| Vice President of Communications and New Ventures |
Domino's Pizza Distribution Corp. |
1985-01-01 — 1990-12-31 |
Directed strategic communications and internal innovation initiatives during Domino's period of explosive growth from $50 million to $2 billion. Earned the informal title 'Dean of Innovation' for pioneering scalable creativity practices and leadership development models. Applied emerging organizational theories to help scale the company. |
| Clinical Professor of Management and Organizations |
Ross School of Business, University of Michigan |
1990-01-01 |
Teaching Managing Creativity (MO 745), Leading Change (MO 603), Creativity at Work (MO463), and other innovation courses to MBAs, executives, and undergraduates. Developed flagship programs including the first BBA capstone course. Established comprehensive school of thought around systematic innovation development. Created University of Michigan's Certified Professional Innovator Program, the first university innovation certificate of its kind. |
| Founder |
Competing Values, LLC |
1990-01-01 |
Launched consulting firm applying academic models to real-world innovation challenges in Fortune 500 firms, healthcare systems, and government. Works with over half the Fortune 500 including Google, Apple, Coca-Cola, Pfizer, NASA, and Microsoft to build sustainable innovation ecosystems. |
| Founder |
Innovatrium Institute for Innovation |
2004-01-01 |
Created joint venture with Haworth: a physical and intellectual innovation lab near Ross School of Business. Living laboratory where organizations experiment with innovation culture, capability, and community. Practical manifestation of DeGraff's school of thought—a physical space where diverse perspectives clash productively to generate new solutions. |
| Founder |
Intellectual Edge Alliance |
2015-01-01 |
Founded nonprofit consortium of research universities and technology companies working with the U.S. Military, NATO, and allied forces in 45 countries. Makes innovation tools and practices accessible to leaders tackling critical societal challenges in defense, government, and education. Developed programs including Project Mercury, AIM HI, and other innovation frameworks for military and defense applications. |
| Visiting Professor |
Helsinki Graduate School of Economics (now Aalto University) |
1994-01-01 — 1995-12-31 |
Taught innovation leadership and organizational change. Introduced the Competing Values Framework to European academic circles. |
| Advisor to Apple Computer |
Apple Computer |
1987-01-01 — 1987-12-31 |
Served as advisor on Applied Integrated Systems, an early multimedia education initiative and precursor to iTunes. Helped shape the fusion of technology, learning, and design thinking in the emerging digital age. |
