In this episode of Lean Blog Audio, Mark Graban reads and reflects on his post “Fred Noe of Jim Beam: Leadership Lessons on Mistakes, Innovation, and Long-Term Thinking.”
What can a seventh-generation master distiller teach us about leadership, experimentation, and learning from mistakes? Quite a lot, as it turns out. Drawing on two in-person encounters with Fred Noe—at the Jim Beam Distillery in Clermont, Kentucky, and at a Bourbon Society event—Mark shares timeless lessons from a leader who practices Lean principles without ever using the jargon.
Fred’s stories about 4,000-gallon “small batch” experiments, revisiting brown rice Bourbon years later, and guiding his son Freddie through failed blends show how humility, patience, and long-term vision create both great whiskey and great organizations.
🎧 In this episode, you’ll hear insights on:
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How to design systems for learning, not perfection
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Why small-scale experiments fuel large-scale innovation
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How psychological safety allows teams to take smart risks
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Why Suntory’s decade-long mindset echoes Toyota’s long-term philosophy
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How legacy leadership means passing on curiosity, not certainty
Whether you’re leading a distillery, a hospital, or a startup, Fred Noe’s approach reminds us that the best results come from respecting the process—and the people—behind it.
Hashtags:
#Leadership #LeanThinking #Innovation #Mistakes #PsychologicalSafety #ContinuousImprovement #Bourbon #JimBeam #Suntory #LearningCulture