About ONE DEPARTMENT
Enterprise Advisory for AI-Driven Transformation
ONE Department is a principal-led advisory practice focused on helping organizations design and operationalize AI-ready enterprise models—responsibly, pragmatically, and at scale.
Meet the Founder
To help leadership teams translate AI potential into durable enterprise capability—through clear strategy, disciplined execution, and governance aware design.
ONE Department was created to address a recurring gap in enterprise AI efforts: strong intent without operational coherence.
We work directly with senior leaders to define how AI should function across strategy, operating models, and risk frameworks—then support execution in a way that holds up under real organizational and regulatory pressure.
This is not traditional consulting. Engagements are principal-led, execution-aware, and structured to produce decisions that last.
John DeRudder
Founder & Principal Advisor
Our story
How We Got Here—and Where We’re Headed
The evolution of a principal-led advisory practice shaped by enterprise complexity, AI transformation, and real-world execution.
2017
Practice established
ONE Department is founded as an operational advisory practice supporting organizations across IT, finance, marketing, and core business operations.
2018-2019
Digital transformation focus
The practice evolves into digital transformation and workflow modernization, helping leadership teams redesign systems, processes, and operating rhythms to support scale.
2020–2021
AI-enabled transformation begins
Client work expands into AI and advanced analytics initiatives, initially through targeted pilots and proof-of-value efforts embedded within broader transformation programs.
2022
From pilots to enterprise AI
Engagements increasingly focus on enterprise AI strategy, operating models, and governance—addressing the gap between experimentation and durable organizational capability.
2023–2024
Operating models and governance
The practice sharpens its emphasis on AI operating models, evaluation frameworks, telemetry, and adoption—particularly in regulated and high-accountability environments.
2025
Principal-led, partner-enabled
ONE Department continues as a deliberately scoped, principal-led advisory practice, engaging experienced partners as needed while maintaining direct accountability for outcomes.
Our Advisory Model
Alex Tran
Managing Partner, Strategy
Alex brings over a decade of experience advising venture-backed startups on financial modeling, investor readiness, and strategic growth planning.
Maya Chen
Director of Systems & Ops
Maya specializes in building lean, scalable systems for high-growth companies—transforming tech stacks into operational advantages.
Sophie Tran
Head of Strategic Initiatives
Sophie leads cross-functional transformation efforts, aligning leadership teams around clear goals, KPIs, and execution frameworks.
Clara Jennings
Principal Consultant, Strategy
With a background in private equity and FP&A, Clara helps clients navigate capital strategy, burn management, and long-term planning.
Our Values
How We Think, Work, and Win Together
Clarity
We believe clarity is a competitive advantage—and we bring it into every strategy, system, and conversation
Accountability
Whether it's a spreadsheet, a roadmap, or a decision—we deliver, follow through, and stand behind our work
Partnership
We work with you, not just for you. Collaboration, trust, and shared goals are at the core of every engagement we take on
Precision
Details matter. We approach every task with discipline, rigor, and a mindset focused on doing things right the first time
Agility
Our team thrives in change and builds processes that respond quickly to new insights, markets, and moments
Let’s talk about your next milestone—and how to reach it
Schedule Your Strategy Call