Kaizen Group profile
Kath Milo
Strategic Projects Partner
Turning complicated business problems into practical solutions.
About Me
I joined Kaizen Business Services in October 2021, bringing more than 30 years of operational, commercial and management experience across a wide range of businesses and industries.
My career hasn't followed one particular industry — and I see that as a strength. I've worked across family businesses, hospitality, retail, B2B sales, logistics, transport and now strategic business projects. It means I tend to look at a business from several different angles rather than approaching a problem with a predetermined solution.
I'm naturally curious, I ask a lot of questions and I'm particularly interested in understanding why something is done the way it is — especially when the answer is, "because we've always done it that way."
What I Do at Kaizen
As Strategic Projects Partner, I work with businesses to understand challenges, identify opportunities for improvement and turn ideas into practical, workable solutions.
My projects can involve process improvement, operational efficiency, compliance, business systems, management information and reporting, automation, and increasingly the practical application of AI and technology.
A big part of my role is taking something that feels overly complicated, breaking it down and working out how we can make it simpler, more efficient and more useful.
I'm not particularly interested in creating solutions that look impressive on paper but don't work in the real world. My operational background means I'm always thinking about the people who will actually have to use the process or system once we've finished.
The question I probably ask most often is: "How can we make this work better?"
Experience
Before joining Kaizen, I spent 12 years as Transport Manager at Brocklesby Ltd, where I was responsible for the operation of the company's own transport fleet and a team of 20 drivers.
Prior to Brocklesby, I worked as Logistics Manager at ANT Ltd, coordinating equipment and personnel to ensure projects had the right resources in the right place at the right time.
My earlier career included logistics and B2B retail sales development with Boys Stuff/Wow Stuff and 12 years with The Gadget Shop, managing the logistics operation supporting its retail stores and the just-in-time movement of stock.
I also spent around ten years working within my family's businesses, which included pubs, restaurants and video stores. Earlier roles exposed me to the office technology and advertising industries too — including a stint at Fountainhead Advertising, where I first met Kaizen's MD, Darren, many years before we eventually ended up working together again.
It's an eclectic career history, but there's a common thread running through it: people, operations, problem-solving and getting things where they need to be — whether that's products, people, information or an entire project.
Quick Fire
What do you enjoy most about your job?
Being handed a problem that doesn't have an obvious answer and working out how to solve it.
Your approach to instruction manuals?
Avoid wherever possible. I'd much rather work it out myself.
Outside Kaizen?
Cooking, travelling, keeping active and attempting to balance healthy eating with everything else life has to offer.
Unusual claim to fame?
I once auditioned for Bullseye. Sadly, no speedboat followed.
Random celebrity encounter?
I once sat next to Roy Walker on a flight and ended up playing blackjack with him. It's still unclear which of us had the better poker face.
Something colleagues quickly learn about you?
If somebody says, "There must be a better way of doing this," I'm probably going to want to find it.
Start a conversation
Ready to start a conversation?
Talk through the opportunity, challenge or next step.
Kaizen Group
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