Excellence Unlocked

Ishan Galapathy
  • 5.0 (1)
  • MANAGEMENT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

If you're immersed in the world of manufacturing or supply chain management, you've likely encountered the elusive concept of excellence. But what does it truly mean? Is it a destination or a journey? And how do we navigate the path to unlock excellence within ourselves and our organisations? With more than 25 years’ experience in manufacturing across the Asia Pacific region, Ishan Galapathy delves into the heart of excellence, shifting the focus from tools and technology to the true drivers of success: our people. Ishan shares insights and techniques honed from years of working with teams and leaders, helping them unleash their hidden potential and achieve remarkable results. Whether it's uncovering hidden capacity or fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he explores practical strategies for unlocking excellence in your workplace. https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

  1. MAR 10

    Ep92 Transformation succeeds or fails in the middle

    Transformation sounds exciting in the boardroom – new strategy, sharper governance, higher standards, tighter cadence – but step out of the PowerPoint deck and into the engine room, and you’ll find a different story.  Middle managers sit at the intersection of strategy and execution, reporting upward, translating vision, and stabilising teams amid rising scrutiny. However, it’s not about whether your transformation plan is strong. It’s whether you have equipped the people in the middle to stand steady when the heat rises. Ishan unpacks what they’re really experiencing… and how to help them lead through it.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    22 min

  2. MAR 3

    Ep91 From Complexity to Clarity: Leading High-Performance Supply Chains – Cedric Lemetter

    Leadership in supply chain is ultimately about creating agility, sustaining improvement, and making courageous decisions that protect long-term performance – and personal priorities. Ishan is joined by Cedric Lemetta, former Chief Operating Officer of L’Oréal Australia & New Zealand, to explore what operational excellence looks like at scale.  Cedric shares the realities of managing a highly complex, import-led supply chain across Australia and New Zealand, including multi-site distribution, channel diversity, and long lead times. Drawing on senior roles with Unilever and Johnson & Johnson, he discusses technology adoption, change management, and the people dynamics that determine whether transformation succeeds. The conversation also covers work-life boundaries, Australia’s unique logistics challenges, and practical leadership lessons for emerging and experienced supply chain professionals.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    44 min

  3. FEB 24

    Ep90 Growth fails not because of ambition — but because of capacity

    Growth is exciting, but exhausting. We celebrate the rising revenue, the expanding customer base, the new opportunities opening up. But behind the scenes, growth also stretches capacity, tests systems, and drains energy. It exposes the cracks. It multiplies complexity. And if we’re not careful, it can strain the very engine that got us here.  Over the past few weeks, Ishan has been reflecting on what really happens during transition phases — when momentum is high but structures are still catching up. His younger son recently started university. New environment, new freedom, new expectations. Whether you’re stepping onto a campus or scaling a business, similar rules of growth apply.  Growth isn’t just about doing more. It’s about building the capability to handle more.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    15 min

  4. FEB 17

    Ep89 When the base is solid, everything rises

    In Spain, there is a centuries-old tradition in which teams build towering human pyramids – sometimes up to ten levels high – through extraordinary trust, coordination, and collective discipline. It’s a powerful analogy for business excellence. No one climbs unless the base is solid. No one moves without rhythm. And no one improvises at level nine.  Yet in business, we often launch bold strategies with vague ambition and expect people to “figure it out.” Ishan shares a simple three-part formula to build a vision that actually sticks: a sharp, emotional tagline, a compelling image that energises, and zero wiggle room across the organisation.  Because excellence isn’t built with enthusiasm alone. It’s built with clarity. Stabilise the base, and only then can your tower truly rise.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    12 min

  5. FEB 10

    Ep88 Leadership excellence: conversations, connection & culture – Tim Morgan

    Great leaders don’t just deliver results. They leave fingerprints on the people they lift along the way. And today’s guest has done exactly that across nearly three decades inside one of Australia’s most iconic companies. From safety coordinator to Chief Supply Chain Officer at Arnott’s, Tim Morgan’s career is a masterclass in growing by serving others, connecting deeply, and leading with intent.  He’s guided teams through turnarounds, transformations, and global assignments, all while shaping some of the most loved brands in our pantry – Tim Tam, Shapes, Salada and more. Tim joins Ishan to unpack the leadership habits, human moments and hard-won lessons behind a remarkable 28-year journey.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min

  6. FEB 3

    Ep87 Listen better, performance follows

    A strange noise in a car that vanishes at the mechanic becomes the spark for a powerful business lesson: listening matters. Ishan explores what we can learn from mechanics who hear problems before they break, pilots who inspect aircraft for subtle warning signs, and leaders who tune into their organisations.  There are three critical ways to listen to a business: to your assets, your people, and your operating rhythm. From daily equipment checks and frontline feedback to weekly, monthly, and quarterly reviews, listening creates early warnings instead of costly failures.  Drawing on Oscar Trimboli’s work and the Chinese character Ting, we learn that listening is a full-spectrum skill – rooted in respect, presence, observation, focus, and empathy. Listen better, and performance follows.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    17 min

  7. JAN 27

    Ep86 Summer Series: Capability before complexity – Thinking skills outperform tools

    One of the biggest myths in modern operations is that performance problems can be fixed with better tools. Dashboards, automation and system upgrades promise clarity, but often amplify the very capability gaps holding organisations back.  Drawing on insights from guests on previous episodes of Excellence Unlocked, Ishan builds on the summer series to explore why thinking capability must come before complexity.  You’ll hear from three highly experienced operational excellence leaders. Manu Liyanarachchi, former ANZ Operational Excellence Lead at Coca-Cola, who explains why strong fundamentals and analogue thinking matter more than digital dashboards. Dean Patton, a veteran of Pfizer, Baxter and now Goodman Fielder, challenges the idea that tools and certificates equal capability. Alodia Bourke, a senior supply chain leader with experience across FMCG in Australia and New Zealand, highlights why teams mature at different speeds and why leaders must respect that journey.  Tools are multipliers. When thinking is strong, they accelerate performance. When it isn’t, they create noise. The real breakthrough always starts with people, not technology.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    16 min

  8. JAN 20

    Ep85 Summer Series: Disruption, Priorities, and Unexpected Clarity

    After five intense weeks in Sri Lanka filled with family, friends, and nonstop catch-ups, Ishan is recording this episode in Thailand – off schedule and completely off script! This part of the journey was meant to slow things down. Instead, the last three days turned into a masterclass in disruption. You know the feeling — when you need a holiday to recover from the holiday. Add packed expectations, tight timelines, and food poisoning that took turns sidelining family members. Definitely not the plan.  But this is where clarity appears. When carefully laid plans unravel, priorities sharpen. And what unfolded over these few days reveals two practical lessons about focus, adaptability, and what it really takes to unlock excellence in business.  For a copy of Ishan’s book, Unlock, please visit: https://ishangalapathy.com/books/  More About Ishan Galapathy and to access his ‘Chaos to Excellence’ White Paper: https://ishangalapathy.com/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    6 min
See All (93)

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

About

If you're immersed in the world of manufacturing or supply chain management, you've likely encountered the elusive concept of excellence. But what does it truly mean? Is it a destination or a journey? And how do we navigate the path to unlock excellence within ourselves and our organisations? With more than 25 years’ experience in manufacturing across the Asia Pacific region, Ishan Galapathy delves into the heart of excellence, shifting the focus from tools and technology to the true drivers of success: our people. Ishan shares insights and techniques honed from years of working with teams and leaders, helping them unleash their hidden potential and achieve remarkable results. Whether it's uncovering hidden capacity or fostering a culture of continuous improvement, he explores practical strategies for unlocking excellence in your workplace. https://ishangalapathy.com/ 

Information

  • Creator
    Ishan Galapathy
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    93
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Show Website
    Excellence Unlocked