Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff
Author Interview - Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff
Author of The Art of Change: Transforming Paradoxes into Breakthroughs
Change is full of contradictions—but that’s exactly where breakthroughs begin. We set goals for change, but the goals evolve as change unfolds. We try to avoid conflict, yet conflict fuels transformation. We use facts to change minds, but minds are changed by experiences, not logic.
For over 30 years, Jeff and Staney DeGraff have studied, taught, and practiced innovation in Fortune 500 companies, universities, government, and the military. They’ve seen firsthand how paradoxes—contradictions that seem to block progress—too often derail change and innovation. But instead of resisting them, what if you could use these paradoxes to accelerate transformation?
In The Art of Change, the DeGraffs reveal how paradox—not certainty—is the key to leading in complexity. They unpack the hidden tensions that shape every change effort and show how embracing uncertainty leads to creative solutions. Whether you’re a leader, innovator, or changemaker, this book offers a powerful new framework for navigating disruption, uncertainty, and reinvention.
Author Interview - Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff
Author I draw inspiration from:
Daniel Boorstin (The Discoverers, The Seekers, The Creators)
Author Interview - Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff | Author I Draw Inspiration From
Favorite place to read a book:
On the plane
Book character I’d like to be stuck in an elevator with:
Tom Sawyer: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
We would press all the buttons and pop the escape door. We would shimmy up the cable until we were free and clear. We would run away and stow aboard a freighter and disembark in some exotic port where we would lie about identities and live as gentleman of leisure.
Author Interview - Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff | Book Character I’d Like to be Stuck in an Elevator With
The moment I knew I wanted to become an author:
Finding a copy of Will Durant’s The Story of Philosophy left on the seat of my high school bus.
Hardback, paperback, ebook or audiobook:
Audiobook. It’s my primary mode of understanding. eBooks for planes. Hardcovers for home.
The last book I read:
Magnificent Rebels: The First Romantics and the Invention of the Self by Andrea Wulf
Brilliant. I love Goethe and the circle of authors at Jena - Schiller, Schlegel, Novalis, E.T.A. Hoffmann, etc. It reads like you are part of their conversations.
Author Interview - Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff | The Last Book I Read
Pen & paper or computer:
Computer. I was teased in high school when I took typing. I’m a very fast and accurate typist.
Book character I think I’d be best friends with:
Walt Whitman – Leaves of Grass. OK, I know this is a bit of cheat. But I think he is a character, like William Blake. We would rediscover America traveling down Route 66 in 1974 Cadillac Eldorado ragtop. We would listen to stories told by the locals, and tell a few fabulous tales of our own. When we reached the coast, we’d tip our caps, and bid each other farewell. In the car, we’d leave a poem of encouragement to continue on, and leave the keys in the ignition.
Author Interview - Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff | Book Character I’d be Best Friends With
If I weren’t an author, I’d be a:
A professor and entrepreneur, which is what I am.
Favorite decade in fashion history:
1970’s, the 1980’s were ghastly.
Place I’d most like to travel:
I’m approaching 3 million miles, so I’ve been to a lot of places. I would like explore the Australian outback.
My signature drink:
Coffee
Favorite artist:
Johnny Mercer. Toe tapping American optimism.
Number one on my bucket list:
Publishing a novel
Anything else you'd like to add:
These are all Jeff’s answers, because Staney told him to complete the form. She would like to note for the record that her answers would be much better and far more interesting.
Find more from the author:
Artofchange.net
linkedin.com/in/degraffjeff
Jeffdegraff.com
Innovatrium.org
About Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff:
Author Interview with Jeff DeGraff and Staney DeGraff
Professor Jeff DeGraff is a world-renowned expert in innovation, known for his work in building high-impact innovation ecosystems, cultures, and competencies. As a Professor at the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, he has over 30 years of experience working with top global companies, including Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Pfizer, to drive large-scale innovation initiatives.
In addition to his corporate work, Professor DeGraff founded the Innovatrium Institute of Innovation, where he helps organizations develop creative leadership and collaborative innovation networks. His methodologies are widely adopted across Fortune 500 companies, and he has been instrumental in creating strategies that foster sustainable innovation cultures.
While Professor DeGraff has advised senior military leaders, including the U.S. Air Force and NATO, his broader focus remains on enabling organizations to thrive through innovation by connecting them with cutting-edge tools and approaches. He is also a respected author, having written multiple books on creativity and innovation, and a frequent speaker on the subject at national and international platforms.
