In times of AI, growing means learning together
In a country historically marked by low levels of productivity, structural dysfunctions and endemic waste, insisting on incremental logic is no longer enough. The real challenge for Brazilian leaders and organizations is no longer to maintain control amid complexity, but to transform, deeply and urgently, the way they manage, operate and learn.
In this scenario, in which the potential of artificial intelligence is so widely discussed, it is worth asking another equally important question. How can we develop and make better use of natural intelligence, that of human beings? Unlike the algorithms and data that feed AI, human intelligence is formed by unique experiences, built up over time. It is the experiences we absorb and share that shape the way we think, decide and act. And this applies to companies as well.
More than isolated technologies or methods, what transforms a company is the ability to learn internally and from others. Especially when these exchanges involve different realities, distinct problems and diverse approaches. It is this kind of collective learning that strengthens organizational intelligence and prepares people to deal with the most urgent and complex challenges.
It is in this spirit that Lean Summit 2025, promoted by Lean Institute Brasil, will take place on August 26 and 27 at Distrito Anhembi, in São Paulo (SP). The event is recognized as the world’s largest in-person gathering for companies that are adopting the lean system. Held since 1998, it brings together, every two years, leaders of large organizations to share, in a practical and in-depth way, how they are transforming their business realities.
In this 15th edition, the event is expected to welcome some two thousand people from more than 500 organizations. There will be more than 120 executives from over 100 large companies such as Globo, Toyota, Mercado Livre, Vale, Heineken, Bayer, Magalu, Einstein, Bradesco, Cacau Show, Itaú, Boticário and many others. Among the participants will be CEOs, presidents, vice presidents, directors and managers who will come to reinforce why the lean system is a strategic and urgent response to the moment we are living in.
A gathering like this is neither a celebration nor a showcase of isolated good practices. It is an environment of transformation. A space to accelerate results and reduce the effort needed to implement relevant changes. Participants will have access to real, complete and mature experiences that reveal valuable lessons not only through successes, but also through the mistakes and attempts that are part of any genuine change.
This value lies in the exchange between different realities. The impact does not come from ready-made speeches, but from comparing contexts. A manufacturer that recognizes itself in the dilemmas of a hospital. A bank that learns from the shop floor. A technology company that draws inspiration from the management of a large retail chain. It is from these unlikely connections that truly transformative ideas are born.
Management, in this context, ceases to be a set of techniques and becomes a structuring competence. It requires method, consistency, the courage to revisit decisions and the willingness to change the way we manage. This calls for better-prepared leaders and truly committed teams. People capable of relating outside the traditional logic of “command and control”, with a focus on improvement and on developing human capabilities.
It is about believing in the intelligence that is built in everyday relationships, where innovation and technology are catalysts, but not immediate solutions. This organizational intelligence is born from active listening, disciplined experimentation and a commitment to improvement. That is how real value is generated for businesses, for people and for the country’s development, with lasting and transformative results.
This is not an agenda for the future. It is an urgency of the present. Brazil needs more productive, efficient and stable companies. And the lean system offers a concrete answer to this. When properly applied, it makes it possible to do more with less, with higher quality, less waste and more engagement. The effects go beyond financial results. They can directly impact society, with better jobs, more affordable products, more reliable services and a greater ability to compete globally.
Lean Summit 2025 is a collective learning experience. A living space for real exchanges. A concrete push for those who want to transform the way of thinking, acting and evolving within organizations. We hope to see you there!
