On January 27th, Gupta organized a solution-based thinking workshop for PhDs and Postdocs in the ESCH-R consortium. Designed in collaboration with Gupta Strategists, Niels Hagenaars, Lisa Vogelpoel, Anouk van der Schot, and TU Delft professors Jan Carel Diehl and Jotte de Koning, the workshop focused on equipping participants with structured strategic thinking tools. 

During a previous visit to Philips, PhD students from the ESCH-R consortium, along with other consortium members, participated in a small assignment on the Pulse Oximeter. A key takeaway was the variety of perspectives on how PhD students would approach their research on this topic. Inspired by this, Jan-Carel Diehl and Jotte de Koning, together with Gupta Strategists, organized the first training day, focusing on skill development, team building, and the Pulse Oximeter as the central theme.

Consultants from Gupta Strategists, specializing in healthcare, introduced the Pyramid Principle—a methodology rooted in Barbara Minto’s work—to help consultants. The goal was to explore how structured frameworks could drive impactful, solution-oriented decision-making.

During the workshop, participants applied the Pyramid Principle to their research plans, discussing ways to integrate sustainability into healthcare systems. Two key takeaways emerged:

1. Strategic, structured thinking is vital in healthcare. Frameworks like the Pyramid Principle enhance clarity in problem-solving and foster solution-based decisions, underscoring their potential in addressing complex challenges.
2. Interdisciplinary collaboration unlocks innovation. By working across diverse ESCH-R work packages, participants combined perspectives to strategize toward a shared goal: making hospitals more circular.

Beyond the formal sessions, the event provided a valuable opportunity for PhD students and postdocs to connect in person for the first time. They exchanged updates on their research, uncovering synergies between projects and forging potential collaborations. These informal interactions enriched the day, highlighting the power of networking within the consortium.

The workshop concluded with a dynamic Q&A session, where consultants fielded questions about bridging academia and consulting. Notably, all consultants had completed PhDs themselves, offering unique insights into both worlds. A resonant theme emerged: curiosity, data-driven inquiry, and solution-seeking mindsets are threads that unite consulting and academia. This shared foundation reinforced the value of cross-sector dialogue in tackling sustainability challenges.

In the end, the day underscored how structured thinking, interdisciplinary teamwork, and open exchange can collectively advance meaningful progress in healthcare sustainability.

Paula Götz, Joek van der Zwaan, Yifan Yang, Jasper Klasen, Ayşegül Özçelik, Chang Lung Tsai, Heidi Annala, Shalvi Thakur, Yuanyuan (Alice) Wu, Jacopo Parma, Sanne Jansen