Unprofessional

Hilary Corna
  • 5.0 (63)
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Hilary Corna, former Toyota executive and process expert, empowers service-based businesses to streamline operations and scale with clarity using the PDCA methodology. Unprofessional is a community-driven podcast for bold leaders seeking actionable strategies, fresh perspectives, and the tools to build streamlined, impactful businesses with purpose.  

  1. FEB 5

    [SOLO] How to Avoid Becoming a “Wait and See” Culture

    In this solo episode, Hilary Corna breaks down what a “wait and see” culture really looks like inside growing organizations—especially during uncertainty—and why it quietly becomes one of the most expensive ways to run a business. She explains the three root causes that create reactive teams (fear of rocking the boat, unclear ownership, and overload), the hidden costs of waiting, and the simple cultural habits that help teams shift from reacting to leading—without needing a massive transformation. TIMESTAMPS [00:50] What a “wait and see” culture sounds like in real life [01:32] Defining the pattern: reacting instead of leading [02:58] Why companies become “wait and see” (3 root causes) [03:06] Root cause #1–2: fear of discomfort + unclear ownership [03:54] Root cause #3: overload (when improvement feels like “extra work”) [04:37] Reframing improvement: it’s part of the job, not “on top” of the job [06:15] The true cost of waiting (trust, burnout, chaos) [07:11] How to avoid it: practical cultural habits that create momentum [07:26] Habit #1: fix things while they’re still small [07:56] Habit #2: build a cadence for action (motion beats intention) [08:37] Habit #3: reward ownership, not perfection [09:22] The one-question challenge to start changing the culture today [09:45] The hidden danger: it teaches people to stop caring

    11 min

  2. JAN 27

    [SOLO] The One Question Every Leader Should Ask Their Team This Quarter

    Kicking off 2026 and celebrating year five of the show, Hilary Corna shares a simple but powerful leadership practice to spark meaningful process improvement: one question every leader should ask their team—“What feels harder than it should right now?” Hilary explains how this question uncovers real constraints, invites honest feedback, and shifts continuous improvement from something the business “does to people” into something that serves people first (employees and customers). Drawing from Toyota/Kaizen principles, she breaks down why people-first improvement drives loyalty and long-term results—and how leaders can avoid common traps like rushing to “fix” everything immediately. You’ll walk away with a practical way to listen better, reduce friction, and build a healthier improvement culture. Visit www.HilaryCorna.com/learning-center for free tools and resources Follow @HilaryCorna on social TIMESTAMPS [01:35] Today’s focus: the simplest way to shift how people think about process [02:17] The key question: “What feels harder than it should right now?” (and why it works) [02:44] Process improvement “in the West” vs. Toyota: people-first improvement (not business-first) [03:57] Why optimizing for efficiency alone can harm customers or employees [05:00] What the question signals to your team: “You matter—tell me the real stuff” [05:33] How leaders should handle answers: resist the reflex to instantly fix/ [06:18] Active listening: most people want to be heard more than “solved” [07:18] Don’t overcommit: why instant action can distract from true priorities [08:25] The simplest response script: thank them, acknowledge, and commit only to consideration

    9 min

  3. 12/13/2025

    [SOLO] How to Work With Me in 2026

    Build an ops engine that actually holds up in 2026. In this short holiday solo, Hilary shares three ways to work together in 2026—starting with The Ops Edge Academy (a 12-week, hands-on PDCA certification rooted in Toyota’s approach), plus the Flow State Workshop to master process mapping, 1:1 training for an Ops leader on your team, and her full engagement retainer for end-to-end process improvement. You’ll hear why mapping the real process first reduces variability (and chaos), how to cut waste before adding “more oversight,” and which option fits your current growth stage. Join the Ops Edge Academy waitlist: https://hilarycorna.com/first-ops-edge-academy/  Hilary Corna Visit the Learning Center for free tools + resources: https://hilarycorna.com/learning-center/  Hilary Corna Email: team@hilarycorna.com  Hilary Corna Follow @HilaryCorna on social.  Hilary Corna TIMESTAMPS [00:15] Introducing The Ops Edge Academy [02:00] How to Work Together in 2026 [08:06] The 3 Growth Scenarios: When Your Ops Need to Level Up [10:05] Booking Late 2026/2027 + Next Steps [12:09] Free Guides: AI Starter Projects + 8 Wastes Audit

    13 min

  4. 12/03/2025

    [SOLO] 2026, Let’s Go! Everything You Need to Know Going into the New Year

    In this end-of-year solo episode, Hilary Corna looks ahead to 2026 and explains why it will be a “convergence year” where AI goes mainstream and operations become a true competitive advantage. She walks through three core questions every leader should ask about their operations before Q1, shows how lack of clarity (“who does what, when, and why”) caps growth, and reframes AI as a solution to real bottlenecks—not a shiny object to chase. Get intentional about the small shifts now so they can compound over 2026. TIMESTAMPS [01:28] Last episode of the year & why 2026 is your year for operations [02:17] The #1 myth holding leaders back from using AI [03:20] 2026 as the convergence year for AI, operations, and scale [04:01] Three key questions to diagnose bottlenecks and opportunities [05:57] Using AI as the solution to real operational problems [07:28] Behind the scenes: saving 10 hours a week in content production [08:15] The “quiet stretch” before Q1 and productizing your operation [09:20] Mindset shift: from perfection to intentional, clear operations [09:57] How to get support: masterclass, community, and resources [10:29] Happy 2026 & holiday break sign-off Enrolling now for The Ops Edge Academy Q1 2026 cohort and PDCA Certification. Reach out to Team@HilaryCorna.com

    11 min

  5. 11/18/2025

    [SOLO] How to Boost Revenue Without Adding More Leads

    In this solo episode, Hilary Corna shares how to boost revenue without adding more leads by tightening the quality of your sales process. She breaks down a simple three-stage pre-sales framework—prospecting, quoting, and closing—and shows where businesses commonly leak money through poor lead fit, inconsistent follow-up, and non-standard proposals or contracts. With practical examples, Hilary explains how to better qualify leads, standardize responses and documents, and create a clear onboarding roadmap so you convert more of the opportunities you already have. TIMESTAMPS [01:28] Why you don’t need more leads to grow revenue [02:55] Where your sales process actually loses money [04:12] Saying no to non-ideal clients & staying in your lane [07:20] The three core stages of a pre-sales operation [09:08] Stage 1 – Prospecting: defining lead sources & tracking quality [16:08] Stage 2 – Quoting & proposals: standardizing and using AI [22:11] Stage 3 – Closing: contracts, agreements, and low-hanging fixes [27:18] Designing the onboarding roadmap & “what happens next” tool [31:49] Wrap-up: improving quality to increase revenue from existing leads Enrolling now for The Ops Edge Academy and PDCA Certification. Reach out to Team@HilaryCorna.com to schedule a call. Download our brand new free guide to (legit) boosting revenue without adding leads at www.hilarycorna.com/Learning-Center

    33 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    Wrap Up of Your Favorite Episodes of 2025

    Bold leaders don't guess, they implement. In this special episode, Hilary Corna brings together the most powerful moments of 2025, where founders and experts revealed the specific processes they used to scale with clarity. Discover how they applied principles like PDCA to simplify operations, make data-driven decisions, and build impactful businesses without burning out. Enrolling now for The Ops Edge Academy and PDCA Certification. Reach out to Team@HilaryCorna.com to schedule a call.

    19 min

  7. 10/29/2025

    [SOLO] How to Use Our Training Template

    Ready to launch your new processes with consistency and clarity? In this episode, Hilary introduces a powerful tool she uses with all her clients—a training template designed to simplify go live preparations. Download the template at: https://rebrand.ly/training-template or visit www.HilaryCorna.com/Learning-center This template ensures that every training session is structured, standardized, and impactful, so no one is left behind in understanding the process. Whether it’s new automation, onboarding deck, agenda or anything, this episode breaks down how to train your team effectively, ensuring everyone hears the same message, grounded in the context of your overarching company processes. Let’s talk about building the foundation for continuous improvement and how to sustain it long after the go live. TIMESTAMPS: [01:15]  The importance of standardizing training for successful go live preparation [03:00]  What to include in a go live training template [06:00]  Explaining the PCA process and its role in shaping training content [09:45]  A breakdown of how to close the training effectively [13:00]  Why standardizing the opening and closing is crucial for success [15:00] The role of the training facilitator and their use of the template [18:00]  Wrapping up with actionable steps and next steps for listeners

    21 min

  8. 10/21/2025

    [SOLO] If AWS Can Go Down, So Can You

    Register for our upcoming free masterclass on process mapping and identifying waste at www.HilaryCorna.com. This podcast episode highlights how world-class organizations use breakdowns as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. It explains how the PDCA (Plan-Do-Check-Act) cycle transforms mistakes into structured learning that compounds over time, building operational resilience. As leaders look ahead to 2026, the episode challenges them to stop “winging it” and start systematizing their processes to prevent crises before they happen. By auditing key systems, documenting knowledge, and identifying single points of failure, companies can move from reactive to proactive. The episode closes with a reminder that even giants like Amazon experience outages—but with the right mindset and processes, failures become springboards for stronger, smarter organizations

    12 min
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About

Hilary Corna, former Toyota executive and process expert, empowers service-based businesses to streamline operations and scale with clarity using the PDCA methodology. Unprofessional is a community-driven podcast for bold leaders seeking actionable strategies, fresh perspectives, and the tools to build streamlined, impactful businesses with purpose.  

Information

  • Creator
    Hilary Corna
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    148
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Unprofessional
  • Show Website
    Unprofessional