Brave Thinking at Heartland Coca-Cola: A Shared Approach to Leadership and Learning
At its heart, Big Thinking is about how people learn, collaborate, and improve together. That belief came to life during a recent engagement with Heartland Coca-Cola.
We were invited to introduce Lean thinking using the Big Thinking Box. The goal was simple and meaningful. Create a shared learning experience that made Lean accessible, human, and engaging.
Introducing Lean in a Different Way
Lean can sometimes feel intimidating, especially when it is introduced through dense language or abstract tools. This session took a different approach.
Using the Big Thinking Box, the Heartland Coca-Cola HR team explored Lean concepts through storytelling, collaboration, and reflection. Instead of starting with terminology, the experience focused on mindset. Curiosity. Respect for people. Learning through doing.
The result was a conversation that felt approachable, energizing, and grounded in real work.
Why It Worked
The experience was intentionally designed to create space for participation and dialogue. Team members worked together, shared perspectives, and reflected on how Lean thinking connects to their roles and daily challenges.
What stood out most was the engagement. The session was well received because it did not feel like a lecture. It felt like an invitation. An invitation to think differently, ask better questions, and see improvement as something people own together.
Lean, Humanized
At Heartland Coca-Cola, Lean was introduced not as a rigid system, but as a way of thinking that supports people and culture.
Through the Big Thinking Box, the group explored ideas such as:
How curiosity drives improvement
Why reflection matters as much as action
How psychological safety supports better problem solving
What leadership looks like when learning is shared
These are Lean principles at their core. The Big Thinking Box simply gives teams a tangible and memorable way to experience them.
From the Classroom to the Workplace
Originally created for students, the Big Thinking Box translates naturally into adult learning environments. The same principles apply whether you are in a classroom or a corporate setting.
People want to feel heard.
Teams want to solve problems together.
Organizations thrive when learning is part of the culture.
The Heartland Coca-Cola session reinforced that Big Thinking works wherever people are willing to engage.
Looking Ahead
We are grateful to Jeff Oberman and the Heartland Coca-Cola HR team for their openness, energy, and willingness to try something different.
This experience marked an important moment in the Big Thinking journey. A clear example of how Lean, leadership, and learning can come together in a way that is practical, human, and impactful.
Because brave thinking is not about titles or roles.
It is about how we show up, learn together, and lead with intention.
