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Jeremy Brown, Founder & Agile Strategy Coach
Probably like you, I have struggled in implementing strategy, both as an employee and as a business owner. As much as I'd prefer to talk about successes, I've had my share of failures. The one thing that I've learned along the way is, don't try and force control-oriented process on people (or yourself). That's not how humans evolved as a species, and we work best when we have meaningful connections and dialogue, are free to experiment in controlled environments, and have a reasonable amount of autonomy in choosing our actions.
My Path to strategyNow
I hit the lottery in life, and I do not take my privileges for granted. I grew up on a beautiful and bountiful farm in Pennsylvania, in the home of loving and hard-working parents and siblings. I got to spend a lot of time outdoors, enjoying the fruits of farm work and having fun doing dangerous things that mom could never find out about. I had great teachers and coaches along the way. After high school, my dad helped me find a lucrative job in construction (for farm kids, anything with a pay check is lucrative), allowing me to attend college without incurring debt. I benefited from attending Penn State, a wonderful university with a land-grant legacy. It took a lot of people who came before me to allow a rural farm kid to experience what I have in life.
After college, I bounced around a bit, with stints in Upstate New York, Colorado, Texas, and Washington DC. I admit, for much of my younger-adult life I was more interested in new experiences than forging a linear career path. As a result, I was able to travel to nearly 40 countries, work across a wide variety of cultures, contribute to impactful projects, and connect with and learn from a diverse set of individuals who have influenced my point of view.
As I "settled down" over the past several years, I have had the privilege of serving as a strategy consultant for Deloitte Consulting and FMI Corporation. I have been fortunate to work on strategy and implementation projects for a wide variety of companies and cultures, from startups to Fortune 50 conglomerates across the finance, technology, engineering, construction, government, and non-profit sectors.
When I think back at my biggest successes in life, I realize that none of them came about as a result of a perfectly-executed plan. They were iterative - trying new things and being willing to adjust and embrace failure, finding new people to connect with and learn from, and having a laser focus on the critical next step(s) - all while sticking to my core values. This is how I came to embrace agile strategy - and ultimately to found StrategyNow.
Education & Certifications
- Master of Science in Adult Learning | The University of Denver
- Master of Science in Real Estate and Construction Management | The University of Denver
- Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Management Information Systems | Penn State University
- IDEO U Design Thinking Certification
- PROSCI Change Management Certified
- Professional DynaMetric Programs (PDP) Proscan Certified
- Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Professional
- Project Management Professional (PMP)
Jeremy Brown, Agile Strategy Consultant and Coach, and Overall Great Guy
My "Why"
There are less stressful and more predictable paths to a paycheck than founding a business in an emerging space. Nights away on the road, working evenings and weekends to make deadlines, and the uncertainties around backlog are a few of the sacrifices.
The two items that drive me the most on this insane journey are:
1) Modeling to my daughters that if you believe in something and want to make a difference, then you are going to have to make sacrifices. Stick to your beliefs, be flexible in your approach, and in this great country, you can make things even better and be proud of the mark you leave.
2) Helping other business leaders, who have families, employees, and communities to support, be more effective at strategy and improving their intended impact. I know that when we are successful together, it allows my clients to reinvest in their business and communities, and reward the hard workers and risk-takers that make it happen.
In my spare time, I spend every minute I can in the majestic UT outdoors with my family - encouraging our daughters see the beauty of the world, take chances, and find small ways to help other people. I also serve on the board of the UT Chapter of the Association for Change Management Professionals, where we help our members improve their abilities to effectively implement change within their organizations and communities.
This is where the first steps of my journey began. I'm thankful for those who have influenced and inspired me along the way. For those whom I have not crossed paths with, I hope that I will get to do so soon.