Innovation and creativity don’t have to be difficult - in fact, it’s sometimes much easier than you would think to get a team to think differently, create an awesome idea to solve your business challenge or change peoples’ mind-set to think creativity all the time.
That’s where I come in - during my 32 years at The Walt Disney Company, I helped create some of their most impactful marketing campaigns, memorable guest experiences and real-time operational efficiency changes by using an easy-to-learn, easy-to-activate and easier-to-perpetuate creative problem solving process. Now I’m serving companies needing an infusion of innovation, internal creativity and fresh thinking. So here’s the deets on what I can offer your business:
TRAINING – I offer an intense training program that teaches creative confidence and innovation prowess within your team. Participants learn: the PROCESS, an easy framework for repeatable innovation; easy-to-use TOOLS to help them think differently; better collaboration BEHAVIORS that compliment both the process and the tools. This training is always well received and turns innovation barriers into enablers that unlock previously “impossible” solutions.
STRUCTURE – I use the proven DESIGN THINKING approach in both TRAINING and INVENTING, which helps teams collaborate better to co-create results. This is the same approach used by innovation leaders like Disney, HP, Pepsi-Co and Kimberly-Clark. Here’s the skinny on the steps I use:
SCOPING – We clearly define the business challenge and get everyone stoked to work on it. EMPATHIZING – We uncover insights by immersing ourselves in our consumers’ mindsets and environments.
IDEATING – We use proven brainstorming tools to create a huge set of possibilities and novel solutions.
DEVELOPING – Finally, we evaluate and polish those great ideas to get the best ROI we can!
WORKSHOPS AND KEYNOTES – For those who want to motivate, excite and inspire their team, I have several 1-3 hour, “tapas style” workshops in my arsenal. These are the perfect way to infuse some fun, creativity and learning into everyday company life. Topics include defining challenges, hosting the perfect brainstorm, discovering creative confidence, pitching ideas, and even the value of spontaneity.
Technically speaking, I hold a Bachelors of Science Degree in Marketing and several certificates in creative problem solving processes from leaders and pioneers of the craft (Tim Hurson’s ThinkX and FOURSight to name a few.) I have facilitated more than 100 training classes on creativity and countless inventing sessions for a wide variety of business. I am also the Commander of the Central Florida Chapter of the United States Power Squadrons, a consumer boating advocacy and safety association.
When I am not helping others solve creative challenges, I can usually be found cruising the beautiful waterways of Florida on my boat, aptly titled "The Kitchen Kluster", watching any and all Star Wars and/or Marvel movies (repeatedly, I am a HUGE fanboi), playing multiplayer games on my Xbox One, or having fun socializing with awesome friends and my amazing family.
