Dr. Jeff Smith is proven R&D leader, psychologist, strategist, inventor, best-selling author, and speaker who leads teams that build and launch technology and experiences that help people and organizations thrive at scale. Jeff understands that launching exceptional tech that drives customer outcomes requires deep customer insight, outstanding internal partnership, and an every day commitment to prioritization and execution.
While Jeff loves strategy, he’s firm believer that strategy is what you do, not what you say, and much prefers real customer impact through expert allocation of resources over presentation parades.
Jeff has a diverse, award-winning background in product, innovation, design, UX, CX, performance, learning, and people. Jeff has deep expertise in translating qualitative and quantitative primary and secondary research into insights, strategy, education, product features, inventions, sales enablement, people programs, and business impact.
Jeff is the author of The Meaningful Manager: How to Manage What Matters, a step-by-step how-to guide to people management that's simple, impactful, and fullfilling. Available at https://geni.us/TheMeaningfulManager
Jeff is an inventor on 15 issued US Patents, as well as over 125 IP publications, and was honored to receive Master Inventor designation both at IBM and at Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions.
Jeff received his PhD in Psychology (Human Factors and Applied Cognition concentration; minor in Design) at North Carolina State University, his BAs in Psychology and Philosophy from Wheeling Jesuit University, and lifelong lessons from his 1L experience at the Duquesne University School of Law (before deciding he didn’t want to be an attorney). Jeff is certified in Crucial Conversations, Tilt 365 True Tilt Personality Profile, Tilt 365 Positive Influence Predictor, and Tilt 365 Team Agility Predictor. Jeff was a Certified User Experience Professional (Board of Certification in Professional Ergonomics) for almost 10 years. As an advocate for positive tech, Jeff is a member of humanity+ and the International Positive Psychology Association.