The Best of The Power of People: Top Recordings from the COE Summit 2025
The COE Summit is the cornerstone of the Center for Operational Excellence’s annual events calendar. It’s a premier gathering where operational excellence thinkers and practitioners come together for three days of learning and connection. It’s a highlight not only for the COE team, but for our broader community of member companies, lean-focused organizations, and continuous improvement professionals.
The 2025 theme—OpEx and the power of people—struck a powerful chord. This theme emerged from conversations with leaders seeking to understand the challenges and opportunities that come with leading and working with people in a rapidly changing world.
We were delighted to welcome an extraordinary lineup of speakers to explore this theme at the COE Summit 2025. These industry experts, researchers, and change-makers shared compelling stories and reminded us that people are the true engine of operational excellence.
We were also fortunate to have the opportunity to record many of the COE Summit’s sessions, enabling us to extend the reach of these insights well beyond the walls of the Fawcett Center. Below you’ll find a curated list of five standout sessions from the COE Summit 2025, available exclusively to COE members on COE’s Digital Content Archive.
This brief list only scratches the surface of COE Summit content available—there are dozens of sessions that deserve to be highlighted. I encourage you to take time to explore the full list of incredible videos and resources our speakers have generously made available. My hope is that these recordings will spark new ideas and meaningful conversations on your journey to operational excellence.
Cheers to unlocking the power of people,
Kelly Reo, Executive Director of The Ohio State University Center for Operational Excellence
Explore top sessions from the COE Summit 2025 on the Digital Content Archive:
In this honest and powerful session, HOP Mentor Andrea Baker explored the often-misunderstood terrain of accountability in the workplace, drawing clear distinctions between accountability, culpability, responsibility, and discipline. She shared a story from her own journey as a Safety Leader and offered practical strategies for building a culture where accountability is a tool for growth, not blame. Attendees praised Andrea’s authenticity, storytelling, and high-energy delivery, calling her “easily my favorite speaker of the Summit.” This session will leave you rethinking how your organization defines and practices accountability.
In this thought-provoking keynote, psychologist and executive coach Dr. Brodie Riordan invited leaders to become a new kind of “CON artist”—that is, one who leads with curiosity, openness, and non-judgment. Drawing on research and coaching strategies, she shared how intentionally choosing your mindset can transform how you connect with others, foster innovation, and navigate complexity. Attendees described the session as “engaging,” “wise,” and “the best of the conference,” with many walking away with practical tools and a fresh perspective for their daily lives. Dr. Riordan’s message is clear: the mindset you choose shapes the leader you become.
In this standout session, Abbott innovation leader Aubrey Yuzer unpacked the concept of “fixedness”—the hidden rigidity in processes, roles, and mindsets that can quietly stall innovation in large organizations. Drawing from her deep experience in brand management and product innovation, she offered relevant tools to help teams reframe problems and unlock new growth opportunities. Attendees gave this session a 100% satisfaction score, praising Aubrey’s relatable style, authentic examples, and actionable insights. One attendee summed it up best: “I’m walking away with a new way to reframe a problem to bring innovation to the table.”
Sarah Tilkens and Leah Roe challenged traditional problem-solving approaches and made a compelling case for a people-first mindset in this energizing keynote. Through a unique blend of Sarah’s lean expertise and Leah’s culture expertise, they offered real-world case studies and actionable strategies for leveraging personal strengths to unlock innovation and drive performance. Attendees raved about the duo’s dynamic and fun presence, calling the session “highly engaging,” “very actionable,” and a “challenge to my thinking and assumptions.” This is a must-watch for anyone looking to transform how their organization tackles challenges.
Dr. Larry Inks brought energy, insight, and practical wisdom to this timely session on employee engagement and organizational change. Addressing the evolving challenges of the post-COVID workplace, the Fisher College of Business professor shared actionable strategies for leading change—both big and small—in ways that truly engage employees and drive results. Attendees praised Dr. Ink’s dynamic delivery, relatable examples, and practical models, with many noting “aha moments” and takeaways they plan to bring back to their teams. One participant said it well: “Excellent presentation that can be implemented in day-to-day work.”
Get Started on the Members-Only Digital Content Archive
Not a member? Reach out to Annie Platten, COE's Associate Director, at platten.6@osu.edu to learn more about the benefits of COE membership.
