About Thinking Backward
A consultancy that builds real capability in real people, designed to last, on purpose.
The Philosophy
Most organizations approach AI the wrong way. They start with the technology and hope it leads somewhere useful. They chase trends, run pilots, and wonder why nothing sticks.
Thinking Backward is a different approach. We start with the outcome you actually want—the specific, measurable result that would transform your business—and work backward to design the right path to get there.
It's not about being contrarian. It's about being intentional. When you define success first, the technology choices become obvious. The strategy writes itself. And the implementation actually works.
What We Believe
Fluency
Tools are easy. Wisdom is earned. We build genuine AI capability—the kind that knows when to trust, when to question, and when to step in. Not button-pushers. Thinkers.
Humanity
The organizations winning at AI invest 70% of their resources in people, not technology. We do the same. Because algorithms don't transform companies. People do.
Durability
The pilots that fail optimized for speed. We optimize for staying power. Every engagement compounds—building capability that strengthens with time, not implementations that fade after the kickoff deck.
Intention
We work backward. Start with the outcome you actually want, then architect the path to get there. AI transformation isn't something that happens to you. It's something you design.
Derek Gilbert
Founder
I grew up on a farm in Othello, Washington, where I learned that the best solutions often come from thinking differently about problems.
That curiosity led me from agriculture to engineering leadership, and eventually to AI strategy consulting. After years of watching organizations struggle with AI implementation, I founded Thinking Backward to help them succeed.
The approach is simple: define success first, work backward to the right solution. It's how I've always worked. Now it's how I help others.
Ready to Work Together?
Let's talk about your organization, your goals, and how we can help you get there.