OSU Foundation Case Study | The People Readiness Company

Founded in 1947, the Oregon State University Foundation serves as the nonprofit organization dedicated to generating private funding for Oregon State University's mission and initiatives.

The Technology & Innovation team, led by Mark Koenig, Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President, Technology, includes 11 senior directors and plays a crucial role, plays a crucial role in driving digital transformation and technological advancement within the foundation.

Recognizing the need for organizational evolution, Mark initiated the partnership with The People Readiness Company to address the challenges his team faced in breaking free from traditional departmental silos and adapting to more agile, cross-functional ways of working.

The challenge:
Transforming traditional mindsets

The Technology & Innovation team found themselves at a critical juncture. To maintain the foundation's excellence in its market, they needed to optimize operational processes through technological advancement.

Recognizing that existing departmental structures and culture could slow down these large-scale changes, the management team took a proactive approach to prepare the team. With the growing need for agile operations and cross-functional collaboration, they prioritized transforming leadership and team dynamics.

The foundation understood that success required more than just structural adjustments – it demanded a fundamental shift in emotional readiness and team culture.

Partnering with The People Readiness Company has been a game-changer for our technology and innovation team. Their structured approach – emotional readiness assessments with daily, tailored skill development – has transformed the way we collaborate and innovate. The focus on emotional readiness has not only strengthened our team dynamics but also elevated our ability to drive meaningful change.

Mark Koenig

Chief Innovation Officer and Vice President, Technology at Oregon State University Foundation

The approach:
Building awareness from within

We delivered a structured, four-phase process tailored to strengthen emotional readiness and drive lasting change across the organization. Leveraging The People Readiness Company’s comprehensive solutions – including workplace assessments, team development initiatives, expert facilitation, and leadership coaching – our methodology empowers teams to become more adaptable, engaged, and resilient.

Phase 1 – Build Awareness

Focused on building awareness, helping team members recognize their work routines and behavioral patterns. This created a foundation for personal growth and team development.

Phase 2 – Emphasize Emotional Readiness

Emphasized emotional readiness, transforming individual awareness into practical skills. This enabled leaders to better recognize and adapt their responses to organizational dynamics.

Phase 3 – Active Learning

Activated learning through facilitated sessions, where theoretical understanding evolved into practical leadership capabilities. This hands-on approach helped team members apply emotional readiness concepts directly to their daily challenges.

Phase 4 – Agile & Self-Managed

Cultivated self-organized team dynamics through ongoing facilitated sparring sessions, establishing new patterns of collaborative leadership.

29

%

Higher scores across all emotional readiness categories

88

%

Improvement in communication and connection

960

%

Stronger growth mindset

14

%

Higher growth rate across all categories

23

%

Stronger results across all categories

51

%

Stronger growth mindset

The conclusion:
Sustainable success through targeted intervention

We are happy to share the remarkable transformation across the OSU Foundation's Technology & Innovation team, spanning from team dynamics and communication to leadership development and organizational culture.

The successful completion of their leadership development plan and the meaningful conversations throughout the engagement underscore the lasting impact of this transformation.

By embracing emotional readiness as a cornerstone of organizational change, the team has established a strong foundation for continued success in an evolving academic landscape, demonstrating that when organizations commit to developing emotional readiness, they can successfully navigate complex transformations while maintaining team cohesion and effectiveness.

The People Readiness Company was our launching pad for the future.

"This was a launching pad for the future, which we couldn't have created without TPRC helping us build more awareness."

Group feedback

Oregon State Univesity, Foundation

A space for deeper conversations we rarely have

"We talked about things and topics in a way that we don't always get to do with each other."

Group feedback

Oregon State University, Foundation

Greater mindfulness of our impact on others

"I have increased mindfulness about how the work we do impacts others."

Group feedback

Oregon State University, Foundation

This experience shaped the DNA of our work

"This experience created the DNA of what we're doing now."

Group feedback

Oregon State University, Foundation

More structure, more critical conversations—I'm excited for the future

"I'm excited about the future because there's now more structure and more critical conversations within the leadership team."

Group feedback

Oregon State University, Foundation

The People Readiness Company shifted our perspective on what truly matters

"The TPRC software calendar tagging process shifted perspectives on activities initially identified as 'flames,' but with a day or two of hindsight, they were actually 'hearts.'"

Group feedback

Oregon State University, Foundation