Transformational Change for 2026.
- Joan Beltran-Franey
- Dec 23, 2025
- 2 min read
How will you create a different 2026? How will you know it's better and what new mindset or skillsets are you going to invest in now, with your team to get there?
Here’s what I’ve learned.
Real transformation — especially without downsizing — takes the long view. And most organizations struggle with it because the pace is relentless, and we mistake motion for progress.
I want to share a short story from my 15 years with The Permanente Medical Group, where I spent my last decade as a Vice President of Operations. In 2014, three senior leaders — Linsey Dicks, Grullon Kenneth, MD, and Sharon Krejci Mowat MD — did something rare.
They didn’t start with a new strategy deck or a values rollout.
They started by changing themselves — how they thought, how they learned, and how they showed up.
They took us into the field to experience Lean as a verb.
We visited airbag manufacturers to see what zero error really looks like. Children’s hospitals to understand visual management. Virginia Mason to watch leaders model improvement in real time. This helped us as leaders visualized what "good" looks like and shifts our mindset to believe it's possible with our organization.
Then came the skillsets — rapid improvement events, value-stream work, coaching inside real departments. We built a mission control room, created daily huddles in hundreds of departments and so much more.
And the most powerful moment? When these leaders said, “I don’t know yet — let’s learn together.” "What do you think we should do about this?"
Finally, one of the most powerful strategies was to bring in the Neuro Leadership Institute to teach the senior leaders to have a coaching and growth mindset. We became the instructors for our teams and the organization.
That experience changed me permanently.
And now, with my work with across industries across the world, I can see how rare it truly was.
So here’s my question for you:
When you want transformation — are you setting yourselves up to actually transform? Are you willing to shift your own beliefs, mindset and skills?
If that question stays with you, I’d love to continue the conversation. Thanks for listening.
Joan
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