Jeff Baker
Strategy Adviser, Strategyn Consulting
Locale: Seattle, WA
Biography: Jeff’s expertise in marketing strategy, new product development, and market research is built upon a solid foundation of 20 years of experience in marketing. He is an expert in brand identity development, positioning and messaging. He has a broad range of both B2B and B2C industry experience, with expertise in computer software and hardware, mobile telecom, and entertainment / consumer electronics.
In his role at Strategyn, Jeff helps executives institutionalize ODI as an innovation core competency in their companies – establishing best practices, changing business processes, and facilitating change management. He also works with product teams, leading specific innovation projects using outcome-driven methods to drive the team’s product innovation roadmap and their marketing strategy.
Previously, Jeff spent 12 years at Microsoft, with roles in market research, marketing and product management. During his tenure, he helped launch the two most successful versions of Windows and led market research for Microsoft’s mobile devices division. As a leader in Microsoft’s market research organization, he pioneered the development of a strategic architecture for research, which was adopted companywide and significantly enhanced the role of the research discipline. He was recognized as a thought leader in the integration of market research and user experience disciplines.
Jeff also has agency experience in branding, advertising and market research, with a special focus on consumer behavior and the translation of research insights into integrated brand and communications programs. He earned a BS in molecular biology and an MBA in marketing from the University of Oregon.
Personal: My wife and I recently celebrated 20 years together. We have 14-year-old twin boys. I like to golf as much as I can, and still play volleyball and tennis occasionally. I’m always looking for a creative outlet – love taking pictures, furniture design, landscape design, music, movies.
Proudest Accomplishment: Serving as the lead in implementing our first “Program for Innovation” with a client.
Only My Close Friends Know This: When I’m laughing really hard, like tears-streaming hard, I sound a lot like a squeaker toy gasping for air inside a vacuum.
Quote: “To achieve anything in life, you must be prepared to dabble with the edge of disaster.”
Great Article: Esquire magazine has a great series of articles this year, “What I’ve Learned.” Various notable public figures and everyday men talk about wisdom they’ve picked up over the years.