The people behind Making Work Flow
We're practitioners, not presenters. Our home is at the Gemba — where real work happens, with the people who do it. Here's who we are and why this work matters to us.
Eli Sharp
Founder & CEO, Eli Sharp Consulting LLC
Early in my career, I was given an extraordinary opportunity: to study lean and six sigma in Japan — to learn continuous improvement at its source, from the people who invented it.
I didn't know it at the time, but that experience changed how I see everything. Once you learn to look at work through the lens of flow and waste, you can't stop seeing it. You walk into an organization and you notice immediately where things are stuck, where people are working against processes that were never designed to help them, where capable teams are being blocked by systems rather than supported by them.
That's been both a gift and a driving force for nearly 30 years.
The belief that shapes everything I do
The organizations I've worked with — from Medtronic and BD to Amgen and Pfizer — have never lacked capable people. What they've lacked are systems that let those people do what they're already capable of doing.
People want to solve problems. They want to do good work. They want to contribute. When they can't, it's almost never because of who they are — it's because of how the work is designed around them. Unclear strategy cascades confusion. Processes force unnecessary escalation. Nobody has defined what teams are empowered to decide within the constraints of a regulated industry.
My job — our job — is to find those barriers and remove them. Not to teach people new tricks. Not to install a methodology and leave. To work alongside teams at the Gemba, see what's actually happening, and help unlock what was always there.
Why I'll never stop doing this
The moment that never gets old is watching a team realize they can do it themselves. The moment a group that was labeled 'dysfunctional' maps their own process, sees exactly why things were going wrong, redesigns it together — and then doesn't need to call anyone. That's it. That's the whole point.
I've been doing this work for nearly 30 years. I studied mechanical engineering, earned an MBA, and completed a Master's in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania. I've led plant turnarounds, built CI programs from scratch, coached VPs and front-line teams alike. I co-authored 'Not Just Another Meeting' with my long-time mentor Rod Napier.
But what drives me every morning isn't the credentials — it's the next team that's stuck, and the moment they figure out how to get unstuck.
About Eli Sharp Consulting
Eli Sharp Consulting LLC was founded in 2013 with a simple purpose: to help people in organizations do better work — not by adding complexity, but by removing it.
We work exclusively with medical technology and pharmaceutical companies, because that's where our expertise runs deepest. We understand the technical complexity. We understand the regulatory environment. And we understand that in MedTech, the stakes are real — the work your teams do ultimately affects patients.
We're not a large firm. We don't believe in parachuting in teams of consultants who learn your business on your dime. We bring a carefully chosen group of practitioners — people who have led real operations, built real teams, solved real problems — and we work alongside your people at the Gemba until the work is flowing again.
The 'Ki' in our logo is the Japanese character for flow. It's at the center of everything we do — and a nod to where this journey started, in Japan, decades ago.
What we stand for
We are accountable. For building lasting capability, not just delivering reports. We guarantee exceptional results because we don't leave until the work is done right.
We do what is right. For your organization, your customers, and society. We work with companies that share our values and act with integrity in everything we do.
We innovate every day. We relentlessly ask 'Why?' until we fully understand what's happening and why. There is always a better way — and together, we'll co-create it.
We selflessly collaborate. The people who understand your challenges best are the ones living them every day. When we harness that understanding and work together, really great things happen.
We give back. Through SCORE mentoring, free training, and drop-in clinics at our local university. Building capability in our community matters to us.
The people you'll work with
Every member of our team is a practitioner first. We don't bring generalists or project managers — we bring people who have spent careers in the work, who can walk into your Gemba and understand what they're seeing.
David W. Eaker
Regulatory & Scientific Compliance Specialist
David W. Eaker provides expertise to MedTech and related entities in the areas of preclinical sciences, RA/QA compliance, R&D and product development processes. Key areas of focus incorporate cohesive strategy development and execution for preclinical and nonclinical work directed to demonstration of product safety, regulatory compliance, and clinical suitability for intended uses. This required scope of performance includes ISO/FDA/GLP/GMP and international RA/QA (e.g., EU MDR) compliance. Most recent efforts included support to programs in sustainability, “materials of concern”, sterilization research, and proactive engagement with regulatory agencies and customers to drive product approvals and adoption.
David holds a Ph.D. in organic and analytical chemistry, with prior relevant positions including 25+ years in large MedTech, posting as a toxicologist and associate faculty member of the Duke University Medical Center, prior leadership of chemistry and toxicology at a private CRO, and conduct of experimental toxicology at a consumer products company. Dr. Eaker is certified as a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, and has served (or currently serves) on ISO Working Groups as well as AdvaMed and EucoMed initiatives.
Dr. Julie Roberts, PhD
Executive Coach & Leadership Development
Dr. Julie Roberts, PhD works with high-performing leaders who understand what needs to change but find themselves unable to fully implement those changes. She specializes in helping leaders move past ingrained patterns that quietly limit effectiveness, decision-making, and personal sustainability.
Her work combines executive coaching with targeted methods designed to identify and clear the internal blocks that drive self-sabotaging behaviors. Julie helps leaders address the deeper patterns that lead to overcommitment, difficulty setting boundaries, and a constant sense of urgency that makes rest feel out of reach.
Rather than focusing on insight alone, Julie’s approach is practical and action-oriented. She works with leaders to remove the internal obstacles that slow execution, allowing them to follow through on priorities, make aligned decisions, and create lasting change in how they lead and work.
Laura Kriska
Global Collaboration & Trust-Building Specialist
Laura Kriska is a recognized expert in global collaboration and trust-building, specializing in helping organizations close “US vs. THEM” gaps across culture, geography, language, and function. She works with multinational teams to strengthen communication, accelerate trust, and improve decision execution, enabling people to work more effectively together in today’s complex and hybrid workplaces.
Integrating cross-cultural strategy, behavioral science, and experiential learning, Laura delivers practical, results-driven programs that support both business performance and human connection. She developed the TeamMachine®, an immersive simulation used globally to rapidly build trust, break down silos, and improve real-time collaboration.
Laura brings more than 30 years of experience supporting global organizations across finance, manufacturing, and other industries. Fluent in Japanese, she is highly effective at bridging cultural and language gaps in ways that are both relevant and measurable.
Laura is the author of three books and a contributor to Harvard Business Review. She began her career at Honda Motor Company’s Tokyo headquarters as the first American woman to work in that office—an experience that launched her lifelong focus on helping individuals, teams, and organizations successfully navigate difference and build trust faster.
Scott Post
Operational Excellence & Lean Leadership Coach
Scott Post is an Operational Excellence and Lean Leadership Coach with over 20 years of experience in leadership, continuous improvement, and Lean methodology. He excels at identifying inefficiencies and optimizing processes to help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential. A natural problem solver, collaborator, and enabler, Scott is dedicated to driving tangible results through proven, results-driven methods.
Scott’s journey in process improvement began with his service in the United States Marine Corps, followed by earning an Industrial Engineering degree from Iowa State University. His passion for Lean methodology flourished in roles at Pella Corporation and later as Chief Operations Officer at Pizza Ranch, where he led Operations, Training, and Process Improvement teams toward excellence.
As a practicing Servant Leader, Scott has contributed extensively to the local Lean community, including serving on the board of the Siouxland Lean Consortium. Beyond work, he enjoys family time, camping, and life on his hobby farm in Northwest Iowa with his wife, four children, and a few farm animals.
Dahlia (Dolly) Rigsby
Executive Transformation Advisor & Leadership Coach
Dahlia Garcia Rigsby is an Executive Transformation Advisor and Leadership Coach with more than 4 decades of experience leading and advising organizations through complex changes, leadership transitions, and strategic growth. She has held senior leadership roles across finance, IT financial systems, shared services, global business services, and enterprise change initiatives, partnering closely with executives and senior leaders to drive sustainable results.
Dahlia is a trusted advisor and coach known for helping leaders strengthen effectiveness, navigate complexity, and lead with confidence during periods of transformation. She earned her International Coaching Federation (ICF) Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential in 2022 and brings a strong foundation in executive leadership development, change management, and organizational effectiveness.
Dahlia holds an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University and a bachelor’s degree in Accounting from the University of the Incarnate Word. Her professional training includes Executive Women in Leadership (eCornell), Prosci Change Management, Six Sigma Green Belt, Emotional Intelligence, and Everything DiSC.
Dahlia’s leadership extends beyond the workplace through board and community service. She has been recognized as a Top Latino Leader by the Council for Latino Workplace Equity. Dahlia has contributed to leadership development programs and serves on nonprofit boards, most recently as Treasurer for Girls Inc. of Memphis.
Dahlia and her spouse, Mike, reside in the San Antonio area. Outside her professional work, Dahlia values health, fitness, and time spent with family and friends.
WHAT CLIENTS SAY
Want to see how we work?
The best way to understand what we do is to have a conversation. We'll ask about where work is getting stuck, and you'll quickly get a sense of whether we're the right people to help.
No pitch. Just a conversation about where work is getting stuck.