In today’s dynamic manufacturing landscape, few leaders embody resilience and adaptability quite like Nashay Naeve, President of the Engineered Plastic Components Business Unit at Tsubaki-Nakashima. As one of the few women leading three global plants—located in Michigan, Italy, and the UK—Nashay oversees international operations from her home in Georgia. Her journey from mechanical engineer to global executive offers powerful lessons on leadership, change, and building high-performing teams in an ever-evolving world.

Reflecting on 2025, Nashay shared three key leadership lessons that guided her through a year marked by continued supply chain volatility, shifting workforce expectations, and the accelerating adoption of digital manufacturing technologies.

1. Adapt Strategy Locally

Global alignment doesn’t mean global uniformity. Nashay emphasizes the importance of empowering regional leaders to adapt strategies to their local realities. What works in Michigan may not work in Milan or Manchester. By granting autonomy and fostering trust, she’s found that teams become more engaged, more agile, and ultimately more successful.

In Lean terms, this reflects the principle of respect for people. Leaders must go to the “gemba”—the real place where value is created—to understand context and enable the best local solutions. A standardized system should never come at the cost of local wisdom.

2. Balance Breadth with Depth

As an engineer turned executive, Nashay credits her ability to lead effectively to having both breadth of perspective and depth of expertise. She encourages leaders, especially those in technical fields, to step outside their comfort zones—rotating through roles in operations, supply chain, or customer engagement to understand the full value stream.

This lesson aligns closely with Lean thinking. Continuous improvement requires seeing the entire system and understanding how each process affects the next. Developing “T-shaped” leaders—those with deep knowledge in one area and broad understanding across others—creates organizations capable of learning, adapting, and innovating at speed.

3. Reframe Risk as a Path to Learning

Perhaps Nashay’s most powerful insight is her approach to risk. She challenges her teams to “pilot and scale” rather than “plan and fear.” In a global manufacturing environment, perfection is unrealistic—experimentation is essential. Small, disciplined experiments create learning loops that strengthen organizational resilience and innovation.

This mindset echoes one of Lean’s most fundamental principles: kaizen, or continuous improvement through experimentation. Leaders who reframe risk as learning foster psychological safety, encourage innovation, and build cultures capable of thriving in uncertainty.

Leading with Purpose and Inclusion

Beyond the mechanics of operations and strategy, Nashay’s leadership philosophy centers on purpose and inclusion. She believes the future of industrial innovation won’t be defined solely by technology, but by leaders who combine clarity of vision with cultural intelligence and a commitment to developing people.

Her perspective serves as an inspiring reminder: great leaders don’t just

As the calendar winds down, many of us are eager to plan for the year ahead. But before racing into new resolutions, it’s worth taking time to pause and reflect. Reflection is more than looking back—it’s about uncovering meaning, celebrating progress, and creating the clarity we need to move forward with intention.

By definition, reflection is a deliberate act of stepping back to examine our beliefs, behaviors, and choices. It transforms everyday experiences into lessons. Without this pause, our days can blur together, and opportunities for learning slip away. With it, we build awareness, strengthen resilience, and cultivate growth.

Why Year-End Reflection Matters

Reflection isn’t just a “nice-to-do.” It is one of the most powerful tools for personal and professional development. Experiences alone don’t guarantee growth; it’s the act of questioning, analyzing, and learning from those experiences that makes them meaningful.

For leaders especially, reflection helps sharpen essential skills—decision-making, empathy, communication, and adaptability. In a world that prizes quick responses, it’s easy to forget that slowing down actually strengthens our ability to lead with purpose. Without time for reflection, we risk burning out, missing opportunities, or repeating the same mistakes.

A Framework for Reflection

You don’t need a complicated system to reflect effectively. Try this simple rhythm:

• Pause: Step back from the day-to-day rush.
• Observe: Look at the events, patterns, and emotions that stood out.
• Listen: Pay attention to the inner voice that points you toward your values.
• Decide: Identify adjustments or commitments to carry forward.

Think of it as a personal version of continuous improvement—pause, learn, and adapt.

Five Practices to Deepen Reflection

To make reflection stick, consistency matters. Here are five practices that can enhance your year-end review—and carry into the new year:

1. Practice radical honesty. Acknowledge both your wins and your struggles.
2. Spot your patterns. Identify habits that serve you—and those that hold you back.
3. Anchor in values. Clarify what truly matters so your goals align with your priorities.
4. Extend grace. Change takes time; treat mistakes as learning, not failure.
5. Capture your thoughts. Use a journal, notes app, or spreadsheet to document lessons and progress.

Questions Worth Asking Yourself

To focus your reflection, consider these prompts:

• What mattered most to me this year?
• Did my choices reflect my values?
• Where did I grow the most, and where do I still need work?
• How did I care for my health, energy, and relationships?
• What did I learn about myself this year?

Simple Ways to Build Reflection Into Your Life

Reflection doesn’t have to wait until December. Small, consistent practices are often more powerful than one long annual review. You might:

• Keep a weekly reflection journal.
• Spend time outdoors without distractions.
• Use a few minutes before bed to replay the day.
• Hold a weekly check-in with yourself—set goals Monday, review Friday.

These habits create space for incremental progress and give you regular opportunities to reset.

Moving Forward With Intention

Reflection isn’t about perfection or tallying every success. It’s about honoring the progress you made, learning from what didn’t work, and carrying those lessons forward. Even partial progress is meaningful. Every step counts.

As this year comes to a close, give yourself permission to pause. Brew a cup of coffee, open a journal, or simply sit quietly and ask: What did this year teach me? The clarity you gain may be the most valuable gift you carry into the new year.