---
title: Our Story | Team Development for NGOs & Life Science Organizations
description: Founded by a scientist, T Shaped helps NGOs, life science teams, and mission-driven organizations build stronger teams through evidence-based facilitation.
image: https://www.tshapedllc.com/hubfs/Our%20Story%20Cover%20Image.png
---
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1. [Home](https://www.tshapedllc.com?hsLang=en)
2. Our Story
# Our Story
Performance doesn't come from paperwork. It comes from people who know how to work well together.
Start A Conversation
##### **OUR STORY**
# How it all started
Joanna earned her PhD in Medical Sciences and began her career in academia. She experienced firsthand how unclear expectations, poor communication, and lack of support quietly erode performance — even in rooms full of talented, committed people.
When she moved into business environments, she saw the same pattern: people weren't failing because they lacked ability. They were failing because the systems around them made it harder to collaborate, communicate, and lead well.
That's what led her to build T Shaped.
Her work bridges two worlds: the rigor and clarity of science, and the emotional intelligence that people need to thrive. The mission has stayed the same from the start — help mission-driven teams fix the structural problems that stop good people from doing great work.
##### **WHAT IT MEANS**
# What does “T Shaped” mean?
The letter T captures our philosophy.
The vertical bar represents deep expertise — the specialist knowledge your team already has. The horizontal bar represents the ability to collaborate, communicate, and lead across differences.
Most organizations never fully leverage both. Day-to-day fires, unclear roles, and unstructured decisions drain the focus that great work requires. That's where we come in.
##### **OUR VALUES**
### What Sets Us Apart
###### Deep Science Roots
Founded by a scientist for other evidence valuing leaders. We trust in evidence and experimental mindset.
### Evidence Based Methods
Combining organizational psychology, science of team science, and human behavior with hands-on experience.
### Bespoke Solutions
Customized workshops addressing the specific needs of teams, no two sprints look the same.
### Client Centric
Our success is measured by the transformative impact on our clients.
##### **OUR CLIENTS**
# Teams Collaborated With
# MEET THE FOUNDER
# Joanna Kaniewska, PhD
Joanna Kaniewska, PhD, is a scientist-turned-strategist who swapped pipettes for Post-its and launched T Shaped — a company that fuses evidence-based standards with organizational psychology to help innovation-driven teams execute with clarity and speed. With a decade across academia, industry and non-for-profit sectors , she rewires performance review cycles, sets crystal-clear accountabilities, all while championing people and their unique skills and personalities.
A sought-after speaker on topics like “Coaching Skills for Leaders,” “The Human Side of Science,” and “Self-Awareness for Leadership Success,” Joanna inspires audiences to lead with both head and heart. Curious how her energy feels in real time?
Book a 15-minute call to see whether a workshop or performance review redesign is the right fit for your team.
# Ready to Build a Stronger Team?
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell us where your team is right now — and we'll tell you exactly where to start.
[Start A Conversation](https://www.tshapedllc.com/book-15min-call?hsLang=en)
##### OUR GALLERY
# PROOF OF WORK
- 
NYC Techweek #25
- 
- 
NYC Techweek #25
- 
Founder of T Shaped
- 
- 
Team Alignment Sprint
###### Built for mission-driven teams like nonprofits, foundations, associations, research, start ups, social enterprise with lean HR support to navigate growth, leadership and staff transitions, or the strain of doing more with less.
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- [Impact Case Studies](https://www.tshapedllc.com/impact-case-studies?hsLang=en)
- [Our Story](https://www.tshapedllc.com/our-story)
# FOLLOW US
---
© 2026 | T Shaped. All rights reserved.
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