Behavioral science, applied

AI adoption fails when it ignores the humans doing the adopting.

We apply behavioral science to close the gap between AI capability and real-world use — helping enterprise teams build the habits, trust, and confidence that turn tools into lasting change.

Our approach

Habit change, not feature rollout

Diagnose the real friction

Before recommending anything, we map the specific behavioral barriers in your organization — anxiety, trust gaps, workflow disruption — not just the technical ones. The problem is rarely the software.

Research, interviews, behavioral audit

Design for how people actually work

We embed lightweight behavioral nudges, feedback loops, and confidence-building moments directly into existing workflows. Adoption strategies that ask people to change everything at once don't stick.

Intervention design, pilot programs

Measure what changes behavior

We track leading indicators of sustainable adoption — daily habit formation, confidence scores, peer diffusion — not just license utilization. Progress you can act on, not just report on.

Custom dashboards, ongoing coaching

Our Key Learnings

01.

AI adoption is a behavior change challenge, not a technology challenge

Successful AI implementation depends on helping people overcome psychological barriers, build trust, and form new habits — not simply deploying better technology.

02.

Better AI depends on better human decisions

Behavioral science helps organizations reduce cognitive biases and design decision environments where humans and AI work together more effectively.

03.

Sustainable AI value comes from designing for people, not just performance

Organizations achieve greater long-term impact when AI is designed around human motivations, behaviors, and incentives rather than technical performance alone.

Heather McKee
I was blown away with their application and translation of behavioral science into practice. They took a very complex ecosystem and created a series of interventions using an innovative mix of the latest research and creative client co-creation. I'm excited to see what we can create together in the future.
Heather McKee
Behavioral Scientist
Global Coffeehouse Chain

Our client success

$30M

Value unlocked for clients through behavioral interventions

35%

Increase in AI adoption

75%

Average increase in sustained AI tool usage post-engagement

46%

Reduction in change-resistance reported across programs

Behavioral scientists, designers, and strategists

The people behind the work

Marielle Montenegro

Managing Director

Marielle Montenegro

Marielle has led large behavior change mandates for multinational clients, focusing on the intersection of human-centered design and behavioral science. Her work within highly complex teams and organizations has made her a world expert in integrating behavioral science into products and services.

Turney McKee

Director

Turney McKee

Turney brings a multidisciplinary lens to solving complex public health challenges. With a background in cellular biology and pharmacology, he explores how behavioral science can support healthcare systems and policies around the world.

Sekoul Krastev, PhD

Managing Director

Sekoul Krastev, PhD

Sekoul works at the intersection of decision science and innovation, looking for ways science can push the status quo across sectors. His work focuses on solutions that are innovative and deeply integrated with an understanding of user psychology.

Dan Pilat
Our mission is to translate cutting-edge science into powerful tools, enabling passionate leaders to place intentional bets on innovation.
Dan Pilat
Co-Founder & Managing Director

FAQ

Common Questions We Receive

What are the next steps if I'd like to work with you?

Start with a conversation. We will learn about your goals, your teams, and the adoption barriers you are seeing, then recommend the most useful next step.

What's your approach to making sure the work you do has high ROI?

We define behavioral and business outcomes at the outset, test interventions before scaling them, and measure the leading indicators that show whether change will last.

What makes The Decision Lab's approach unique compared to other consulting firms?

We combine behavioral science, human-centered design, and rigorous experimentation. That lets us diagnose why people behave as they do and build practical solutions around the way work really happens.

How do I convince the rest of my team that behavioral design is a helpful tool?

Begin with a focused, measurable challenge. A small pilot can demonstrate value quickly, reduce uncertainty, and create the evidence needed to bring the wider organization along.

Behavioral science, applied

Ready to accelerate real-world AI adoption?

Let's turn AI capability into the habits, confidence, and measurable value your organization needs.