Decision Lab

Ithaka’s Decision Labᵀᴹ empowers leaders to navigate their toughest decisions. We combine strategic problem-solving with hands-on training in effective decision-making, equipping leaders to confront complex challenges with clarity, confidence, and courage.

About Decision Lab

Every leader experiences moments when decisions feel fraught with tension. Emotions run high, priorities clash, and the path ahead feels uncertain. Without the right guidance, these moments can paralyze progress or lead to choices that haunt you later.

Decision Labᵀᴹ exists to turn these moments into opportunities to lead with purpose, integrity, and courage.

Our decision-making workshops are the heart of Decision Lab. Spirited discussions cut through the noise to reveal what really matters, transforming tension into clarity and turning hesitation into confidence.

Using interactive scenarios, structured decision frameworks, and open dialogue, we guide you toward solutions to today’s challenges while building leadership capabilities for tomorrow.

By the end of Decision Lab, you’ll have more than a resolution. You’ll have a stronger, more cohesive team with the skills to tackle future challenges with renewed trust and purpose.

  • The Discovery phase is where we dig deep into the context and complexities of your decision. Through in-depth conversations, we identify the key factors shaping your challenge. This phase isn’t just about gathering data—it’s about uncovering the unspoken tensions, hidden opportunities, and critical uncertainties that need to be addressed. By the end of the Discovery phase, you’ll have a comprehensive understanding of the decision landscape and a clear framework for the conversations ahead.

  • Deliberation is the heart of Decision Lab. This phase brings your team into a series of immersive, facilitated workshops designed to untangle complexity and foster meaningful dialogue. Using tailored scenarios and decision frameworks, we challenge assumptions and encourage open, honest engagement. These sessions aren’t easy—they’re designed to surface difficult truths, explore competing priorities, and build alignment where it matters most. The result is a team that’s more cohesive, better equipped to collaborate, and aligned on the critical aspects of the decision at hand.

  • Resolution is where clarity turns into confident action. In this phase, we help your team to synthesize the insights gained, evaluate decision options, and commit to a shared path forward. This isn’t just about making the immediate decision—it’s about ensuring it reflects your team’s values, goals, and the context in which you operate. Along the way, we ensure that your decision-making routines, governance structures and accountability mechanisms are fit for the future. By the end of this phase, you’ll leave with more than a decision—you’ll have a stronger leadership team, a clear action plan, and the confidence that your choice will stand up to scrutiny and deliver real impact.

When can Decision Lab help?

  • Our DEI commitments are under attack. How do we stand firm in our values while making tough choices?

    Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI)

  • AI fuels growth and innovation, but ethical dilemmas persist. When must our principles override profit?

    Ethical & Responsible Innovation

  • Sometimes ethics calls for defiance. When might breaking the law be the right thing to do?

    Law & Corporate Accountability

  • Do our values permit us to work in authoritarian states that do not share our beliefs on human rights?

    Geopolitics & Human Rights

  • How do we harness data to tailor individual experiences without compromising privacy?

    Data Ethics & Privacy

  • We exited Russia after its invasion of Ukraine. How would we respond to Chinese aggression towards Taiwan?

    Geopolitics & Conflict

What you’ll get

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    Clarity on strategic challenges, uncovering the critical factors shaping your toughest choices.

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    Strategic alignment, ensuring leadership teams are united around priorities and committed to a shared path forward.

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    Values-driven decisions that stand up to scrutiny and balance ethical considerations with business realities.

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    Stronger leadership dynamics, fostering trust, openness, and the ability to navigate complexity as a cohesive team.

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    Actionable solutions, providing clear steps to implement decisions effectively and achieve tangible outcomes.

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    Future-ready skills, building capabilities to navigate high-stakes challenges with clarity and confidence.

Frequently asked questions

  • Decision Lab is designed for boards and senior leadership teams facing high-stakes, complex decisions where clarity, alignment, and ethical considerations are critical.

  • We focus on decisions that are complex, ethically challenging, or have significant implications for your organization, such as reputational risks, strategic shifts, or stakeholder conflicts.

  • The program typically runs over six weeks and includes three phases: Discovery (context and research), Deliberation (facilitated workshops), and Resolution (synthesizing insights and planning action).

  • Your team will achieve clarity on key challenges, stronger alignment, actionable solutions, and enhanced decision-making skills for future complexities.

  • Each Decision Lab engagement begins with a discovery process to understand your unique context, challenges, and team dynamics. Workshops and scenarios are designed specifically for your needs.

  • No. While many teams use Decision Lab to make critical decisions, the program also builds leadership capacity and alignment for future challenges.