’s simpler than you think. We’re skipping the “why.” I’ll share what I learned during my time leading Kaizen events and Six Sigma projects, and ho...

What really separates a good manufacturing leader from a great one? In this episode of The Squawk Box Chronicles , host Adrienne Temple dives into one often-overlooked leadership competency: business acumen — especially for shop floor leaders, leads, and supervisors. We all talk about communication, conflict resolution, delegation, and coaching. But what happens when a shift is short-staffed, mach...

In this episode, I share a personal story from one of the toughest seasons in my manufacturing career—the kind that tests your confidence, your resilience, and your leadership in ways you never expect. It starts with me waking up on the chaise lounge, still wearing my safety vest and steel‑toed shoes, after a day of firefighting on the production floor. That moment became a turning point. What fol...

Leadership Myth Debunked: Leaders don't have all of the answers! Sometimes we feel obligated to be the source of all wisdom, but we undermine our growth and limit the potential for our teams when we refrain from tapping into the expertise of others. I learned this lesson while working through a department turnaround as a new manager. Listen to the full episode to hear more!