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In this episode, we introduce a new approach to operational excellence, one built for the realities of today’s biopharma landscape.

As the industry faces tighter budgets and widespread restructuring, the pressure to “do more with less” has never been higher. But when you can’t fix everything, where should you start?

We share how Sigma Lab Consulting helps clients focus on the workflows that matter most—those that, if broken, pose the greatest risk to execution, decision-making, or speed. Drawing on experience in R&D, clinical operations, and facilities management, they reveal how minor workflow gaps often compound into costly project delays.

They also explain why many organizations waste time chasing the loudest problems, rather than identifying the most impactful ones—and how their Workflow Criticality Assessment offers a focused, scalable way to prioritize improvements and build long-term resilience.

Whether you’re leading a transformation or trying to regain control of daily operations, this episode will give you a new way to think about where (and how) to begin.

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

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In this episode, we sit down with Bogdan Knezevic, co-founder and CEO of Kaleidoscope, to talk about a growing challenge in life sciences R&D: making smart decisions when data is scattered across teams, tools, and partners.

Bogdan explains why disconnected systems lead to costly delays, duplicate experiments, and missed opportunities. He shares how the shift from academic to industry research, where projects are shared, not siloed, requires better workflows, clearer handoffs, and more thoughtful tools.

We discuss:

• Why real-time access to decision-ready data matters more than connecting every system
• How delays between experiments quietly waste months of progress
• The hidden cost of repeating work because past data is hard to find
• Why user-friendly tools are just as important as powerful ones
• How better data management can strengthen trust with partners and investors

If your organization is working to scale R&D, improve collaboration, or simply make better use of the data you already have, this conversation is for you. Even small changes today can lead to huge gains tomorrow.

Learn more about Kaleidoscope Bio at https://www.kaleidoscope.bio/

Connect with Bogdan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/bogdanknezevic/

Ready to assess your organization’s efficiency? Connect with us at leanbydesign@sigmalabconsulting.com to uncover high-impact improvement opportunities. 🚀

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.

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In this episode, we sit down with David Hirschfeld, 35-year software veteran and founder of Tekyz, to talk about why designing workflows before you start building is critical for sustainable growth.

We explore how the speed of modern tools and AI can create a dangerous illusion of progress, causing teams to skip planning and discovery. David challenges the common “build while flying” mindset and explains why taking time to think first actually speeds you up.

You’ll also hear his contrarian, but highly practical, "Launch First" approach, where sales and marketing happen before building. It’s a powerful method for validating product-market fit early, avoiding wasted development cycles, and moving fast without flying blind.

Whether you’re launching a startup, building internal platforms, or scaling R&D, this episode will reshape how you approach planning, execution, and risk.

Learn more about the Launch 1st Method at https://launch1st.tekyz.com/

Connect with David at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dhirschfeld/

Ready to assess your organization’s efficiency? Connect with us at leanbydesign@sigmalabconsulting.com to uncover high-impact improvement opportunities. 🚀

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.

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Have you ever started a project only to realize you’re building something your leaders never asked for? You’re not alone.

In this episode of Lean by Design, we sit down with Marcelo Calbucci, a veteran of Amazon, Microsoft, and multiple startups, to explore the PRFAQ Framework, Amazon’s secret weapon for aligning strategy and execution.

By drafting a mock press release and FAQ before a single line of code is written, teams force themselves to clarify vision, spot roadblocks, and reach consensus across departments. The real magic comes from the collaborative review and no bullet‑filled slides, just a tight narrative that surfaces gaps in logic and focuses on solving genuine customer problems.

Whether you’re battling scope creep as a product manager or aiming for alignment as an executive, this conversation will equip you with a powerful tool to kick off your next project with crystal‑clear purpose. Tune in and learn to work backward for forward momentum.

Learn more about the PRFAQ at https://www.theprfaq.com/

Connect with Marcelo at https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcelocalbucci | https://x.com/calbucci

Ready to assess your organization’s efficiency? Connect with us at leanbydesign@sigmalabconsulting.com to uncover high-impact improvement opportunities. 🚀

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.

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Have you ever noticed the gap between where your organization is and where it needs to be widening every day—especially when workflows are undefined or changing?

In this episode of Lean by Design, we sit down with Liam O’Neill of BPM‑D to tackle the big question: do you invest in building process capabilities internally or lean on outside consultants? We’ll walk you through evaluating your readiness, embedding process ownership in leadership, and starting with a real business challenge so you can create sustainable, scalable process excellence rather than just putting out fires.

Learn more about BPMD at https://bpm-d.com/

Connect with Liam at https://www.linkedin.com/in/l-oneill/

Ready to assess your organization’s efficiency? Connect with us at leanbydesign@sigmalabconsulting.com to uncover high-impact improvement opportunities. 🚀

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.

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Have you ever watched a rowing team give it their all only to spin in circles? That’s exactly how we feel when our teams pour in effort without clear roles and responsibilities.

In this episode of Lean by Design, we explore how vague decision‐making and overlapping tasks quietly drain momentum, leading to missed deadlines and frustrated teams. We’ll share how defining ownership, fostering psychological safety, and using simple digital tools can align everyone’s efforts so your boat actually moves forward.

Join us to learn how clarity of roles can transform your team’s productivity and make the journey more rewarding for everyone.

Ready to assess your organization’s efficiency? Connect with us at leanbydesign@sigmalabconsulting.com to uncover high-impact improvement opportunities. 🚀

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.

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In this episode, we explore how small, intentional improvements—not sweeping changes—drive real progress in biopharma operations. The discussion highlights a common challenge: the disconnect between strategy and execution, often due to underutilized middle management.

You'll learn a simple framework for creating meaningful change: start within your sphere of influence, map key inputs and outputs, and implement solutions that reduce effort while increasing visibility. Small wins in project management can build momentum, leading to better accountability, decision-making, and resource allocation.

The conversation also covers the importance of tools and training—many organizations have powerful software but lack the support to maximize its potential. The takeaway? Improve your own workflows first to build credibility before driving broader change.

Ready to assess your organization’s efficiency? Connect with us at leanbydesign@sigmalabconsulting.com to uncover high-impact improvement opportunities. 🚀

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.

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Unlock the potential of Smartsheet for the biopharma industry with strategies that can transform project management. Can a minimalist approach to Smartsheet integration enhance team efficiency and adaptability? In this final part of our series on change management, we explore practical insights drawn from thousands of workflows designed to empower R&D and clinical operations with tailored, compliant solutions.

This episode dives deep into overcoming the unique challenges of adopting Smartsheet in complex, regulated environments while ensuring team buy-in. Discover how starting with simplicity and scaling intelligently can future-proof your Smartsheet setup, helping your organization adapt as projects evolve and priorities shift. We'll explore how to create flexible structures that support growth without burdening teams, focusing on capturing essential data from day one.

From foundational steps like project naming and task descriptions to advanced Smartsheet automation, this episode equips you with knowledge to build systems that are both sustainable and adaptable, ready to meet the long-term demands of the biopharma landscape.

Learn more about us by visiting: https://sigmalabconsulting.com/

Want our thoughts on a specific topic? Looking to sponsor this podcast to continue to generate content? Or maybe you have an idea and want to be on our show. Fill out our Interest Form and share your thoughts.