About Us
Cultivate Potential
To spark curiosity and inspire innovation by bringing the science of system thinking to everyone.
Inspire Change
We believe that any problem can be solved by reimagining what is possible using the science of system thinking, grounded by a deep respect for humanity.
Foster Trust
We have a deeply rooted respect for humanity
We hold ourselves accountable and conduct our work with integrity
We welcome everyone to learn and embrace the process together
We trust the process of system thinking and do not take shortcuts
We believe these ideas should be accessible to all who seek them
Navigating Complexity with Clarity
Inspired by nature’s intrinsic wisdom, we use system thinking to simplify complexity, enhancing agility, efficiency, and innovation. Our methodology mirrors natural systems—self-organizing, self-diagnosing, and self-adjusting—empowering organizations to adapt and excel in dynamic environments.
Multigenerational Experience and Expertise
Vickie Pisowicz, MBA, MPP
[ FOUNDER & PARTNER ]
Vickie has over 30 years of experience and a passion for supporting a wide range of for-profit and nonprofit organizations in the pursuit of organizational excellence and system thinking. She started her career in manufacturing at Alcoa, considered one of the safest companies in the world, where she supported the worldwide adoption of the principles of the Toyota Production System (TPS) as the Alcoa Business System. Here she had the unique opportunity to learn the principles of TPS directly from Toyota sensei while participating in the development of Harvard Business School’s Kent Bowen and Steve Spear’s seminal work Decoding the DNA of the Toyota Production System. At the request of Paul O’Neill, then retiring Alcoa CEO, she transitioned to applying these same principles to the healthcare industry first at the Pittsburgh Regional Health Care Initiative and then at Value Capture, LLC. Additionally, she co-founded True North Institute, a consulting firm that supported various Pittsburgh businesses that included a local grocery chain, a women’s center and shelter, a substance abuse clinic, and a school district. And while the primary caregiver of her three 90-year grandparents, she opened and operated a bakery business for over 10 years. Vickie holds a Bachelor of Science in Engineering – Mechanical and Aerospace from Princeton University, a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School, and a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Ramy Khalil, MD
[ CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER ]
Dr. Ramy Khalil is a board-certified physician of internal medicine and clinical informaticist with 10+ years of experience in both outpatient and inpatient care settings. He started his career at a community primary care practice at St. Clair Health in the Pittsburgh suburbs. There he developed a professional interest in clinical informatics, leading several organizational healthcare IT initiatives and serving as a Medical Informatics Officer for 3M Healthcare. He serves as the Medical Director of Clinical Informatics for PeopleOne Health, a national direct primary care (DPC) organization. Dr Khalil obtained his undergraduate degree in chemical biomolecular engineering at the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree at the George Washington University. He went on to complete an internal medicine residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Khalil recently relocated from the United States to the United Arab Emirates where he lives with his wife, two children, and standard poodle. He aspires to improve access to high-quality primary care programs in the Middle East and North Africa and transform the way healthcare leadership approaches problem-solving through the science of systems thinking.
Andra Finnegan, MHA
[ CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER ]
Andra has a diverse range of health care experience serving in leadership roles across various settings including, acute care, provider networks, ambulatory care, and clinical research. Her areas of expertise include health care operations, with a focus on change management and performance improvement. Andra is skilled in building trusted relationships with key stakeholders to effectively articulate and achieve organizational goals and is passionate about applying continuous improvement methodologies to creatively solve complex problems. Andra was the Director of Clinical Trials Administration for the Multidisciplinary Acute Care Research Organization at the University of Pittsburgh. She also served as a Physician Practice Manager at St. Clair Health overseeing six different physician office locations. Andra graduated with honors from the Pennsylvania State University with her Master of Health Administration and Bachelor of Science in Health Policy Administration, with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies. Andra resides in the Pittsburgh suburbs with her husband, daughter, and black lab mix.
Tania Lyon, PhD
[ CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER ]
Tania brings 20 plus years of experience in organizational transformation, performance improvement, leadership development, and education to the table. She is a student of the Toyota Production System and systems thinking and in the last decade has helped St. Clair Health win top national awards in quality and safety, becoming a member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network along the way. Tania holds adjunct positions in the School of Medicine and the School of Health and Rehab Sciences at the University of Pittsburgh and thrives on teaching. Her expertise lies primarily in healthcare, but she has also consulted in the fields of manufacturing, laboratories, retail, construction, human services, technology, and senior care. Tania is deeply invested in lean healthcare applications for low resource settings, working pro bono for hospitals in Malawi and Haiti and a nonprofit in the U.S. She earned her PhD in Sociology from Princeton University and her BA in Peace and Conflict Studies from U.C. Berkeley. She learned about chaotic systems best raising two complex daughters with her humanities professor husband.
David Lassman, MBA
[ CO-FOUNDER & PARTNER ]
In 2013, David joined the faculty of Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy as a Distinguished Service Professor, teaching courses in organizational behavior, leadership and strategy in both master’s degree and executive education programs. Prior to teaching, David spent over 25 years in operations and engineering management, working in a range of industries including automotive, computer test equipment, high-end custom furniture, food processing, steel fabrication, glass giftware/collectibles, electric drive transmissions and promotional products. He began his career as an industrial engineer and production supervisor with General Motors in an engine assembly plant. After attending business school, he worked for Teradyne in their Replacement Parts and Services Division and then for several small and medium-sized manufacturing companies, leading those organizations to achieve dramatic improvements in operating results. From 2000 to 2003, he was Vice President of Engineering and Operations for Axicon Technologies, a Pittsburgh-based company that designed, developed and manufactured transmissions for the Segway HT. From 2003 through 2007, David ran his own 'operations and organization' consulting practice, focusing on the following areas: business process re-engineering, enterprise-wide quality initiatives, performance measurement systems, change management and organizational effectiveness. From 2008 through 2013, he was Vice President of Operations for Leed's, a leader in the corporate promotional products industry. David holds a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from Princeton University and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.