Kata Mindset Learner Spotlight: Hanah Wilkins

Can you describe your current role and responsibilities?

Hanah: Our mission is to create access and opportunities for the College of LSA through fundraising and community engagement. My team supports this effort through the creative use of technology and data analytics. We also look for ways to improve our overall effectiveness and efficiency across the department using data-informed solutions.

Why did you decide to take the Kata Mindset course? 

Hanah: My colleague’s passion for continuous improvement led me to take the Kata Mindset course. This program provided an exciting opportunity for me to delve deeper into the Kata approach to improvement. I also wanted to explore ways to contribute to my team’s professional growth in this area. Three of my colleagues from my department took the course together.

What was the most important thing you learned?  

Hanah: One of the key takeaways was understanding how the Kata process works in practice. Learning to set a target condition, find obstacles, and use a step-by-step learning method helped me see how structured improvement can be. I found it helpful to move away from just fixing problems and focus on a clear, step-by-step learning process. This process builds on trying new things and thinking about what I have learned.

What was the most impactful aspect of the course for you? 

Hanah: My favorite part of the program was learning the importance of the human element. Process improvement often looks good on paper, backed by data and logical reasoning. However, in the end, success depends on people. 

If employees perceive an organization’s approach to improvement as threatening, they raise concerns like, “Am I safe?” What if I fail?’—it shuts down people’s ability to innovate. Conversely, when an environment encourages experimentation and emphasizes learning, teams operate in a reward state. It unlocks creativity and innovation.

Toni did a fantastic job bringing brain science to Kata. Her approach to Kata coaching highlights curiosity, vulnerability, and understanding people. She focuses on developing the individual team members, not just the process.

How was your experience participating in the tour of Zingerman’s Mail Order?

Hanah: I loved the Zingerman’s visit. I enjoyed immersing myself in different learning environments. Zingerman’s, an Ann Arbor icon, embraces a human-centric approach to business. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to look inside Zingerman’s organization and see how it operates. Their approach to bringing people to solutions is phenomenal. We were able to see the Kata approach for improvement in action. The tour was a fantastic addition to the program.

How have you implemented what you learned from the course in your organization? 

Hanah: My team and I are currently identifying a few opportunities within our team’s scope to practice together. We will take turns being the learner, coach, and second coach. We aim to create a shared learning mindset in our team. We will then show this approach to the rest of our organization.

Would you recommend this course to others?

Hanah: Absolutely! This course ties together so many wonderful approaches to leadership and learning. In the course, Toni focuses on the principles of brain science, scientific learning, positive organizational scholarship, and reflective listening. She packages these valuable lessons into thoughtful lectures and activities that consider everyone’s workplace experiences. 

If you are considering participating in the Kata Mindset course, I recommend bringing your vulnerability. This intimate learning experience immerses you in different learning environments. Toni does it with genuine curiosity and compassion. She uses a term coined, “delicious listening.” As a leader, exiting the teaching mindset and entering a coaching or learning mindset can be challenging. 

To get the most out of Toni’s course, be open to genuine self-reflection and feel comfortable saying, ’I don’t know… yet.’ This course ranks among the best professional development experiences my colleagues and I have taken.