# Steel Toes and Stilettos (and everything in between) with Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2022-06-28
- Length: 38m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Kathy Miller and Shannon Karels, co-founders of OPSisters and authors of 'Steel Toes and Stilettos,' discuss their transition from corporate manufacturing roles at Parker Hannifin and Pentair to building a lean transformation advisory business. They detail their lean transformation roadmap, emphasizing the importance of involving frontline workers and communicating a meaningful mission to reduce the 'grind' of operations. The guests share advice on co-founding partnerships, highlighting the need for complementary skills and deep trust, while advocating for leading with empathy and high-quality connections to foster employee engagement and success.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=0) Introduction: OPSisters and Steel Toes and Stilettos
- [3:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=218) The Book and Lean Transformation Roadmap
- [5:28](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=328) How Kathy and Shannon Met at Parker Hannifin
- [6:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=407) Starting OPSisters and Co-Founder Dynamics
- [13:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=828) Advice for Starting a Business with a Partner
- [18:17](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=1097) The Lean Transformation Roadmap Explained
- [21:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=1265) Soft Skills and Communicating Vision
- [26:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=1560) Making Manufacturing Less of a Grind
- [28:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=1717) Leading with Empathy and High-Quality Connections
- [31:37](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2022-06-28-steel-toes-and-stilettos-and-everything-in-between-with-kathy-miller-and-shannon#t=1897) Work-Life Balance and Trade-offs

## Topics

- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)
- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Validation & product-market fit](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/validation-and-product-market-fit)

## Most relevant to

companies scaling up

## Mentioned

- OPSisters (company)
- Steel Toes and Stilettos (product)
- Parker Hannifin (company)
- Pentair (company)
- Toyota (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [From Employee-Focused to Employee-Owned w/ Ashleigh Walters](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-03-21-from-employee-focused-to-employee-owned-w-ashleigh-walters) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [120: People & Mindset at a Hardware Startup](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2022-03-30-120-people-mindset-at-a-hardware-startup) (Product Startup)
- [Seventh Generation: Alan Newman and Jeffrey Hollender](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2021-01-25-seventh-generation-alan-newman-and-jeffrey-hollender) (How I Built This)
- [From Lifestyle to Growth Business: 5 Key Transformations w/ Jason Pace](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2023-06-13-from-lifestyle-to-growth-business-5-key-transformations-w-jason-pace) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Xero Shoes: Steven Sashen and Lena Phoenix](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2023-03-13-xero-shoes-steven-sashen-and-lena-phoenix) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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