ATD LI Monthly Chapter Meeting:
Influencing stakeholders: How to sell your ideas through the organization

Thursday November 2nd, 2017
You’ve got a brilliant idea. Great! But no one’s implementing it. Not so great. Your org chart and employee manual tell you how things are supposed to happen. And yet the reality is that your understanding of the culture, networks and ability to influence determine what really happens. This presentation will explore strategies for influencing others in the organization when driving innovation from your brain to the organization using illustrative success and cautionary case stories.
Jonathan Vehar is the global Vice President of Products at Dale Carnegie, where his team is working to re-invigorate this classic brand. He has worked with organizations for over 20 years helping them to improve their leadership and cultures in support of effectiveness and innovation. Organizations to benefit from his work include: Chrysler, Disney, Kraft/Mondelez, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and many others.
He has been called an “Innovation Thought Leader” by Fast Company, and “Innovation guru” by Investors Business Daily, and an “Innovation Geek” by Forbes. He managed the innovation portfolio and was a top-ranked senior faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership, where he overtly and covertly launched new products and programs, including a course about selling ideas through organizations, which leaned heavily on the strategies of Dale Carnegie. He also co-owned and operated a global innovation consulting organization, led training and consulting for the Creative Education Foundation, and started his career in advertising and marketing.
Jonathan has written extensively about innovation and leadership, including a book entitled, “More lightning, less thunder: How to energize innovation teams.” His latest book is entitled, “Manage your boss,” and is on the desk of his boss, the CEO. This makes Jonathan nervous.
He lives on Long Island with his wife and 7-year old daughter, who constantly challenges his innovation leadership.