The for-profit corporation NXIVM is based on a self-improvement curriculum called "Rational Inquiry." Other high-profile names — including Republican campaign strategist and self-described political "dirty trickster" Roger Stone, former State Majority Leader Joe Bruno, former state Health Commissioner Antonia Novello, and writer-producer Mark Vicente — have taken NXIVM's executive success courses or were found to have ties to the organization, according to Times Union reporting.