Lori Laken
Lori L. is a seasoned Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Continuous Improvement consultant with over 20 years of experience driving operational excellence across diverse industries. Throughout her career, she has led enterprise-wide Lean initiatives, delivered multi-million-dollar savings, and implemented strategic process improvements at companies including Pacific Gas & Electric, Kimberly-Clark, Cargill. Recognized as a “Lean Expert,” Lori specializes in coaching teams at all levels, embedding Lean and Six Sigma principles into organizational culture, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to achieve measurable results. A strong advocate for people development, Lori emphasizes training and mentoring, guiding professionals through Yellow, Green, and Black Belt certification while embedding continuous improvement into career growth. She combines strategic vision with hands-on operational expertise, helping organizations optimize end-to-end processes, streamline workflows, and break down silos. Known for her tenacity, results-oriented approach, and clear communication style, Lori empowers teams to think critically, solve problems proactively, and sustain improvements long after initial implementations. Lori earned her Bachelor’s degree with distinction in Business Administration, Management, and Operations from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan and has completed graduate coursework in change management and strategy. Beyond her corporate work, she has volunteered on nonprofit boards supporting the autism community and continues to pursue professional growth and networking opportunities. Her career reflects a dedication not only to operational performance but also to creating cultures where people feel valued, supported, and equipped to succeed.
• OKR Certification: Leadership and Goal Setting
• Certified Scrum Product Owner®
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
• Lean Black Belt Certificate
• University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business- Bachelor's
• University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh
• UNLV Lee Business School- Bachelor's
• University of Nevada, Reno
• UNLV Lee Business School
• Worldwide Who’s Who
• National Association of Professional Women
• Committee Concerned with World Hunger
• Economic Society
• Political Science Organization
• De La Vega Foundation
• Pacific Gas and Electric Company
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to focusing on continuous improvement, digging into root causes, and breaking down silos, all while prioritizing making leadership and teams successful rather than seeking personal credit. Mentorship from Jane Kelly at Kimberly-Clark also played a key role, guiding me in problem-solving and fostering my commitment to process improvement and teaching others. Continuous education and Lean Six Sigma training have reinforced this approach throughout my career.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is to make your boss successful, which in turn advances the team and organization, while also committing to continuous education and staying current. I’ve learned to embrace authority to improve processes, challenge the status quo, and drive meaningful change.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this field is to fully pursue it: learn Lean and continuous improvement tools, insist on the authority to improve processes, and never settle for the status quo, because process improvement is key to organizational competitiveness.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenge in my field is keeping pace with rapid technological change and AI, which can leave organizations behind if they settle for the status quo. The greatest opportunity lies in leading cross-functional, end-to-end process redesigns and applying Lean principles across industries to deliver measurable, lasting improvements.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are continuous learning, teamwork, and practical problem-solving, including digging to root causes, while supporting leaders and teams so they can achieve success. I prioritize helping others succeed as a way to drive meaningful results both at work and in life.