Organizational Design → Software Products
Building thoughtful software, one app at a time.
Thoughtful Org Partners began as an organizational design consultancy rooted in the principles of self-management and adaptive systems. Today, we channel that same human-centered philosophy into crafting exceptional iOS applications.
About the Founder
John Bunch
John Bunch is a technologist and organizational innovator based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He spent over a decade at Zappos.com, where he rose from software developer to Head of Product, overseeing technology, internal operations, recruiting, and team performance.
John is best known for leading Zappos's adoption of Holacracy—making it the largest company in the world to implement the self-management framework. He later evolved the system into a market-based dynamics model, where internal teams operated as autonomous micro-businesses.
His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, NPR, and numerous industry conferences. He co-authored the landmark HBR article “Beyond the Holacracy Hype” and was named one of LinkedIn's “10 Professionals Under 35 Changing Recruiting and HR.”
A Georgia Tech alum and lifelong builder, John brings the same systems-thinking mindset that reshaped Zappos to the craft of designing software products that people love to use.
Career Highlights
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Zappos
Head of Product — 10+ years leading technology, org design, and product strategy
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Holacracy Pioneer
Led the largest corporate self-management implementation in history (1,500+ employees)
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Harvard Business Review
Co-author of "Beyond the Holacracy Hype" (2016)
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Thought Leader
Featured on NPR, HBR Podcast, and recognized by LinkedIn as a top-35 HR innovator
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Technical Roots
Started as a software developer — building products is where it all began
Our Journey
From Organizational Design to App Development
Zappos — Software Developer
John joined Zappos as a software developer, building tools and APIs that powered the e-commerce platform.
Technical Advisor to CEO
Became a trusted advisor to Tony Hsieh, bridging technology and organizational strategy as Zappos prepared for a radical transformation.
Holacracy Implementation Lead
Led the company-wide adoption of Holacracy at Zappos — the largest self-management experiment in corporate history. Eliminated traditional titles, introduced fluid roles, and trained 1,500+ employees.
Harvard Business Review
Co-authored "Beyond the Holacracy Hype" in HBR, offering a nuanced perspective on self-managed organizations that became essential reading for organizational leaders worldwide.
Market-Based Dynamics
Evolved Zappos beyond Holacracy into a market-based ecosystem where teams operated as micro-businesses with their own P&Ls — a pioneering approach to internal entrepreneurship.
Thoughtful Org Partners Founded
After departing Zappos, John founded Thoughtful Org Partners to bring organizational design consulting to companies seeking to build more adaptive, human-centered workplaces.
The Pivot to Software Products
Drawing on his roots as a software developer and his decade of product leadership, John pivoted Thoughtful Org Partners toward building iOS applications — combining systems thinking with hands-on product craft.
What We Do
Services
We bring the same thoughtfulness that transformed one of America's most beloved companies to the craft of building software.
iOS App Development
Native iOS applications built with Swift and SwiftUI, designed for performance, accessibility, and delight. We build apps from concept to App Store.
Product Design
A decade of product leadership at Zappos taught us that great products start with understanding people. We apply human-centered design principles to every pixel.
Systems Thinking
Our roots in organizational design give us a unique edge. We think in systems, feedback loops, and user flows — not just features and screens.
Contact
Let's Build Something Together
Whether you have an app idea, a product challenge, or just want to connect — we'd love to hear from you.
john@thoughtfulorg.comLas Vegas, Nevada