Mid-Year ISO Health Check: Are You Still on Track? | Lead The Standard 2025 Podcast Episode 20When you think about quality leadership, what comes to mind first? Systems? Standards? Spreadsheets?What if it were something a little more human?This week, we’re reflecting on what leadership in quality looks like right now—and how a global conference full of passionate professionals offered more than just ideas. It provided a glimpse into the future of our profession…In this episode of Lead the Standard, host Kelly Taylor and expert Jackie Stapleton dive into the human side of quality leadership. They reflect on the recent ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement (WCQI) in Denver, Colorado. Jackie shares her eye-opening experience, emphasizing the importance of community, culture, and curiosity in the quality management profession. Listen as they explore how modern tools, like AI and innovative technologies, are reshaping the future of quality leadership, and get inspired by the global connections and insightful discussions that are driving the field forward.
The usual links:
• Read the LTS Article: https://blog.auditortrainingonline.com/lead-the-standard/2025-20• ATOL: https://auditortrainingonline.com/ • Connect with Jackie:
o https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiestapleton/
o https://jackiestapleton.com/
o Jackie's Book is coming Register for pre-sale now…. https://jackiestapleton.myflodesk.com/leadthestandardbook•
Connect with Kelly: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kellytaylor-au/
Links to other things we chatted about:
• ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement Event Link: https://asq.org/conferences/wcqi
• Snap Sight: https://www.snapsight.com/en/Disclaimer: This podcast is intended for general guidance and informational purposes only. The views and opinions expressed by the hosts, co-hosts, guests, and contributors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Auditor Training Online (ATOL) or its affiliated entities.While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and currency of the information shared, including references to ISO standards and related clauses, this content should not be considered definitive legal, regulatory, or professional advice. Listeners should always consult with a qualified professional for advice tailored to their specific business context or compliance obligations.Unless otherwise stated, all information relating to ISO standards, including clause references and revision details, is based on the version of the standard current at the time of recording and publication. As standards are periodically reviewed and updated, we encourage listeners to confirm the latest version applicable to their needs.© Auditor Training Online Pty Ltd 2025. All Rights Reserved | www.auditortrainingonline.com#LeadTheStandard #ISOStandards #CareerInISO #AuditorTrainingOnline #podcast #auditing
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
When you think about leadership in quality, what comes to mind
first? Systems, standards,
spreadsheets. But what if it was something a
little more human? This week we're going to be
reflecting on what leadership inquality looks like right now and
how a global conference of full of passionate professionals
(00:22):
offered a more or sorry, offeredmore than just ideas and offered
a glimpse into the future of ourprofession.
Welcome to Lead the Stand. Hello, everyone.
I'm Kelly Taylor. I'm here always as sorry as
always tongue twisters already with the thoughtful and
(00:45):
insightful Jackie Stapleton, whois very excited about today's
conversation and we are very glad to have you all joining us.
We're going to explore somethinga little bit different today,
not different, but something that, as I said, Jackie's super
excited about looking at what itreally means to lead this Janet
(01:05):
in today's world. Good morning, Jackie.
Hello. It's quite funny.
What? What did you say?
I was thoughtful and insightful.I got to sell it.
I've got to sell it as all of our listeners are aware.
And I cannot think I'm just seeing your jacket in full
(01:25):
there, very appropriately attired today.
And my favorite? Oh, we are.
Oh my gosh, quality and improvement T-shirt.
I got dressed. I feel like we need especially.
I feel like we need some sort ofcensorship rating today already
and we haven't even started fromPG to MI.
(01:53):
Anyway, as everyone's aware, let's, let's let's jump in
because obviously you're excitedabout this one.
As everyone is aware, Jackie flew over to Denver, Co recently
for the ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement or the
WCQI. Let me tell you, she did come
back energized, so much so that she needs to take another break
(02:15):
next week to recover. So we all need another break
because she has been so enthusiastic about this and we
talked a few episodes ago about you need to send the right
person. And I think clearly we did.
This event very much hit a chordbecause it wasn't just the I got
out of work for a few days kind of energized.
(02:37):
It was the kind of energized where I'm pretty sure multiple
notebooks were filled. Her voice was half gone.
She's still talking about the people and the conversations
weeks later, even though she hada holiday afterwards yet.
If you haven't seen it yet, Jackie did capture some of her
(02:58):
reflections in the latest Lead the Standard article, which as
always, you'll find in the show notes.
But today we're going to try. I will do my best to try and
channel her energy into our podcast, and Jackie's going to
share with us what stood out, what surprised her, and why WCQI
might just reflect the new shapeof quality leadership.
(03:22):
I'm not going to lie, she's got me excited about this as well.
She's she's turning me a little bit in this way as well.
So Jackie, I know this wasn't your first conference.
I've been to a couple with you and we've had some mixed
experiences. This one really seemed to spark
something different with you. So do you want to tell us what
it was like stepping into that room in Denver?
(03:46):
Yeah, it was exciting, that's for sure.
It's massive, much, much bigger,Yeah, conference than I've ever
yeah been to in, in this in thisindustry, obviously.
But yeah, there were there was afew surprises actually, and
that's sort of what I tried to capture.
(04:11):
We had fun. I've met so many people.
We had so much fun. Does it surprise you that
quality people actually human? And, you know, we, we have a
sense of humor. We're not.
We're not just, you know, tick and flick.
Boring, boring people with cardigans and leather patches.
(04:36):
He says wearing a jacket with leather patch, a leather jacket
with patches, it's. My USA jacket I got dressed for
the occasion, but as an example,because you said I'm sure Jackie
filled lots of notebooks becauseyou know that normally I do feel
(04:57):
lots of notebooks and you're you're exactly the same, but I
didn't have to because. And this is a good example of I
suppose they're forward thinkingand they grasp of, you know,
technology, AI, et cetera. They had a tool or an it wasn't,
(05:22):
it's not an app, but it's a toolcalled Snap site.
So every keynote or speaker thatwe went to over the four days,
you could use this Snap site andit had the closed captions
because some people with their accent and as you know, I'm a
(05:44):
bit hard of hearing as well. So if clarity is an issue, but
I, I used that program snap siteand it just, it came up with the
caption so I could follow along.I didn't miss anything.
But if even if I did, they had things like I'm just gonna have
a quick look, you could get the like quick summaries.
(06:09):
So it had takeaways, it had an idea cloud as well.
So you from each, each talk the idea cloud and it summarized the
whole speech. So and you could download the
transcript and yeah. And in that the speaker had any
(06:29):
documents that they were sharing.
So, you know, I, I could just sit there and enjoy it because I
knew that snap site that was taking care of the note taking
far better than I could ever do.So, you know, just forward
thinking as as a whole, to be honest and very community
(06:53):
focused. Yeah.
I love that because yeah, how often do you go to a conference
that we both fill notebooks and you're you're writing something.
Oh, I missed that. What did you get that?
And it's there's a lot so. And there's nation overwhelm.
Yeah. And this is one of the things
that I've, I've been excited to hear about as well.
So there was a lot of different and a lot of things that you
(07:17):
wouldn't expect, as you said, from quality people or standards
people, system people. A lot of stereotypes were broken
from what I've seen, which is exciting and fun.
There were a couple of them thatseemed to have been reinforced.
I'll use day one as an example. But other than that, everything
else that you've shared with us really did seem to break those
(07:38):
stereotype, Barry. So let's let's have a chat now
about, yeah, exactly that glimpse into the future that
you're talking about. Yeah.
And I think that's sort of how, how I worded it, you know it, it
was more than a conference. And look, you know, I was, I was
(07:58):
going to say, I don't think I met another Aussie.
My husband came with me and he attended the conference as well
and really, really enjoyed. He went off, excuse me at two
different speakers. And sometimes we might have been
in the same room, sometimes not.So maybe it was, you know, we,
(08:20):
we were the, you know, we were the only Aussies.
But there's people from all overthe world as well.
I met people from Dubai, Sweden,Switzerland.
New Zealand was probably the closest to us.
So it was really, as you said, Ithink, yeah, it was a glimpse
(08:42):
into the future. But probably what took me away
or made me most excited is how ASQ embraced it because, you
know, normally, traditionally you'd think, you know, you're in
the ISO world, we're a bit behind sort of sort of like
government in Australia, it justtakes us longer.
(09:04):
But now that they were really embracing it, So what?
Another take away was that it wasn't just about ISO 9001.
I don't think I ever talked about that to be honest.
It was about people and progressin the industry and what we were
(09:24):
there for. So I even ran a brain date
Kelly, they called it, where I used my ECD.
So emotional culture decks to establish, sort of, Yeah.
So I had nine people. The maximum was 8.
So I was fully booked and they let an extra person in.
(09:48):
So I facilitated that brain datewith.
Yeah, with people from all over the world.
I shared those photos on LinkedIn for that day.
I think I did that on Day 2. Sorry, just getting a bit hot
because I'm talking. Yeah, so I had to turn the heat
and that was interesting. And it was a really good mix of
(10:10):
people, male and female, you know, young, younger
professionals and older professionals.
So I was really glad of of the mix that I had attend and I used
the emotional culture deck to establish, you know what, as
leaders in quality, what or how they wanted their quality team,
(10:38):
the employees, their work colleagues to feel.
Yet I used the feel word to feelabout the quality management
system. And then that sort of set.
Well, this is what how I want them to feel.
How do we get there? And I think it only ran for 45
minutes, so I had to. It was a chopped down version.
(11:00):
Yeah. And you know that I was just
amazed at how everyone embraced it.
I thought it was a really good audience to test this feeling
stuff about quality culture. And you know, to me that was a
great indication of the community that the three things
(11:21):
that are highlighted and categorized for this were
community, culture and curiosity.
So they're the three that I think it's sort of put.
Everything under I think it's important to probably highlight
here too. Jackie's talking about feeling
it wasn't just auditors. I know we've talked a lot before
about when you're auditing, you can't feel you need to base on
(11:44):
fact that this wasn't just auditors.
This was everybody collaboratingand building that quality
community, as you said, and thatquality culture.
So yeah, yeah, yeah. And yeah, so you know it.
There was me and then there was lots of engineers, you know,
lots of highly educated people in the industry.
(12:06):
So it was, yeah, a very broad scope of people.
So yeah, just just yeah, really,really great people.
You saw photos. There was, I think on, must have
been on day three. There was a dinner.
Wow. They're party animals.
(12:27):
Oh, but you know the highlight. You know the highlight the
smallest table. Oh, that's a novelty for us
though. Oh, my goodness.
I actually had to ask someone. Can you please show me how, how
to do this? So I yeah, we could take the
marshmallow up on the fire. So the lady in front of me gave
(12:49):
me a lesson as we went. But yeah, it was, it was such
great fun meeting some amazing people.
So that was well, again, it's that community and culture as
well as that curiosity. That's I think that's why I
probably landed on those. 3. Things to categorize everything
and maybe as we we talk through them, they might all merge as we
(13:11):
normally do. But yeah, do you want me to go
through Warai community? Yeah, let's start with yeah,
Community being the first one too, Yeah.
I think, you know, even we do the same same thing in
preparation. It was like, OK, well, if we
(13:33):
spend this much money to go to the conference and and we make
this many sales, then then it's worth it.
But that's not what this is about.
It's it's about this. Yeah, it's really not what this
is about. You know, I, I was able to meet
(13:56):
people well from Exemplar Global.
So there were some Australians there, but they were Exemplar
Global so I already knew them. Of course there was some US
based from Exemplar Global. I had went out for dinner with
all Exemplar Global crew and we had the 2 from 2 people from ASQ
(14:18):
join us, including the CEO join us for drinks afterwards.
And you know, it was, it was just about meeting people and
connecting. And you know, I just this week I
had a message from Ruth, one of the speakers and we sort of hung
(14:40):
around a little bit. She actually came from Canada.
We hung around a little bit afterwards and during and, you
know, she just checked in the other day.
So it was, it's, it's these connections that that I've made
that we, you know, we have this common goal.
(15:01):
So ASQ created that and something that they spoke about,
I think it was on day, day one or day 2.
Their, their goal is community and they're actually pulling
because at the moment it's a little bit separate.
We know we've got ASQ, we've gotExemplar global, we've got like,
(15:26):
you know, PCB in Europe, there'sall these different quality
organisations. There's AOQ here in Australia
what they're trying to do and they're, well, they're doing it
because there's a few already onboard, particularly in Europe.
They're making it a global community.
So, so we're not separated like like we have been.
(15:51):
So you know, the, I've been in touch, I actually spoke to ASQ
while I was there about the Australian chapter.
So I've been in touch as a gentleman in Melbourne who's
given, who's been given the job of setting that up.
So I'm having a Zoom with him tosee how I can help with the
Australian chapter. So you know, they were so overly
(16:15):
helpful with that, that that is their ultimate goal is this
community. So that's what I mean, it
wasn't, it's not a sales event. It's to meet people in the same
industry as you with common purpose, goals, desires.
(16:38):
And we had a great time while doing it.
So they're potentially some of them are lifelong connections.
Which is fantastic. Like yeah, I know you said not
about the ISO standards, but it is an international standard.
And if you're all work, what's the point in having an
international standard if we're not working as an international
(16:59):
community to be passionate aboutthis and bring it forward.
So it's, it is really good that it, that they're breaking down
those borders and really focusing on, you know,
collaboration and nothing. So you've got genuine
connections. Absolutely.
And human communities. Yeah, absolutely.
(17:20):
So I think there should be a photo or two in the newsletter
as well that you'll you'll see Idid, I did provide to our
marketing team to include it just, you know, and you'll see
the happy smiling faces and oh, and sense of humor.
(17:40):
Kelly Oh, I've got it. I did send very.
Much or. Well, the first day of the
conference was May the 4th. Made with you, 4th of July.
What was it 4th of? May 4th.
Of May 4th of May so they they had the Star Wars characters
(18:01):
there so I got a photo with themI got stickers Kelly that say
I'm a lean main quality machine I'm a quality nerd I'm quality
is my superpower I'm certified awesome like we have a sense of
humor it's not it's not just me stuck over here on my own with a
(18:23):
sense of humor everyone has it they even made stickers to prove
it and. Just seeing people driving
around with those bumper stickers on me.
I haven't figured out where to put mine yet, but.
There needs to be somewhere where they can be seen.
Yeah. Nice bright disclaimer.
I was very disappointed for you that they weren't tattoos
(18:44):
because that would have been. Fun to record.
Yeah, they could have had to crush tattoos.
Yeah, or real ones. So.
Yeah, Can you imagine? That's sort of my, yeah, I don't
know about that. That's sort of my take away with
community. We just, yeah.
(19:05):
And I think that leads nicely into the next one as well
because community breeds culture, which is the the second
section that you had in your model this week, which.
Yeah, yeah, I may have crossed over to this already, but you're
(19:27):
right in what you say, that community breeds culture.
And you know, that's why. Yeah, we had.
So we had so much fun. Four days is a long, it's a long
conference and two, two of them were absolute full days.
It started at 7730 in the morning.
(19:50):
Oh, lucky you're a morning person.
Well, I wasn't there because I was having trouble sleeping.
Now, were you having trouble sleeping?
Because of jet lag and time zones or were you having trouble
sleeping because you had ideas? Because I know that when I get
messages at 3:00 in the morning,that's why was it?
Was it that? It was altitude.
(20:13):
It was actually altitude becauseDenver, yeah.
Mile High City, yeah. So yeah, they were saying that
altitude impacts your your sleepand it takes a while to get get
used to. Little did I did, I know I'd end
up going higher than Denver, butI suppose it was, yeah, getting
(20:35):
getting used to it. And the air is very dry, so
breathing was, was, yeah, an issue.
So I think I did one day on 4 hours sleep I got yeah, yeah,
luckily I was somewhere that I enjoyed and.
That's what I was going to say. If you were feeling like that
(20:57):
and it wasn't, you weren't enjoying the people and you
weren't getting anything out of it, it wasn't a topic.
I'm pretty confident. Well, not you, but at least Lee
would have said not getting out of bed, staying here.
So that again, shows that the community and the culture that
this was creating, people were willing to push through.
(21:18):
Yeah, we've had a few conversations about pushing
through health and inappropriate.
This is a different context. This is allowed.
If it was, it was for fun. It wasn't.
This wasn't work. Well, it was work, but it wasn't
work. Yeah, it makes sense.
I suppose, really how that translates into, you know, when
(21:39):
we're back home at our desks, itis, you know, something that
it's not. Our system shouldn't be like,
cold and lifeless and ticking boxes like, you know, we should
be having fun, fun with it. But it actually reminded me, I
mentioned Ruth that I met over there when she messaged me this
(22:01):
week. I said, oh, what?
You know, what exciting things are you up to?
And she cares. Well, I'm doing an internal
audit at the moment. And, you know, I just love doing
internal audits because, you know, I get to go and talk to
lots of people and I learn all these new things about about the
business that I work in. So that that fun is coming from
(22:25):
within and that that person, if you know what I mean.
And it actually reminds me, Kelly, of our virtual training
last week. And I think this is important
for you and I as trainers as well, when we may not be so
fortunate, we and we might have a group of people that aren't as
(22:48):
fun as the ones we had last week.
But you could see, yeah, you could see in the training last
week, we may be, we particularlyhad one person.
We had, you know, maybe a few people.
Who? Knows who we used to that had a
great sense of humour and they, their energy lifted everyone.
(23:08):
And I've, I've been sort of thinking about that since last
week because for you and I as trainers, if we were, we relied
on this person in particular because his energy lifted
everyone up because then you andI were having fun as well.
But if there's no one in the room or in our virtual training,
(23:31):
it's up to you and I to lift andhave fun and, you know, start
laughing because if, if they're not, you and I tend to get a bit
stressed as well as the facilitators.
But in actual fact, we, it's up to us to lift the energy, to
lift their energy and then we can have fun with it.
(23:51):
So that, yeah, that's something that I've been reflecting on
because, you know, we've had so many different groups, but it
was so much fun. But it was the energy in the
room. And then that was with Ruth with
her internal audit when she messaged me.
Can you imagine, you know, someone coming around conduct
going their internal audit and they love what they do.
(24:14):
It's, it's not drudgery anymore.And that's, that's culture.
And that's what people say aboutme and how I get excited and use
my hands a lot. You know, it's, it's if it's
something that you're passionateabout.
I was talking to a lady in Belgium.
This this week, who works in quality?
(24:35):
She's a quality manager and she said she was showing her work
colleagues a video of me and they were all laughing because
they said that I got it, was as excited as about what I do as
she is and it would be really funny for the two of us to get
together. So that's the thing though,
(24:57):
isn't it? You do you feed off that.
And but I'm smiling now because I'm having a flashback that so
many times we do that training and we get to the end of the day
and think, oh, I'm going to go have a wine and go straight to
bed because I'm exhausted because it is exhausting.
But this, well, he one person led and then someone jumped on
(25:18):
the back of that and we had likewe had, it was like doggy
daycare at one point. And we were all loving it.
And everyone was yeah. And look at the smile that
that's bringing to me. Because they were all invested
in the training. They were all having fun.
They were all interested in, engaged in what they were there
to. And actually, that's a really
(25:39):
good point. Everybody that was in that
session and we, I don't think we've had this before, everyone
that was in that session was in that session by choice.
None of them were forced to go by their boss.
It was all optional, like here'san opportunity for growth.
They all wanted to be there. And I think if there was anyone
(25:59):
who didn't want to be there by probably lunchtime day one, the
others would have convinced themthat this is the place to be,
this is the career to be in. Yeah.
So. Yeah, yeah.
So yeah, because. Is that engaged?
Well, Kelly, all I'm getting outof this is that you need to pull
(26:21):
out your dad jokes more often. I I will send that sound bite to
Bailey, my son, and let him knowthat there's a purpose too.
My dad is very proud of me. He sent me another one the other
day which I laughed a little bittoo hard.
(26:44):
I get all of my dad jokes from dad who does listen to our
podcast. Hi Dad.
Send some more Jackie gifts permission.
But yeah, I think, I think with with this culture, it is that
energy, isn't it? And you know, we, we, we, you
and I need to be responsible forthat when we can't rely on our
(27:08):
students. But.
We might fire in the temporary. Yeah, well, that's what made me
reflect on and think, oh, Kelly and I shouldn't be so stressed.
We should just have fun with it because then we're going to be
lifting these people up. So, you know, it's really our
job to to raise that energy and,you know, say things like, oh,
(27:32):
you, you're doing awesome at this.
I'm sure you're all get get this.
It's it's the language that you use as well.
Absolutely. Sorry I'm getting sucked into
the cold, right. I said yeah, absolutely.
And we had the opportunity. Well, not the opportunity.
There was the risk with that group.
We had a few technical issues atthe beginning that could have
(27:54):
gone downhill very quickly, but it didn't.
I only took those introductions and there was a bit of a a PEP
and a yes and a springiness. Yes, so absolutely, yeah.
And I was just, I had a zoom with one of the students
yesterday actually. And yeah, he said how how great
the training was and even pre training, you know, the the
(28:18):
whole process. So, you know, it's that
experience all the way through, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah. And.
Which is interesting because that's something that we are
constantly evolving and trying to improve on and yes, and
different people's different perspectives.
So yeah, I think that's good. Which which kind of also leads
nicely into that third category that you had there, which was
(28:41):
curiosity and this group were genuinely curious.
You found a few things. You've already kind of touched
on these, but at the conference there was a few things that got
you curious in places. You've kind of already dabbled a
little bit, but your curiosity expanded with a couple of those.
(29:04):
We'll talk, We'll talk AI and systems and yeah, in general,
yeah. And I suppose maybe, well, maybe
this was the most surprising forme, but you know, community,
community was definitely as well, which as we've discussed
led to the culture side of it. But I mentioned Snap site before
(29:29):
and you know, this tool that they gave us to use at all of
the keynotes and speakers. And you know that that's
essentially, you know, AI and they're embrace it.
They're embracing it. Here's here's a tool.
(29:49):
And you and I have also experienced this with a
conference, I think it was last year.
So we had an app where we could see all of the different, you
know, schedules on each day. And then you'd, you'd put it
into your calendar, you'd selectit.
You could then see, well, what'smy schedule?
(30:10):
Then you could change it around like they they just didn't hand
you a piece of paper. It it was these tools that you
could use. You could read about who was
going to be speaking to get somebackground.
And as I said, the everything was recorded.
And I've since received all of that as well, which is probably
(30:32):
fairly normal. But you know, the tools they
gave us were amazing. They had also an app called
Hecka Well, which was enough. You've experienced this.
I sort of get a bit overwhelmed with these, Kelly, you know,
where they have like a competition, like how many steps
you can do. And yeah, there was a young girl
(30:56):
that I met there. She's in one of the photos,
Snigduff. Snigduff, something something
like that. Beautiful that I met her, I
think on Day 2. And we just kept running into
each other. Just one of those really bright
young personalities in quality. She won, she killed it.
She she, you know, her points were way and she was strategic
(31:19):
as well. Yeah, yeah.
So I won't let you in on her strategy.
But, you know, people really gotgot into it.
But it's really, I think the tools that were sort of the take
away for me that ISQ really embraced these tools within the
(31:43):
conference. So they they didn't run away
from it scared, put it that way.So they actually gave it a go
and brought in, you know, this tech into into the the
conference in the tools that we were using.
So it demonstrates, you know, this curiosity that we have to
(32:06):
have as quality professionals, that things are changing.
And you and I have had this discussion recently.
It can be scary, but it can be exciting.
But with large language models, AI, etc.
Yeah, the scary part is how quickly it's changing.
(32:28):
But we've got to embrace. We've got to embrace it.
I think is it next week I'm attending a webinar.
This is how important it is. Kelly It's at 6:00 and I my
brain does not function in. The afternoon the.
Afternoon. That's right.
And. I'm calling.
People might be shocked at my time, Jackie doesn't function
(32:48):
after 2:00 PM. Typically she 3:00 AM.
She's. She's on fire 2.
PM Sorry that that meeting's gotto be done by lunchtime.
That's. Fine.
My brain does not work, no. So if you're staying up for
anything past. Yeah.
Books at 6:00 PM. That's right, probably.
(33:10):
Going to be special. Yes, and this is AI in quality.
And you know, we need to know what other people are saying
about this. So and we we need like US in the
education field, we need to knowwhat this looks like for the
peak for our clients. And then for me as an auditor
(33:33):
yourself, as an internal auditor, we need to know what
the tools are. And we actually had this
discussion, Kelly, last week in our virtual training, someone
asked about can you record? And you know, that's the old
fashioned record audio. And then also you and I had a
(33:56):
discussion because you were trialing AI summary within our
virtual training because what? What a great tool.
Yeah, yeah. What a great tool to give our
students. And you mentioned, and I thought
about this afterwards, you mentioned, but as auditors they
need to learn to take notes. Yes, currently we do, yeah.
(34:20):
I would say that that will change.
I would say, you know, I could use a tool like Snap Site or
Fireflies. And moving forward, it will
actually take note of the conversations and it will
actually even put it into an audit report for me.
(34:42):
Yeah, 2 two things that I'm going to highlight that you just
mentioned there. It's a tool because it is.
It is a tool. And currently and in future
currently I do this but in future this month I actually
read I did a Jackie and was reading something stupid o'clock
this morning because the other half had an early shift and woke
me up. I don't function in the morning,
(35:04):
but they have, they have proven or not proven they've done tests
and and most of our jobs are still safe because AI is still
not accurate currently. So yeah, it's at the at the
moment it's still a tool, but weall need to be aware of what
that's going to look like in future.
And again, as you said there last week, we trialled a couple
(35:28):
of different tools to assist ourstudents with the training.
And it is 2/8 and a little bit hour days back-to-back with
things jumping in and out. And the tools that we use didn't
like the way that we delivered our training.
It would drop off or cut out andstop recording and those sorts
of things because we do things differently and the system
(35:50):
didn't like that. But there's going to be
something out there that does, and we just need to find that
and keep working to find that right tool to help our students.
You talked here about how they embraced these tools in the like
in the conference space, and we know how we tackle those in the
(36:13):
education space. What sorts of things could
quality managers and quality orders take away from that that
AI space was or did a look ASQ share?
These are some new things, like were they open with these are
(36:33):
the opportunities to you or did they just use that for
themselves? No, they used it for themselves
mainly. Look, there were some speakers
that talked about AI, but there's not really any how to I,
I guess just because of, you know, that that it wasn't a
(36:54):
workshop essentially. Yeah.
That which is, which is the difference I'd be interested to
see because I'm going to Qualcomm in September.
So that's the Australian Organization for quality.
It's their conference, so and they actually have a day of
workshops. So I'd be interested to see,
(37:15):
yeah, whether there's something a little bit, you know, around
that LLM sort of AI around that.But they haven't haven't
released that yet. So look, not look.
Yes, they change in. The next three.
No, no. They look, they sort of
introduce different platforms that they were using and all of
(37:38):
that sort of thing, but nothing general, I guess that I came
across because as you know and we've attended conferences like
this, I wanted to be in all of the rooms, but the times
conflicted, so I had to make a choice.
Isn't always. The two that you want are on at
(37:58):
the same time, and the two that you couldn't be bothered with
are on at the same time and flipthem up a little bit.
I know, but because we had snap site, I could have gone in, but
it's still really not the same as being there and knowing,
yeah, what you're looking for. Yeah.
And I think that's really important to knowing what you're
(38:18):
looking for, but also being curious enough to be open to
what you didn't know that you were looking for.
And I'm sure there's a few people that had those ideas
along the way as well. Yeah, that's.
That's true. And actually that Snap site was
one of them and that's what initiated me messaging you about
having some tool in our virtual training because I just found it
(38:42):
so helpful, you know, on every single day.
And I thought, well, this would be great for our students as a
take away to help them because we discuss so many things.
And as you said, we normally have to write this all down, but
wouldn't it be great if we had atool?
(39:03):
So if anyone knows of one that can go for, you know, eight, 8
1/2 hours. 8 and 1/2 an hour. Throughout.
Zoom breakout rooms and. Yeah.
So there's probably. Doesn't need me to think record,
stop, play, pause. Yeah, some, some sort of tool
that, and that's what thought. Well, then they can ask
(39:25):
questions, you know, during and after.
It will help them with finishingtheir workbooks.
So, you know, we don't have to repeat ourselves.
It's, you know, as you know, sometimes you don't even
understand what your notes are. There's a lot of information.
But if you knew you had something sitting in the
background, you know, that's where, yeah, that idea came
(39:47):
from. Because I just loved it.
Absolutely. Excellent so you got those 3
topics that came away from it you you really learn about the
community, you really learn about the culture and that
curiosity They we are three kindof core takeaways what?
Was. Something that really surprised
(40:10):
you and really got you excited. Outside of all of those things,
what was what was the one thing that has made you already
booking your annual leave and your travel next year to attend
again? What that?
Well, one thing, I'm going to submit an expression of interest
(40:33):
to speak there next year becausethat was one of the reasons I
went just to do a bit. Of first year A.
Bit of rocky, a lot of people submit and that you know, a few
people that I met that were speakers said that they've been
submitting for years and finallythey got acceptance.
So you got to start somewhere, right.
(40:54):
So that's one one thing probablythe big thing was the community.
It wasn't because I hate networking.
I'm a naturally in like intrinsic person.
I'm not an extrovert, so it's quite uncomfortable for me.
(41:20):
But yeah, everyone, yeah, that Imet was, yeah, amazing.
We, we had a had a great time. No matter, you know, what table
I was sitting at, where, you know, which stand I was standing
at or who I was asking questionsof.
Yeah, it was, it was that real connection.
(41:41):
And I'm really interested in maintaining those as well.
But I no quality police. No quality police.
Look, they could have been, but I didn't meet any.
But I think the real other thingthat came to mind when you
asked, threw me under the bus with this question was that
(42:03):
brain date that I ran on the emotional culture deck.
It was, yeah. It was really insightful to test
that because that's a new tool that I'm going to be using to
determine, you know, the currentquality culture and what the
(42:25):
future focus quality culture is because quality culture is
becoming, you know, more emphasized, I hear in the the
new revision, which we haven't really seen yet.
Yeah. Yeah.
So I was sort of really blown away by how open people were.
(42:48):
Again, this goes back to community, I think.
Yeah. Yeah.
Did that answer your question? I know I sort of babbled.
I think so. It's, it's, it says a lot when
you you're investing a lot of time, money and literally
travelling to the other side of the world to attend a
(43:09):
conference. To do it once is one thing, but
then to want to go back and be making the plans of what that
looks like a year out says a lotabout what the the industry as a
whole is has coming forward. It's not just stagnating this,
it's excited you enough for the future that you're preparing for
(43:31):
that future now. And I'm sure there was hundreds
of other people doing the same thing.
Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, when someone asked and
when I came back, would you recommend going, I said yeah,
absolutely. Like I suppose for us living in
Australia, if the flight does your head does your head in,
especially coming home because you're not going.
(43:51):
Well, I wasn't going to say you're not going anywhere
exciting and new, but sort of you it's over and you're coming
home and it's such a long flight.
But yeah, it's absolutely worth it.
It's it's a big four days. It's a massive 4 days.
So don't go in there lightly andthink, think it's a junket
(44:12):
because it's certainly not a junket.
Yeah, you need to embed yourselfin that community.
So, you know, it is. It is.
I was going to say it is work, but it's like, if you enjoy what
you're doing, it's not work as such.
(44:33):
Yeah. Because you're surrounded by
things that you know make you smile, make you laugh, and all
make you interested. Yeah.
And I think that's probably the key take away there, regardless
of whether it's the ASQ conference or any other
conference, you want to be able to see the future opportunities,
(44:55):
know that these are the right people, the right place, the
right culture is being shared. You are learning and you are
taking away and you are still excited when you leave.
They're they're really importantthings regardless whether it's
quality, safety, environment, infosec, food, whatever that
looks like. Yeah, make sure that you're
(45:15):
about that. Yeah.
Wonderful. Well, before we wrap, Jackie,
was there anything else that youwanted to share from the
conference? I think my favorite thing is my
T-shirt in the conference and mystickers.
No, no, I think I think we touched on touched on
(45:37):
everything. Yeah, amazing people and yeah,
thank you because really I've been back a couple of weeks.
I think just so it's it's a nicereminder to to, yeah, talk about
it again. And funny story, I keep singing
Rocky Mountain High, John Denver.
(45:58):
I've been singing that ever since I've been so I feel.
Like I've got that again, you share that on a reel and I've it
was in my head while you're overthere for a little while as
well. So yeah, now it's back.
Thank. You.
Yeah, because Denver is just a stunning city to have, like have
it in. And next year it's in Orlando,
(46:20):
FL. So it's sort of, yeah, quite
different. And maybe because we live in
Southeast Queensland, I think. Oh, it's not another like
surface paradise, is it? You know, because it's.
Yeah, but you know, it's not, it's not that.
I'm sure it will. It will be stunning but you know
(46:41):
it's for OK what's next year going to going to hold got you
know imagine what's going to change in this 12 months until
yeah until absolutely so that that's.
And I loved it again, exactly. And I love that that's the
exciting part. It's not about the destination.
It's about the experience and the event rather than where it's
(47:04):
being held. So yeah.
Absolutely. Plastic, yeah.
I'm I am going to let you recap and then.
We'll have to you for letting merecap.
You're welcome. OK.
So there was just the three things that we discussed.
And I think, yeah, Kelly and I extracted them out a lot more.
(47:28):
Yeah than obviously we do in thenewsletter, which is what we're
here for. But the sort of the recap from
the WCQI so World Conference on Quality and Improvement that ASQ
American Society for Quality held in May, there's three sort
of categories that we pulled together and it was community,
(47:51):
culture and curiosity 3 CS. So community.
The, the big light bulb was thatit, it wasn't this hard.
You're not going to sell yourself for what what your
product is. It's, it's, it's got nothing to
do with that. It's about connection.
It's as simple as that. It's this, it starts with
(48:13):
forming these relationships. Absolutely.
I'm not denying that. Maybe next week, six months, a
year, six years, because you stay in contact with people that
you meet. And that's the same that goes
here day-to-day that, you know, they don't don't think of at
all. Jackie Stapleton, you know, for
(48:34):
anything that they need. But yeah, it was really about
community. And ASQ led the way with that
from day one. It was amazing.
And then the second one, as I said, was culture.
And of course, Kelly, you rightly pointed out that
building this community of connection, it just feeds into
culture. So it wasn't just this boring
(48:57):
checklisting stuff. It was people that, you know, we
had fun. You know, it was a great dinner
we all got together at we had photos with Star Wars characters
and we got funny stickers that sort of, you know, made, made us
laugh. The quality knows we're we're
owning it. OK.
So it builds that that culture. And if we build the culture
(49:19):
ourselves as quality professionals, well, that can
only help the people and the businesses that we work.
And then finally, it was that curiosity.
ASQ had No Fear about embracing new technology, so and they gave
it a go as well. The tools that they gave us
(49:41):
during the conference were AI oryou know, large language model
tools, and they gave it a go andwe all gave it a go as well.
So I was really excited to see that they embraced all of this
new tech stuff and and embedded it within the conference.
(50:03):
So yeah, I'm really keen to see what next year's looks like now
that you've reminded me. So obviously the bigger picture,
I put these three together, thiscommunity, curiosity and culture
as a output outcome, a way of, you know, categorizing the key
(50:24):
takeaways from the conference. But if you look at that
community, culture and curiosity, it all leads into
your quality leadership as well.So, you know, you can pick this
up and take it to your own business.
And it's community, culture, curiosity.
And Kelly and I talked about that with our virtual training
(50:45):
and how that community and culture were built just by the
energy that was brought to the room.
OK, So it's, yes, this this has been put together for the for
the conference, but the model can actually be picked up and
used for your quality leadershipas well.
(51:06):
So I'll stop talking because otherwise I'll keep going.
As always, before I hand it backto you, Kelly, I'd like to close
with anyone can follow the standard.
Why don't you be the one to leadthe standard?
Thank you, Jackie. That is a wrap for another
(51:26):
episode of Lead the Standard. Today we've explored what real
and the future of quality leadership looks like in
practice. And it's not just those systems
and the standards. It's all about that connection,
curiosity and culture. My personal highlights this week
may have seen me writing some down.
Jackie went four days without talking about ISO 9001.
That one blew my mind. She also she also only talked
(51:52):
about the food on one occasion, the smalls.
So that also shocked me a littlebit.
I'm guessing there was no cheese, so that's OK.
But the the connections that you've made, sorry, no cheese.
Yeah, not no, no. Look, look, feedback, food.
(52:15):
Yeah, food is a separate discussion.
The food at the conference was amazing.
But yeah, my highlight is that enthusiasm that you've brought
back. We knew that you going over
there with your your people was going to be one thing, but I
don't think we expected that level of enthusiasm around your
(52:38):
experience when you came back. And there have been some real
interesting insights and and reflections that you've shared
with us as well. So yeah, again, the, the key
take away here is sending the right person to build those
connections with that curiosity and embedding themselves in that
culture, as you said, does feed down the chain.
So thank you Jackie for taking us behind the scenes of the WCQI
(53:01):
and showing us what it is possible when a community of
like minded people come togetherwith a purpose.
Next week we're going to continue a bit of this mid year
momentum. We have an episode called Stop,
Start shift, continue Tongue Twister.
There the best questions to ask at your GG management review.
We'll be talking about why waiting until the end of the
(53:23):
year might actually be holding your systems back and what you
can do about it. So another one you won't want to
miss. Make sure you are following the
show and while you're there, please do subscribe, share this
episode and leave us a review. So until we do see you next
time, take care, stay curious, and keep leading the standard.
(53:43):
Bye for now. Bye.
When you think about leadership in quality, what comes to mind
first? Systems, standards,
spreadsheets. But what if it was something a
little more human? This week we're going to be
reflecting on what leadership inquality looks like right now and
how a global conference of full of passionate professionals
(00:22):
offered a more or sorry, offeredmore than just ideas and offered
a glimpse into the future of ourprofession.
Welcome to Lead the Stand. Hello, everyone.
I'm Kelly Taylor. I'm here always as sorry as
always tongue twisters already with the thoughtful and
(00:45):
insightful Jackie Stapleton, whois very excited about today's
conversation and we are very glad to have you all joining us.
We're going to explore somethinga little bit different today,
not different, but something that, as I said, Jackie's super
excited about looking at what itreally means to lead this Janet
(01:05):
in today's world. Good morning, Jackie.
Hello. It's quite funny.
What? What did you say?
I was thoughtful and insightful.I got to sell it.
I've got to sell it as all of our listeners are aware.
And I cannot think I'm just seeing your jacket in full
(01:25):
there, very appropriately attired today.
And my favorite? Oh, we are.
Oh my gosh, quality and improvement T-shirt.
I got dressed. I feel like we need especially.
I feel like we need some sort ofcensorship rating today already
and we haven't even started fromPG to MI.
(01:53):
Anyway, as everyone's aware, let's, let's let's jump in
because obviously you're excitedabout this one.
As everyone is aware, Jackie flew over to Denver, Co recently
for the ASQ World Conference on Quality and Improvement or the
WCQI. Let me tell you, she did come
back energized, so much so that she needs to take another break
(02:15):
next week to recover. So we all need another break
because she has been so enthusiastic about this and we
talked a few episodes ago about you need to send the right
person. And I think clearly we did.
This event very much hit a chordbecause it wasn't just the I got
out of work for a few days kind of energized.
(02:37):
It was the kind of energized where I'm pretty sure multiple
notebooks were filled. Her voice was half gone.
She's still talking about the people and the conversations
weeks later, even though she hada holiday afterwards yet.
If you haven't seen it yet, Jackie did capture some of her
(02:58):
reflections in the latest Lead the Standard article, which as
always, you'll find in the show notes.
But today we're going to try. I will do my best to try and
channel her energy into our podcast, and Jackie's going to
share with us what stood out, what surprised her, and why WCQI
might just reflect the new shapeof quality leadership.
(03:22):
I'm not going to lie, she's got me excited about this as well.
She's she's turning me a little bit in this way as well.
So Jackie, I know this wasn't your first conference.
I've been to a couple with you and we've had some mixed
experiences. This one really seemed to spark
something different with you. So do you want to tell us what
it was like stepping into that room in Denver?
(03:46):
Yeah, it was exciting, that's for sure.
It's massive, much, much bigger,Yeah, conference than I've ever
yeah been to in, in this in thisindustry, obviously.
But yeah, there were there was afew surprises actually, and
that's sort of what I tried to capture.
(04:11):
We had fun. I've met so many people.
We had so much fun. Does it surprise you that
quality people actually human? And, you know, we, we have a
sense of humor. We're not.
We're not just, you know, tick and flick.
Boring, boring people with cardigans and leather patches.
(04:36):
He says wearing a jacket with leather patch, a leather jacket
with patches, it's. My USA jacket I got dressed for
the occasion, but as an example,because you said I'm sure Jackie
filled lots of notebooks becauseyou know that normally I do feel
(04:57):
lots of notebooks and you're you're exactly the same, but I
didn't have to because. And this is a good example of I
suppose they're forward thinkingand they grasp of, you know,
technology, AI, et cetera. They had a tool or an it wasn't,
(05:22):
it's not an app, but it's a toolcalled Snap site.
So every keynote or speaker thatwe went to over the four days,
you could use this Snap site andit had the closed captions
because some people with their accent and as you know, I'm a
(05:44):
bit hard of hearing as well. So if clarity is an issue, but
I, I used that program snap siteand it just, it came up with the
caption so I could follow along.I didn't miss anything.
But if even if I did, they had things like I'm just gonna have
a quick look, you could get the like quick summaries.
(06:09):
So it had takeaways, it had an idea cloud as well.
So you from each, each talk the idea cloud and it summarized the
whole speech. So and you could download the
transcript and yeah. And in that the speaker had any
(06:29):
documents that they were sharing.
So, you know, I, I could just sit there and enjoy it because I
knew that snap site that was taking care of the note taking
far better than I could ever do.So, you know, just forward
thinking as as a whole, to be honest and very community
(06:53):
focused. Yeah.
I love that because yeah, how often do you go to a conference
that we both fill notebooks and you're you're writing something.
Oh, I missed that. What did you get that?
And it's there's a lot so. And there's nation overwhelm.
Yeah. And this is one of the things
that I've, I've been excited to hear about as well.
So there was a lot of different and a lot of things that you
(07:17):
wouldn't expect, as you said, from quality people or standards
people, system people. A lot of stereotypes were broken
from what I've seen, which is exciting and fun.
There were a couple of them thatseemed to have been reinforced.
I'll use day one as an example. But other than that, everything
else that you've shared with us really did seem to break those
(07:38):
stereotype, Barry. So let's let's have a chat now
about, yeah, exactly that glimpse into the future that
you're talking about. Yeah.
And I think that's sort of how, how I worded it, you know it, it
was more than a conference. And look, you know, I was, I was
(07:58):
going to say, I don't think I met another Aussie.
My husband came with me and he attended the conference as well
and really, really enjoyed. He went off, excuse me at two
different speakers. And sometimes we might have been
in the same room, sometimes not.So maybe it was, you know, we,
(08:20):
we were the, you know, we were the only Aussies.
But there's people from all overthe world as well.
I met people from Dubai, Sweden,Switzerland.
New Zealand was probably the closest to us.
So it was really, as you said, Ithink, yeah, it was a glimpse
(08:42):
into the future. But probably what took me away
or made me most excited is how ASQ embraced it because, you
know, normally, traditionally you'd think, you know, you're in
the ISO world, we're a bit behind sort of sort of like
government in Australia, it justtakes us longer.
(09:04):
But now that they were really embracing it, So what?
Another take away was that it wasn't just about ISO 9001.
I don't think I ever talked about that to be honest.
It was about people and progressin the industry and what we were
(09:24):
there for. So I even ran a brain date
Kelly, they called it, where I used my ECD.
So emotional culture decks to establish, sort of, Yeah.
So I had nine people. The maximum was 8.
So I was fully booked and they let an extra person in.
(09:48):
So I facilitated that brain datewith.
Yeah, with people from all over the world.
I shared those photos on LinkedIn for that day.
I think I did that on Day 2. Sorry, just getting a bit hot
because I'm talking. Yeah, so I had to turn the heat
and that was interesting. And it was a really good mix of
(10:10):
people, male and female, you know, young, younger
professionals and older professionals.
So I was really glad of of the mix that I had attend and I used
the emotional culture deck to establish, you know what, as
leaders in quality, what or how they wanted their quality team,
(10:38):
the employees, their work colleagues to feel.
Yet I used the feel word to feelabout the quality management
system. And then that sort of set.
Well, this is what how I want them to feel.
How do we get there? And I think it only ran for 45
minutes, so I had to. It was a chopped down version.
(11:00):
Yeah. And you know that I was just
amazed at how everyone embraced it.
I thought it was a really good audience to test this feeling
stuff about quality culture. And you know, to me that was a
great indication of the community that the three things
(11:21):
that are highlighted and categorized for this were
community, culture and curiosity.
So they're the three that I think it's sort of put.
Everything under I think it's important to probably highlight
here too. Jackie's talking about feeling
it wasn't just auditors. I know we've talked a lot before
about when you're auditing, you can't feel you need to base on
(11:44):
fact that this wasn't just auditors.
This was everybody collaboratingand building that quality
community, as you said, and thatquality culture.
So yeah, yeah, yeah. And yeah, so you know it.
There was me and then there was lots of engineers, you know,
lots of highly educated people in the industry.
(12:06):
So it was, yeah, a very broad scope of people.
So yeah, just just yeah, really,really great people.
You saw photos. There was, I think on, must have
been on day three. There was a dinner.
Wow. They're party animals.
(12:27):
Oh, but you know the highlight. You know the highlight the
smallest table. Oh, that's a novelty for us
though. Oh, my goodness.
I actually had to ask someone. Can you please show me how, how
to do this? So I yeah, we could take the
marshmallow up on the fire. So the lady in front of me gave
(12:49):
me a lesson as we went. But yeah, it was, it was such
great fun meeting some amazing people.
So that was well, again, it's that community and culture as
well as that curiosity. That's I think that's why I
probably landed on those. 3. Things to categorize everything
and maybe as we we talk through them, they might all merge as we
(13:11):
normally do. But yeah, do you want me to go
through Warai community? Yeah, let's start with yeah,
Community being the first one too, Yeah.
I think, you know, even we do the same same thing in
preparation. It was like, OK, well, if we
(13:33):
spend this much money to go to the conference and and we make
this many sales, then then it's worth it.
But that's not what this is about.
It's it's about this. Yeah, it's really not what this
is about. You know, I, I was able to meet
(13:56):
people well from Exemplar Global.
So there were some Australians there, but they were Exemplar
Global so I already knew them. Of course there was some US
based from Exemplar Global. I had went out for dinner with
all Exemplar Global crew and we had the 2 from 2 people from ASQ
(14:18):
join us, including the CEO join us for drinks afterwards.
And you know, it was, it was just about meeting people and
connecting. And you know, I just this week I
had a message from Ruth, one of the speakers and we sort of hung
(14:40):
around a little bit. She actually came from Canada.
We hung around a little bit afterwards and during and, you
know, she just checked in the other day.
So it was, it's, it's these connections that that I've made
that we, you know, we have this common goal.
(15:01):
So ASQ created that and something that they spoke about,
I think it was on day, day one or day 2.
Their, their goal is community and they're actually pulling
because at the moment it's a little bit separate.
We know we've got ASQ, we've gotExemplar global, we've got like,
(15:26):
you know, PCB in Europe, there'sall these different quality
organisations. There's AOQ here in Australia
what they're trying to do and they're, well, they're doing it
because there's a few already onboard, particularly in Europe.
They're making it a global community.
So, so we're not separated like like we have been.
(15:51):
So you know, the, I've been in touch, I actually spoke to ASQ
while I was there about the Australian chapter.
So I've been in touch as a gentleman in Melbourne who's
given, who's been given the job of setting that up.
So I'm having a Zoom with him tosee how I can help with the
Australian chapter. So you know, they were so overly
(16:15):
helpful with that, that that is their ultimate goal is this
community. So that's what I mean, it
wasn't, it's not a sales event. It's to meet people in the same
industry as you with common purpose, goals, desires.
(16:38):
And we had a great time while doing it.
So they're potentially some of them are lifelong connections.
Which is fantastic. Like yeah, I know you said not
about the ISO standards, but it is an international standard.
And if you're all work, what's the point in having an
international standard if we're not working as an international
(16:59):
community to be passionate aboutthis and bring it forward.
So it's, it is really good that it, that they're breaking down
those borders and really focusing on, you know,
collaboration and nothing. So you've got genuine
connections. Absolutely.
And human communities. Yeah, absolutely.
(17:20):
So I think there should be a photo or two in the newsletter
as well that you'll you'll see Idid, I did provide to our
marketing team to include it just, you know, and you'll see
the happy smiling faces and oh, and sense of humor.
(17:40):
Kelly Oh, I've got it. I did send very.
Much or. Well, the first day of the
conference was May the 4th. Made with you, 4th of July.
What was it 4th of? May 4th.
Of May 4th of May so they they had the Star Wars characters
(18:01):
there so I got a photo with themI got stickers Kelly that say
I'm a lean main quality machine I'm a quality nerd I'm quality
is my superpower I'm certified awesome like we have a sense of
humor it's not it's not just me stuck over here on my own with a
(18:23):
sense of humor everyone has it they even made stickers to prove
it and. Just seeing people driving
around with those bumper stickers on me.
I haven't figured out where to put mine yet, but.
There needs to be somewhere where they can be seen.
Yeah. Nice bright disclaimer.
I was very disappointed for you that they weren't tattoos
(18:44):
because that would have been. Fun to record.
Yeah, they could have had to crush tattoos.
Yeah, or real ones. So.
Yeah, Can you imagine? That's sort of my, yeah, I don't
know about that. That's sort of my take away with
community. We just, yeah.
(19:05):
And I think that leads nicely into the next one as well
because community breeds culture, which is the the second
section that you had in your model this week, which.
Yeah, yeah, I may have crossed over to this already, but you're
(19:27):
right in what you say, that community breeds culture.
And you know, that's why. Yeah, we had.
So we had so much fun. Four days is a long, it's a long
conference and two, two of them were absolute full days.
It started at 7730 in the morning.
(19:50):
Oh, lucky you're a morning person.
Well, I wasn't there because I was having trouble sleeping.
Now, were you having trouble sleeping?
Because of jet lag and time zones or were you having trouble
sleeping because you had ideas? Because I know that when I get
messages at 3:00 in the morning,that's why was it?
Was it that? It was altitude.
(20:13):
It was actually altitude becauseDenver, yeah.
Mile High City, yeah. So yeah, they were saying that
altitude impacts your your sleepand it takes a while to get get
used to. Little did I did, I know I'd end
up going higher than Denver, butI suppose it was, yeah, getting
(20:35):
getting used to it. And the air is very dry, so
breathing was, was, yeah, an issue.
So I think I did one day on 4 hours sleep I got yeah, yeah,
luckily I was somewhere that I enjoyed and.
That's what I was going to say. If you were feeling like that
(20:57):
and it wasn't, you weren't enjoying the people and you
weren't getting anything out of it, it wasn't a topic.
I'm pretty confident. Well, not you, but at least Lee
would have said not getting out of bed, staying here.
So that again, shows that the community and the culture that
this was creating, people were willing to push through.
(21:18):
Yeah, we've had a few conversations about pushing
through health and inappropriate.
This is a different context. This is allowed.
If it was, it was for fun. It wasn't.
This wasn't work. Well, it was work, but it wasn't
work. Yeah, it makes sense.
I suppose, really how that translates into, you know, when
(21:39):
we're back home at our desks, itis, you know, something that
it's not. Our system shouldn't be like,
cold and lifeless and ticking boxes like, you know, we should
be having fun, fun with it. But it actually reminded me, I
mentioned Ruth that I met over there when she messaged me this
(22:01):
week. I said, oh, what?
You know, what exciting things are you up to?
And she cares. Well, I'm doing an internal
audit at the moment. And, you know, I just love doing
internal audits because, you know, I get to go and talk to
lots of people and I learn all these new things about about the
business that I work in. So that that fun is coming from
(22:25):
within and that that person, if you know what I mean.
And it actually reminds me, Kelly, of our virtual training
last week. And I think this is important
for you and I as trainers as well, when we may not be so
fortunate, we and we might have a group of people that aren't as
(22:48):
fun as the ones we had last week.
But you could see, yeah, you could see in the training last
week, we may be, we particularlyhad one person.
We had, you know, maybe a few people.
Who? Knows who we used to that had a
great sense of humour and they, their energy lifted everyone.
(23:08):
And I've, I've been sort of thinking about that since last
week because for you and I as trainers, if we were, we relied
on this person in particular because his energy lifted
everyone up because then you andI were having fun as well.
But if there's no one in the room or in our virtual training,
(23:31):
it's up to you and I to lift andhave fun and, you know, start
laughing because if, if they're not, you and I tend to get a bit
stressed as well as the facilitators.
But in actual fact, we, it's up to us to lift the energy, to
lift their energy and then we can have fun with it.
(23:51):
So that, yeah, that's something that I've been reflecting on
because, you know, we've had so many different groups, but it
was so much fun. But it was the energy in the
room. And then that was with Ruth with
her internal audit when she messaged me.
Can you imagine, you know, someone coming around conduct
going their internal audit and they love what they do.
(24:14):
It's, it's not drudgery anymore.And that's, that's culture.
And that's what people say aboutme and how I get excited and use
my hands a lot. You know, it's, it's if it's
something that you're passionateabout.
I was talking to a lady in Belgium.
This this week, who works in quality?
(24:35):
She's a quality manager and she said she was showing her work
colleagues a video of me and they were all laughing because
they said that I got it, was as excited as about what I do as
she is and it would be really funny for the two of us to get
together. So that's the thing though,
(24:57):
isn't it? You do you feed off that.
And but I'm smiling now because I'm having a flashback that so
many times we do that training and we get to the end of the day
and think, oh, I'm going to go have a wine and go straight to
bed because I'm exhausted because it is exhausting.
But this, well, he one person led and then someone jumped on
(25:18):
the back of that and we had likewe had, it was like doggy
daycare at one point. And we were all loving it.
And everyone was yeah. And look at the smile that
that's bringing to me. Because they were all invested
in the training. They were all having fun.
They were all interested in, engaged in what they were there
to. And actually, that's a really
(25:39):
good point. Everybody that was in that
session and we, I don't think we've had this before, everyone
that was in that session was in that session by choice.
None of them were forced to go by their boss.
It was all optional, like here'san opportunity for growth.
They all wanted to be there. And I think if there was anyone
(25:59):
who didn't want to be there by probably lunchtime day one, the
others would have convinced themthat this is the place to be,
this is the career to be in. Yeah.
So. Yeah, yeah.
So yeah, because. Is that engaged?
Well, Kelly, all I'm getting outof this is that you need to pull
(26:21):
out your dad jokes more often. I I will send that sound bite to
Bailey, my son, and let him knowthat there's a purpose too.
My dad is very proud of me. He sent me another one the other
day which I laughed a little bittoo hard.
(26:44):
I get all of my dad jokes from dad who does listen to our
podcast. Hi Dad.
Send some more Jackie gifts permission.
But yeah, I think, I think with with this culture, it is that
energy, isn't it? And you know, we, we, we, you
and I need to be responsible forthat when we can't rely on our
(27:08):
students. But.
We might fire in the temporary. Yeah, well, that's what made me
reflect on and think, oh, Kelly and I shouldn't be so stressed.
We should just have fun with it because then we're going to be
lifting these people up. So, you know, it's really our
job to to raise that energy and,you know, say things like, oh,
(27:32):
you, you're doing awesome at this.
I'm sure you're all get get this.
It's it's the language that you use as well.
Absolutely. Sorry I'm getting sucked into
the cold, right. I said yeah, absolutely.
And we had the opportunity. Well, not the opportunity.
There was the risk with that group.
We had a few technical issues atthe beginning that could have
(27:54):
gone downhill very quickly, but it didn't.
I only took those introductions and there was a bit of a a PEP
and a yes and a springiness. Yes, so absolutely, yeah.
And I was just, I had a zoom with one of the students
yesterday actually. And yeah, he said how how great
the training was and even pre training, you know, the the
(28:18):
whole process. So, you know, it's that
experience all the way through, isn't it?
Yeah, yeah. And.
Which is interesting because that's something that we are
constantly evolving and trying to improve on and yes, and
different people's different perspectives.
So yeah, I think that's good. Which which kind of also leads
nicely into that third category that you had there, which was
(28:41):
curiosity and this group were genuinely curious.
You found a few things. You've already kind of touched
on these, but at the conference there was a few things that got
you curious in places. You've kind of already dabbled a
little bit, but your curiosity expanded with a couple of those.
(29:04):
We'll talk, We'll talk AI and systems and yeah, in general,
yeah. And I suppose maybe, well, maybe
this was the most surprising forme, but you know, community,
community was definitely as well, which as we've discussed
led to the culture side of it. But I mentioned Snap site before
(29:29):
and you know, this tool that they gave us to use at all of
the keynotes and speakers. And you know that that's
essentially, you know, AI and they're embrace it.
They're embracing it. Here's here's a tool.
(29:49):
And you and I have also experienced this with a
conference, I think it was last year.
So we had an app where we could see all of the different, you
know, schedules on each day. And then you'd, you'd put it
into your calendar, you'd selectit.
You could then see, well, what'smy schedule?
(30:10):
Then you could change it around like they they just didn't hand
you a piece of paper. It it was these tools that you
could use. You could read about who was
going to be speaking to get somebackground.
And as I said, the everything was recorded.
And I've since received all of that as well, which is probably
(30:32):
fairly normal. But you know, the tools they
gave us were amazing. They had also an app called
Hecka Well, which was enough. You've experienced this.
I sort of get a bit overwhelmed with these, Kelly, you know,
where they have like a competition, like how many steps
you can do. And yeah, there was a young girl
(30:56):
that I met there. She's in one of the photos,
Snigduff. Snigduff, something something
like that. Beautiful that I met her, I
think on Day 2. And we just kept running into
each other. Just one of those really bright
young personalities in quality. She won, she killed it.
She she, you know, her points were way and she was strategic
(31:19):
as well. Yeah, yeah.
So I won't let you in on her strategy.
But, you know, people really gotgot into it.
But it's really, I think the tools that were sort of the take
away for me that ISQ really embraced these tools within the
(31:43):
conference. So they they didn't run away
from it scared, put it that way.So they actually gave it a go
and brought in, you know, this tech into into the the
conference in the tools that we were using.
So it demonstrates, you know, this curiosity that we have to
(32:06):
have as quality professionals, that things are changing.
And you and I have had this discussion recently.
It can be scary, but it can be exciting.
But with large language models, AI, etc.
Yeah, the scary part is how quickly it's changing.
(32:28):
But we've got to embrace. We've got to embrace it.
I think is it next week I'm attending a webinar.
This is how important it is. Kelly It's at 6:00 and I my
brain does not function in. The afternoon the.
Afternoon. That's right.
And. I'm calling.
People might be shocked at my time, Jackie doesn't function
(32:48):
after 2:00 PM. Typically she 3:00 AM.
She's. She's on fire 2.
PM Sorry that that meeting's gotto be done by lunchtime.
That's. Fine.
My brain does not work, no. So if you're staying up for
anything past. Yeah.
Books at 6:00 PM. That's right, probably.
(33:10):
Going to be special. Yes, and this is AI in quality.
And you know, we need to know what other people are saying
about this. So and we we need like US in the
education field, we need to knowwhat this looks like for the
peak for our clients. And then for me as an auditor
(33:33):
yourself, as an internal auditor, we need to know what
the tools are. And we actually had this
discussion, Kelly, last week in our virtual training, someone
asked about can you record? And you know, that's the old
fashioned record audio. And then also you and I had a
(33:56):
discussion because you were trialing AI summary within our
virtual training because what? What a great tool.
Yeah, yeah. What a great tool to give our
students. And you mentioned, and I thought
about this afterwards, you mentioned, but as auditors they
need to learn to take notes. Yes, currently we do, yeah.
(34:20):
I would say that that will change.
I would say, you know, I could use a tool like Snap Site or
Fireflies. And moving forward, it will
actually take note of the conversations and it will
actually even put it into an audit report for me.
(34:42):
Yeah, 2 two things that I'm going to highlight that you just
mentioned there. It's a tool because it is.
It is a tool. And currently and in future
currently I do this but in future this month I actually
read I did a Jackie and was reading something stupid o'clock
this morning because the other half had an early shift and woke
me up. I don't function in the morning,
(35:04):
but they have, they have proven or not proven they've done tests
and and most of our jobs are still safe because AI is still
not accurate currently. So yeah, it's at the at the
moment it's still a tool, but weall need to be aware of what
that's going to look like in future.
And again, as you said there last week, we trialled a couple
(35:28):
of different tools to assist ourstudents with the training.
And it is 2/8 and a little bit hour days back-to-back with
things jumping in and out. And the tools that we use didn't
like the way that we delivered our training.
It would drop off or cut out andstop recording and those sorts
of things because we do things differently and the system
(35:50):
didn't like that. But there's going to be
something out there that does, and we just need to find that
and keep working to find that right tool to help our students.
You talked here about how they embraced these tools in the like
in the conference space, and we know how we tackle those in the
(36:13):
education space. What sorts of things could
quality managers and quality orders take away from that that
AI space was or did a look ASQ share?
These are some new things, like were they open with these are
(36:33):
the opportunities to you or did they just use that for
themselves? No, they used it for themselves
mainly. Look, there were some speakers
that talked about AI, but there's not really any how to I,
I guess just because of, you know, that that it wasn't a
(36:54):
workshop essentially. Yeah.
That which is, which is the difference I'd be interested to
see because I'm going to Qualcomm in September.
So that's the Australian Organization for quality.
It's their conference, so and they actually have a day of
workshops. So I'd be interested to see,
(37:15):
yeah, whether there's something a little bit, you know, around
that LLM sort of AI around that.But they haven't haven't
released that yet. So look, not look.
Yes, they change in. The next three.
No, no. They look, they sort of
introduce different platforms that they were using and all of
(37:38):
that sort of thing, but nothing general, I guess that I came
across because as you know and we've attended conferences like
this, I wanted to be in all of the rooms, but the times
conflicted, so I had to make a choice.
Isn't always. The two that you want are on at
(37:58):
the same time, and the two that you couldn't be bothered with
are on at the same time and flipthem up a little bit.
I know, but because we had snap site, I could have gone in, but
it's still really not the same as being there and knowing,
yeah, what you're looking for. Yeah.
And I think that's really important to knowing what you're
(38:18):
looking for, but also being curious enough to be open to
what you didn't know that you were looking for.
And I'm sure there's a few people that had those ideas
along the way as well. Yeah, that's.
That's true. And actually that Snap site was
one of them and that's what initiated me messaging you about
having some tool in our virtual training because I just found it
(38:42):
so helpful, you know, on every single day.
And I thought, well, this would be great for our students as a
take away to help them because we discuss so many things.
And as you said, we normally have to write this all down, but
wouldn't it be great if we had atool?
(39:03):
So if anyone knows of one that can go for, you know, eight, 8
1/2 hours. 8 and 1/2 an hour. Throughout.
Zoom breakout rooms and. Yeah.
So there's probably. Doesn't need me to think record,
stop, play, pause. Yeah, some, some sort of tool
that, and that's what thought. Well, then they can ask
(39:25):
questions, you know, during and after.
It will help them with finishingtheir workbooks.
So, you know, we don't have to repeat ourselves.
It's, you know, as you know, sometimes you don't even
understand what your notes are. There's a lot of information.
But if you knew you had something sitting in the
background, you know, that's where, yeah, that idea came
(39:47):
from. Because I just loved it.
Absolutely. Excellent so you got those 3
topics that came away from it you you really learn about the
community, you really learn about the culture and that
curiosity They we are three kindof core takeaways what?
Was. Something that really surprised
(40:10):
you and really got you excited. Outside of all of those things,
what was what was the one thing that has made you already
booking your annual leave and your travel next year to attend
again? What that?
Well, one thing, I'm going to submit an expression of interest
(40:33):
to speak there next year becausethat was one of the reasons I
went just to do a bit. Of first year A.
Bit of rocky, a lot of people submit and that you know, a few
people that I met that were speakers said that they've been
submitting for years and finallythey got acceptance.
So you got to start somewhere, right.
(40:54):
So that's one one thing probablythe big thing was the community.
It wasn't because I hate networking.
I'm a naturally in like intrinsic person.
I'm not an extrovert, so it's quite uncomfortable for me.
(41:20):
But yeah, everyone, yeah, that Imet was, yeah, amazing.
We, we had a had a great time. No matter, you know, what table
I was sitting at, where, you know, which stand I was standing
at or who I was asking questionsof.
Yeah, it was, it was that real connection.
(41:41):
And I'm really interested in maintaining those as well.
But I no quality police. No quality police.
Look, they could have been, but I didn't meet any.
But I think the real other thingthat came to mind when you
asked, threw me under the bus with this question was that
(42:03):
brain date that I ran on the emotional culture deck.
It was, yeah. It was really insightful to test
that because that's a new tool that I'm going to be using to
determine, you know, the currentquality culture and what the
(42:25):
future focus quality culture is because quality culture is
becoming, you know, more emphasized, I hear in the the
new revision, which we haven't really seen yet.
Yeah. Yeah.
So I was sort of really blown away by how open people were.
(42:48):
Again, this goes back to community, I think.
Yeah. Yeah.
Did that answer your question? I know I sort of babbled.
I think so. It's, it's, it says a lot when
you you're investing a lot of time, money and literally
travelling to the other side of the world to attend a
(43:09):
conference. To do it once is one thing, but
then to want to go back and be making the plans of what that
looks like a year out says a lotabout what the the industry as a
whole is has coming forward. It's not just stagnating this,
it's excited you enough for the future that you're preparing for
(43:31):
that future now. And I'm sure there was hundreds
of other people doing the same thing.
Yeah, absolutely. So yeah, when someone asked and
when I came back, would you recommend going, I said yeah,
absolutely. Like I suppose for us living in
Australia, if the flight does your head does your head in,
especially coming home because you're not going.
(43:51):
Well, I wasn't going to say you're not going anywhere
exciting and new, but sort of you it's over and you're coming
home and it's such a long flight.
But yeah, it's absolutely worth it.
It's it's a big four days. It's a massive 4 days.
So don't go in there lightly andthink, think it's a junket
(44:12):
because it's certainly not a junket.
Yeah, you need to embed yourselfin that community.
So, you know, it is. It is.
I was going to say it is work, but it's like, if you enjoy what
you're doing, it's not work as such.
(44:33):
Yeah. Because you're surrounded by
things that you know make you smile, make you laugh, and all
make you interested. Yeah.
And I think that's probably the key take away there, regardless
of whether it's the ASQ conference or any other
conference, you want to be able to see the future opportunities,
(44:55):
know that these are the right people, the right place, the
right culture is being shared. You are learning and you are
taking away and you are still excited when you leave.
They're they're really importantthings regardless whether it's
quality, safety, environment, infosec, food, whatever that
looks like. Yeah, make sure that you're
(45:15):
about that. Yeah.
Wonderful. Well, before we wrap, Jackie,
was there anything else that youwanted to share from the
conference? I think my favorite thing is my
T-shirt in the conference and mystickers.
No, no, I think I think we touched on touched on
(45:37):
everything. Yeah, amazing people and yeah,
thank you because really I've been back a couple of weeks.
I think just so it's it's a nicereminder to to, yeah, talk about
it again. And funny story, I keep singing
Rocky Mountain High, John Denver.
(45:58):
I've been singing that ever since I've been so I feel.
Like I've got that again, you share that on a reel and I've it
was in my head while you're overthere for a little while as
well. So yeah, now it's back.
Thank. You.
Yeah, because Denver is just a stunning city to have, like have
it in. And next year it's in Orlando,
(46:20):
FL. So it's sort of, yeah, quite
different. And maybe because we live in
Southeast Queensland, I think. Oh, it's not another like
surface paradise, is it? You know, because it's.
Yeah, but you know, it's not, it's not that.
I'm sure it will. It will be stunning but you know
(46:41):
it's for OK what's next year going to going to hold got you
know imagine what's going to change in this 12 months until
yeah until absolutely so that that's.
And I loved it again, exactly. And I love that that's the
exciting part. It's not about the destination.
It's about the experience and the event rather than where it's
(47:04):
being held. So yeah.
Absolutely. Plastic, yeah.
I'm I am going to let you recap and then.
We'll have to you for letting merecap.
You're welcome. OK.
So there was just the three things that we discussed.
And I think, yeah, Kelly and I extracted them out a lot more.
(47:28):
Yeah than obviously we do in thenewsletter, which is what we're
here for. But the sort of the recap from
the WCQI so World Conference on Quality and Improvement that ASQ
American Society for Quality held in May, there's three sort
of categories that we pulled together and it was community,
(47:51):
culture and curiosity 3 CS. So community.
The, the big light bulb was thatit, it wasn't this hard.
You're not going to sell yourself for what what your
product is. It's, it's, it's got nothing to
do with that. It's about connection.
It's as simple as that. It's this, it starts with
(48:13):
forming these relationships. Absolutely.
I'm not denying that. Maybe next week, six months, a
year, six years, because you stay in contact with people that
you meet. And that's the same that goes
here day-to-day that, you know, they don't don't think of at
all. Jackie Stapleton, you know, for
(48:34):
anything that they need. But yeah, it was really about
community. And ASQ led the way with that
from day one. It was amazing.
And then the second one, as I said, was culture.
And of course, Kelly, you rightly pointed out that
building this community of connection, it just feeds into
culture. So it wasn't just this boring
(48:57):
checklisting stuff. It was people that, you know, we
had fun. You know, it was a great dinner
we all got together at we had photos with Star Wars characters
and we got funny stickers that sort of, you know, made, made us
laugh. The quality knows we're we're
owning it. OK.
So it builds that that culture. And if we build the culture
(49:19):
ourselves as quality professionals, well, that can
only help the people and the businesses that we work.
And then finally, it was that curiosity.
ASQ had No Fear about embracing new technology, so and they gave
it a go as well. The tools that they gave us
(49:41):
during the conference were AI oryou know, large language model
tools, and they gave it a go andwe all gave it a go as well.
So I was really excited to see that they embraced all of this
new tech stuff and and embedded it within the conference.
(50:03):
So yeah, I'm really keen to see what next year's looks like now
that you've reminded me. So obviously the bigger picture,
I put these three together, thiscommunity, curiosity and culture
as a output outcome, a way of, you know, categorizing the key
(50:24):
takeaways from the conference. But if you look at that
community, culture and curiosity, it all leads into
your quality leadership as well.So, you know, you can pick this
up and take it to your own business.
And it's community, culture, curiosity.
And Kelly and I talked about that with our virtual training
(50:45):
and how that community and culture were built just by the
energy that was brought to the room.
OK, So it's, yes, this this has been put together for the for
the conference, but the model can actually be picked up and
used for your quality leadershipas well.
(51:06):
So I'll stop talking because otherwise I'll keep going.
As always, before I hand it backto you, Kelly, I'd like to close
with anyone can follow the standard.
Why don't you be the one to leadthe standard?
Thank you, Jackie. That is a wrap for another
(51:26):
episode of Lead the Standard. Today we've explored what real
and the future of quality leadership looks like in
practice. And it's not just those systems
and the standards. It's all about that connection,
curiosity and culture. My personal highlights this week
may have seen me writing some down.
Jackie went four days without talking about ISO 9001.
That one blew my mind. She also she also only talked
(51:52):
about the food on one occasion, the smalls.
So that also shocked me a littlebit.
I'm guessing there was no cheese, so that's OK.
But the the connections that you've made, sorry, no cheese.
Yeah, not no, no. Look, look, feedback, food.
(52:15):
Yeah, food is a separate discussion.
The food at the conference was amazing.
But yeah, my highlight is that enthusiasm that you've brought
back. We knew that you going over
there with your your people was going to be one thing, but I
don't think we expected that level of enthusiasm around your
(52:38):
experience when you came back. And there have been some real
interesting insights and and reflections that you've shared
with us as well. So yeah, again, the, the key
take away here is sending the right person to build those
connections with that curiosity and embedding themselves in that
culture, as you said, does feed down the chain.
So thank you Jackie for taking us behind the scenes of the WCQI
(53:01):
and showing us what it is possible when a community of
like minded people come togetherwith a purpose.
Next week we're going to continue a bit of this mid year
momentum. We have an episode called Stop,
Start shift, continue Tongue Twister.
There the best questions to ask at your GG management review.
We'll be talking about why waiting until the end of the
(53:23):
year might actually be holding your systems back and what you
can do about it. So another one you won't want to
miss. Make sure you are following the
show and while you're there, please do subscribe, share this
episode and leave us a review. So until we do see you next
time, take care, stay curious, and keep leading the standard.
(53:43):
Bye for now. Bye.
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