Episodes

  • Mini Kaizen, 3 Easy Steps
    13 Oct 2026

    In this conversation, Sarah Wilson and Penny Cook discuss the importance of addressing small, overlooked issues in business operations and how these can lead to significant improvements. They introduce the Kaizen approach, emphasizing manageable changes and practical steps to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose to see more about our show and a link to our new show, Behind Every Great Business.


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    17 min
  • Meetings, Done Better
    6 Oct 2026

    The lever for operational leaders is the format of meetings, which can determine the effective use of resources and impact the entire rhythm of the organization. Penny Cook and Sarah Wilson discuss the importance of structuring status, decision-making, and creative problem-solving meetings to maximize productivity and collaboration.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose to see more about our show and a link to our new show, Behind Every Great Business.

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    21 min
  • Business Transformation Done Right
    29 Sep 2026

    The conversation delves into the challenges and key elements of successful business transformation. It emphasizes the cost of transformation, the importance of clearly defining the 'why', the distinction between transformation and tool acquisition, the significance of process identification and data discipline, and the role of emotional support in driving successful transformation.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

    OP Website

    If you like hearing how operators actually fix things, check out Sarah and Penny's other show, Behind Every Great Business.

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    17 min
  • Ethics in Operations
    22 Sep 2026

    The conversation explores the ethical decisions woven throughout business operations, emphasizing the importance of trust, transparency, and ethical standards in leadership, vendor relationships, and brand promises. It highlights the impact of these decisions on team performance, reputation, and customer trust.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

    OP Website

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    17 min
  • Team Chemistry
    15 Sep 2026

    The conversation explores the critical role of team chemistry in operational success, emphasizing the impact of role clarity, debriefs, and positive reinforcement on team performance and collaboration. It highlights the intentional design of team dynamics as a key factor in achieving effective chemistry and trust within a team.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose OP Website

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    17 min
  • Designing Real Life Processes
    8 Sep 2026

    The conversation explores the importance of designing processes that can survive the realities of business operations. It emphasizes the need to start with the messy reality of the business, stress test and build adaptability into processes, and design moments within processes that people look forward to.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

    OP Website

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    17 min
  • Rebuilding After Broken Trust
    1 Sep 2026

    The conversation explores the impact of trust on business operations, the process of rebuilding trust, and the importance of fixing the root cause of trust issues. It emphasizes the need to manage expectations, identify systemic issues, and utilize operational turnaround skills to address trust-related challenges.

    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

    OP Website

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    14 min
  • Listener Questions Pt2
    25 Aug 2026

    The conversation covers the importance of aligning sales and operations, the need for customer experience mapping before scaling up, and the significance of knowing when to bring in the right help, whether fractional or full-time, to transition out of the operator's seat for effective scaling.
    Reach out to Penny Cook or Sarah Wilson on LinkedIn to connect! Visit our website: Operating on Purpose

    OP Website

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    20 min