Author: Beth Gunderson

Beth Gunderson is a distinguished expert in organizational design, renowned for her ability to bridge the gap between science and strategy within corporate environments.

With a robust background in Material Science, specifically in Industrial Technology and Package Engineering from the University of Wisconsin, she has successfully transitioned into the field of organizational design, leveraging her technical expertise to inform her strategic perspectives.

Throughout her impressive 32-year career at General Mills, Gunderson held various roles that provided her with a comprehensive understanding of organizational dynamics. Her journey began in Research and Development, where she focused on the engineering aspects of packaging. This technical foundation served her well as she moved into supply chain manufacturing, allowing her to develop a unique vantage point on how different organizational units interact and the challenges posed by functional silos.

Gunderson’s expertise is heavily influenced by the STAR framework developed by Jay Galbraith, which encompasses Strategy, Structure, Processes, Rewards, and People practices. She advocates for a strategic approach to organizational design, emphasizing its importance in enabling effective business model execution rather than relegating it to a purely HR-driven function. Her work challenges traditional perceptions of organizational design, positioning it as a crucial element in achieving strategic objectives. As the founder of Minikahda Partners, an organization and talent architecture firm, Gunderson specializes in organization design and enterprise transformation initiatives.

In her current role, she applies her extensive experience to help diverse clients build internal capabilities, ensuring they develop sustainable competencies in design thinking. Her philosophy centers on the idea that organizational design should focus on creating systems that empower collective capabilities rather than simply aggregating individual talents. Gunderson also serves as an Executive Fellow at the University of Southern California’s Marshall School of Business, where she teaches organization design and change management. This role allows her to shape the next generation of organizational design practitioners while staying connected to cutting-edge research and developments in the field. Through her academic and consulting work, she continues to emphasize the importance of systemic thinking, effective communication, and leader capability building in navigating complex organizational transformations.

Her commitment to knowledge sharing and community building within the organizational design field is evident in her proactive networking approach, including virtual coffee meetings with fellow practitioners. Beth Gunderson's unique combination of technical prowess, extensive corporate experience, and strategic insight positions her as a leading voice in the evolution of organizational design.