Jo Thorogood
About Jo Thorogood
Jo Thorogood is the founder and co-partner of The Sage Network, where he applies his expertise in creativity and innovation to help teams generate ideas. With a background in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and an MBA, he has extensive experience in market assessment and consumer insights, having worked with several prominent consulting firms before establishing his own.
Work at The Sage Network
Jo Thorogood is the Co-Founder and Partner of The Sage Network, a position held since 2001. The organization focuses on harnessing creativity and innovation to assist teams in generating ideas. Thorogood employs various methodologies, including ethnographies and shop-alongs, to uncover consumer insights. The Sage Network operates within the San Francisco Bay Area and Greater New York City Area, providing workshops and consulting services aimed at enhancing creativity and idea generation.
Education and Expertise
Jo Thorogood holds multiple degrees, including a Master of Engineering in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from the University of Bath and an MBA in Marketing and International Business from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Additionally, Thorogood has a certificate in Design Thinking for Innovation. This educational background supports her expertise in market assessment, opportunity identification, and concept development within marketing and business strategy.
Background
Jo Thorogood has a diverse professional background, having worked at several prestigious firms prior to founding The Sage Network. Her career includes roles at The Cambridge Group as Project Director, Gemini Consulting as a Consultant, Accenture as a Consultant, Booz Allen Hamilton as a Summer intern consultant, and Philips. Thorogood has lived and worked in various countries, including the UK, Australia, Finland, and the USA, which contributes to her global perspective on business and creativity.
Achievements
Jo Thorogood is recognized for her contributions to innovation and creativity in educational settings. She speaks at college innovation summits, including events at UC Santa Barbara, and runs highly-rated workshops on ideation for colleges and their alumni, such as Vassar College. Thorogood also provides guidance to winners of entrepreneurship competitions at the University of Bath, emphasizing her commitment to inspiring the next generation of innovators.
Facilitation and Techniques
Jo Thorogood is a Synectics-trained facilitator who utilizes a variety of techniques to foster creativity and idea generation. Her methods include online and in-person approaches such as focus groups, discussion boards, and one-on-one interviews. Thorogood believes that with the right stimulus, anyone can be creative, and she harnesses human-centered design principles to inspire teams through consumer insight and empathy.