The charismatic Jeff DeGraff is a highly sought after speaker and advisor for companies that include 3M, Apple, American Airlines, Coca-Cola, GE, Johnson & Johnson, LG, Pfizer, and Toyota. He is the Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, where he co-created the Competing Values school of thought that is taught in leading universities, colleges and business schools throughout the world; the Executive Director of the Innovatrium Institute for Innovation, an idea lab; and the Managing Partner of the Competing Values Company, a top innovation consulting firm.

With over twenty-five years experience in management issues, Jeff began his career at Domino's Pizza, where he was responsible for developing innovative strategies, communication/support technologies and new business ventures. The title on Jeff's business cards read "Dean of Innovation." In this role, he helped spur Domino's rapid growth from a regional success story to an international franchise phenomenon.

As the 'guru to the innovation guru' at Fortune 500 companies, he has created a broad array of widely used tools and methods for implementing innovation. His work is focused on how to lead Innovation-developing the culture, capabilities, and collaborative connections that result in revenue and market growth.

His advice is frequently in demand from the investment community on how to pick, manage and harvest winning ideas and business enterprises. Jeff has shared his insight at top innovation incubators and think tanks such as the Aspen Institute. He has also contributed his expertise in publications such as BusinessWeek, CIO, Fortune, Training + Development, Training, USA Today, and the Wall Street Journal.

Jeff has written about innovation in numerous articles and books. He is the co-author of Creativity at Work: Developing the Right Practices to Make Innovation Happen, (Jossey Bass, 2002), Competing Values Leadership: Creating Value in Organizations (Edward Elgar, 2006) and Leading Innovation: How to Jump Start your Organization's Growth Engine (McGraw-Hill, 2006). Jeff holds a Ph.D. in Educational Technology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Leading Innovation
This popular "Innovation 101" session is meant to inspire every employee, at every level, to take ownership of innovation. Jeff debunks accepted innovation myths and misconceptions and provides the simple steps to make innovation work. Jeff shares how to avoid common pitfalls and how to harness the existing corporate culture and competencies to drive innovation and growth.

Jumpstart Innovation
The focus is on how to rapidly create results while identifying innovation practices that can be repeated in the future. Leaders will learn how to build teams that can support innovative initiatives and quickly launch projects to proof creative concepts. Jumpstart Innovation is very targeted, most appropriate for leaders with a key growth project.

Innovation Without Boundaries
The program facilitates collaboration across boundaries to create new opportunities for innovation. Jeff explains how collaboration across divisions (marketing, R&D, finance, etc.), disciplines (business, academia, government, etc.) and geographies (US, Europe, Asia, etc.), open sourcing, idea markets, and crowd sourcing can fill your innovation pipeline.

Custom Presentations
Jeff's presentations can be tailored in content and length to the specific needs of your organization, industry, and event themes.

Read Jeff DeGraff's Training Magazine article, Innovatrium