The Power of One: Transforming Five Teams into One Unified MSAT Organization
From Crisis Mode to Culture Rebuild
An international pharmaceutical client had spent the last several years at the epicenter of the global effort to create and deliver a life-saving vaccine. As the immediate crisis subsided, the organization transitioned into a new and equally demanding phase: reorganization, re-prioritization, and rebuilding.
The toll of the pandemic years had left its mark. Employees were burned out, disconnected, and unclear about how they fit into the evolving picture. Five distinct MSAT (Manufacturing, Science and Technology) teams—each with different roles and goals—were now being asked to operate as a single, integrated unit. But trust was low, roles were ambiguous, and there was a general lack of understanding of each team’s contributions and capabilities.
Leaders faced a dual challenge: strengthening their own teams while fostering collaboration across the broader MSAT group. It became clear that people needed time to reconnect, recharge, and realign—not just emotionally, but strategically.
Our Approach: Diagnose, Align, Transform
Having partnered with this client globally for many years, Continuum was invited to help facilitate the next chapter of their transformation. We began with a comprehensive discovery phase: one-on-one interviews and an organization-wide survey to assess the current state of the 78-person MSAT group.
Our assessment uncovered key insights:
Employees didn’t know one another across teams.
Roles and responsibilities were unclear.
The connection between daily work and broader organizational goals had become blurred.
There was a strong desire—but limited structure—for cross-team collaboration.
We provided each leader with personalized development feedback and synthesized findings into themes at both the team and organizational levels.
A Creative Solution: The Team Development Sprint
Instead of a traditional offsite or series of isolated interventions, we proposed a one-week Team Development Sprint—a bold, immersive experience designed to build trust, alignment, and momentum quickly.
Phase 1: Team-Level Retreats
Each team participated in a one-day retreat featuring:
A personality assessment to foster self-awareness and appreciation of differences.
Team-building activities to strengthen interpersonal relationships.
Structured conversations to clarify team vision, priorities, and goals for the year ahead.
Phase 2: The “One Team of Leaders” Experience
At the end of the week, all five teams came together for a capstone event focused on unity and mutual understanding.
Each team presented “A Day in the Life”—an authentic, engaging snapshot of:
What their team does
Their proudest achievements
Key challenges they face
What they need from others to succeed
The session concluded with facilitated cross-team dialogues and action planning focused on building stronger relationships and more effective ways of working as One MSAT Team.
The Outcome: Clarity, Connection, and a Sense of Shared Purpose
Participants left the sprint with:
Stronger relationships and newfound connections across the MSAT function
A clearer understanding of how their work contributes to the larger mission
Practical actions and agreements to sustain collaboration beyond the sprint
The experience re-energized the organization. What had once been five disconnected teams began operating with the mindset and cohesion of one unified group—poised to face the next chapter of innovation and delivery together.