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Jeff DeGraff

Clinical Professor of Business Administration, Ross School of Business at University of Michigan

Jeff DeGraff is known as the “Dean of Innovation.” A world-renowned thought leader and advisor, he helps organizations — from Apple and Coca-Cola to the U.S. military — build the culture and capabilities that drive growth. He’s the founder of the Innovatrium innovation lab and Executive Director of the Intellectual Edge Alliance (IEA), a nonprofit advancing innovation across tech, defense, education, and mission-driven sectors.

A Clinical Professor at the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, Jeff co-created the Competing Values Framework, now used worldwide to lead change and innovation. His media work includes books, columns, and a PBS/NPR series focused on revitalizing purpose in mission-driven organizations.

His mission is the democratization of innovation — equipping people at every level to lead meaningful change. Jeff’s current focus is building a global school of thought — uniting business, government, and culture to shape the future of innovation and change.

A middle-aged man with glasses, short light hair, and a mustache, wearing a dark blazer and black turtleneck, poses in front of a blue background.
Innovation is Like the Path of Odysseus
Jeff DeGraff: As a rule of thumb I like to tell people you have to be very open and an innovation usually takes you three times as long and at least twice the amount of money you thought it would. 
On the Hypocrisy of Innovators
Recently I spoke to a conference of leading business school deans about the prospects of the MBA degree. My speech was entitled The Future has Come and Gone and You’ve […]
Recreating Your Company
Your Only Friend Innovation is different from everything you do as a leader in three distinct ways. First, innovation happens in the future for which you currently have no data. […]