We provide consulting, training, and coaching focused on developing creativity and innovation capabilities in organizations

Approach

Our insights and methodologies are drawn from the multi-disciplinary perspectives of business management, art, design, and social science research. We take a whole-brain approach to  creativity and innovation, leveraging arts-based learning as a catalyst for creativity, and design thinking as a strategy for innovation.

We believe in Positive Psychology, and Appreciative Inquiry: People and organizations flourish when they focus on human ideals and achievements, and strive toward excellence based on fostering the unique talents of individual and teams. 

For innovation to flourish, organizations must create an environment that fosters creativity; bringing together multi-talented groups of people who work in close collaboration together— exchanging knowledge, ideas and shaping the direction of the future. Organizations led by creative leaders have a higher success rate in innovation, employee engagement, change and renewal.

What sets us apart

Exclusive Frameworks. The CREATIVITY AT WORK PROTOCOL integrates design thinking with classic creative problem solving and provides a structure for managing the process or creativity and innovation. 

Context-Driven Solutions. Every true solution is unique to your business. Off-the-shelf solutions lack relevance to the intended audiences and your unique environment. Lasting change is achieved through custom-made, curated strategies and approaches. 

Proven Expertise. Leveraging over 20 years of leadership, practical experience, and research in leadership, design thinking, creativity in the workplace, market research, innovation, culture, and organizational change, we provide you with the unparalleled insight you need to unlock real results.

Technology enabled. Where applicable and appropriate, we use technology to enable and advance progress for people and their organizations.

Who We Are

Linda Naiman is the founder of Creativity at Work and helps organizations develop creativity, innovation, and leadership capabilities, through coaching, training and consulting. Linda advises senior leaders and their teams on building creative capacities, managing the creative process and fostering a culture of innovation. As an educator and coach, Linda brings a multi-disciplinary approach to learning and development based on her background as an artist and designer: She leverages arts-based practices to spark creative inspiration, and design thinking to manage the creative process for innovation. Organizations that have sought out Linda for her expertise include Cisco Systems, Dell International, Intel, BASF, American Express, RBC, the US Navy and the UN.

Members of our Consortium:

Chuck Hamilton

One part, Future Of Work leader, one part coach and three parts innovator, Chuck has a long work history at the intersection of people and technology. He is the former Chief Operating Officer of HeroX. He is the former Chief Operating Officer of HeroX, and a former executive at IBM. As Director of Learning at IBM, Chuck and his team of 6 helped start approximately 15,000 internal learning communities and 80 external ones. (IBM had over 30K Internal communities at the time.)  His work includes leadership in Virtual Work, Open Innovation, CleanTech, EDTech, Smarter Cities and Digital Strategy. He currently an Executive Advisor to Riipen, Ibbaka, EiR Venture Labs, and others. Chuck is also an Associate Faculty member for the Centre For Digital Media, Masters of Digital Media Program, a TED Talker, designer, and community volunteer.

Karen Jaw-Madson

Karen Jaw-Madson, organizational expert and author of Culture Your Culture: Innovating Experiences @Work, enjoyed success as a corporate executive before pursuing a ‘portfolio career’ comprised of research, writing, consulting, teaching/speaking, and creative pursuits. Proving her versatility across multiple industries, Karen developed, led, and implemented numerous organizational initiatives around the globe. She built a reputation as a strategic leader who gets things done. Today, Karen is principal of Co.-Design of Work Experience, where she enables organizations with innovative approaches and customized solutions for intimidating challenges. Focus areas include culture, organizational change, and people strategies. Karen has a BA in Ethnic and Cultural Studies from Bryn Mawr College and a MA in Social-Organizational Psychology from Columbia University.

Steven S Taylor, PhD

Steve is an associate professor in the School of Business at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. His research focuses on the aesthetics of organizational action and reflective practice. Recently his academic work has focused on theorizing what business can learn from the arts and management as craft. He is the author of the book Leadership Craft, Leadership Art, and is the editor of the journal Organizational Aesthetics. Steve is also a playwright whose work has been performed in England, France, Poland, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Italy, Australia, and the USA.

Selected clients