In 2009, Lean Change began with a simple realization: organizational change isn't a process to follow, but something to continuously navigate and adapt to.
Since then, Lean Change has grown into a global community of practitioners, challenging conventional approaches to change management and helping thousands of people take a more feedback-driven, adaptive approach to change.
Today, we're announcing the next chapter.
IdeaLeap has acquired Lean Change.
After seventeen years building Lean Change, founder Jason Little has decided to step back from running it day to day and pass stewardship to IdeaLeap founder Justin Balaski.
In one sense, this has been years in the making. Justin has been part of Lean Change for years, first as a practitioner, then as a facilitator, and later through IdeaLeap, where he has continued developing new tools and ideas for working with organizational change and complexity.
For Jason, finding the right home for Lean Change mattered more than anything.
"Over the years I've had offers for the brand, but none of them felt right. I wanted to pass Lean Change on the right way, to someone who would honour what we've built while bringing new life to it. Justin's passion for change and his drive made this an easy choice."
— Jason Little, Founder, Lean Change
Lean Change will remain Lean Change
This isn't about absorbing the brand or replacing what has made it work.
Lean Change continues as its own brand, with its global facilitator network, practitioner community, training programs, tools, and distinct approach to organizational change.
What this means for you: nothing changes
If you're a Lean Change facilitator, certification holder, student, or community member, everything continues as it is today:
- Your certifications remain valid and recognized.
- Training programs, workshops, and materials continue as scheduled.
- The facilitator network and practitioner community stay in place.
- Existing tools, resources, and leanchange.org continue as they are.
- Your current contacts and agreements are unchanged.
The opportunity is to build on that foundation. Over the coming months, we'll keep strengthening the Lean Change approach, develop new tools and learning experiences, support and grow the facilitator community, and introduce Lean Change to a new generation of change practitioners and leaders.
Jason will stay closely involved throughout the handover, supporting the platform, developing tools, and helping carry forward the knowledge and relationships built over the past seventeen years.
"When Jason told me he was ready to step back, my first thought was what would happen to Lean Change. I've built much of my career and my company on Jason's work, and what makes Lean Change special is worth protecting.
But the bigger reason I took this on is what's ahead. There is more to build on Lean Change than there has ever been. My goal is to preserve what Jason created while working with the community to explore what Lean Change can become next."
— Justin Balaski, Founder, IdeaLeap
Looking ahead
Organizations haven't become easier to change. If anything, the need for approaches that embrace uncertainty, feedback, experimentation, participation, and adaptation has only grown.
That's the opportunity ahead. We believe Lean Change has an important role to play in shaping what change management becomes next, and we're looking forward to building that future together.
Jason Little & Justin Balaski Lean Change + IdeaLeap
Questions? Email justin.balaski@idealeap.com.
Start the conversation