Why Great CI Programs Don't Get Funded (and What to Do About It)
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Overview
Many continuous improvement programs generate real value, but that value never translates into the confidence executives need to keep funding it. At KaiNexus, we've learned that leadership isn't evaluating your program, they're evaluating whether they can trust the impact, whether it's focused on the right priorities, and whether it's worth further investment. This session unpacks why so many CI programs stall despite doing good work, and introduces a practical shift from talking about ideas, kaizen, and engagement to talking about cost, risk, and outcomes, the language executives actually act on. Attendees will see a real example of translating improvement work into measurable financial impact and leave with a concrete next step for reframing their own funding conversation.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize why CI value often fails to translate into executive confidence and funding
2. Reframe improvement work using executive language: cost, risk, and outcomes rather than ideas and engagement
3. Apply a simple Why-How-What framework to position CI as a business outcome engine, not just a program
4. Learn a practical approach to quantifying and communicating improvement impact in financial terms
5. Leave with a concrete next step for reframing your own funding conversation
Jeff Roussel serves as the chief revenue officer at KaiNexus, where he oversees sales, marketing and customer experience. He is committed to building a high-performance team that clearly demonstrates the business value and strategic fit of the KaiNexus solution. With more than 20 years of experience in sales and leadership, Roussel brings a wealth of expertise and strategic insight to the company’s expansion and market positioning.
Before joining KaiNexus, Roussel was an early enterprise director at Spredfast, where he played a pivotal role in shaping customer-centric social media experiences. His background also includes roles as a sales engineer and account executive at Invodo and Postini, the latter of which was acquired by Google in 2007, showcasing his adaptability and depth in the tech industry.
He holds an MBA from St. Edward’s University and a bachelor of science from Louisiana State University.
