We present a systematic formalism for the derivation of the kernel of the BFKL equation from that of the GLAP equation and conversely to any given order, with full inclusion of the running of the coupling. The running coupling is treated as an operator, reducing the inclusion of running coupling effects and their factorization to a purely algebraic problem. We show how the GLAP anomalous dimensions which resum large logs of can be derived from the running-coupling BFKL kernel order by order, thereby obtaining a constructive all-order proof of small x factorization. We check this result by explicitly calculating the running coupling contributions to GLAP anomalous dimensions up to next-to-next-to leading order. We finally derive an explicit expression for BFKL kernels which resum large logs of Q² up to next-to-leading order from the corresponding GLAP kernels, thus making possible a consistent collinear improvement of the BFKL equation up to the same order.