When HR Leads the Lean Transformation: How Rich Trojan Reinvented Holland's Culture and Cadence

What happens when Human Resources — not Operations — leads the Lean transformation?   In this episode of the Lean Focus Podcast, host Damon Baker sits down with Rich Trojan, Chief Human Resources Officer at Holland LP, to explore how a people-first function became the driving force behind one of the most successful lean turnarounds in recent years.   When Rich joined Holland, the company wasn't broken — it was busy. Hundreds of competing priorities, strong personalities, and no common operating rhythm. HR wasn't supposed to fix that. But Rich saw something others missed: without alignment, accountability, and a unifying system, even great people can't deliver great results.   What followed was a total cultural shift by the entire Leadership Team: Implementing Policy Deployment and the Holland Business System across 800+ employees, Rebuilding trust between leadership and frontline teams through hands-on learning Creating a cadence of accountability that drove 25% sales growth and 60% profit improvement in two years, Transforming HR into a strategic partner that drives clarity, focus, and measurable business results, Building a self-sustaining lean culture — one that thrives even after leadership changes.   Rich's story proves that Lean isn't just about processes and plants — it's about people, discipline, and belief. And sometimes, the most transformative change starts in the least expected place.   If you're an HR leader, CEO, or anyone trying to align culture with execution, this episode will change how you see your role.   🎧 Listen now to hear how Rich Trojan turned HR into the engine of transformation at Holland LP — and how you can do the same in your organization. 🔗 Subscribe to the Lean Focus Podcast 📩 Learn more at: https://leanfocus.com 📌 Follow on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lean-focus-llc/     See the full transcript here: https://leanfocus.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Lean-Focus-Podcast_Episode-04_Rich-Trojan_.txt