Negotiating Change
Jazz improvisation and the corporate business model have more in common than you may realize. Jazz uses a system that enables collaborative improvisation to thrive - the very same skills that many corporations rely on for success. Innovative response to change is what business in the 21st century demands.

By transposing the jazz metaphor onto the dynamics of the corporate environment, Jazz Impact plants the seed for developing innovative response to change.

The members of a jazz ensemble possess and practice a set of shared behaviors that are called the Five Dynamics of Jazz.

These five dynamics, whose acronym is APRIL are:

Autonomy -- self-governing, self-regulating, adaptable and independent - yet in support of (and interdependent with) the larger organism.

Passion -- the quality of emotional vibrancy, zest, commitment, and energy to pursue excellence and the course one believes to be true.

Risk -- the ability to take chances and explore new territory and methods in pursuit of shared goals, and the ability to support others in their explorations.

Innovation -- the skill to invent, recombine, and create new solutions to problems using either old or new forms, methods, and/or resources.

Listening -- the ability to truly hear and feel the the communication of passion, meaning and rhythms of others. Through hands-on interaction and the compelling performance of a World Class Jazz Ensemble, Jazz Impact demonstrates:

What skills are needed for improvisation

What risks improvisers encounter

Why improvisation is critical

How these principles relate to the interactive dynamics of your corporation

Jazz Impact is a fusion of insights and parallels drawn from both the world of business and the world of jazz. In an environment where the only constant is change, the improvisational techniques of jazz go beyond metaphorical inspiration- techniques that can have an immediate effect on your business.

Jazz Impact's goal is to motivate, facilitate change and deliver results.

Jazz Impact was developed by Michael Gold, Ph.D. Mr. Gold spent many years as a jazz bassist in New York City. In addition to performing, he taught extensively and ran the jazz department at Vassar College. In 1995 he received a grant from The National Endowment for the Arts for a program that he designed to teach the skills of jazz improvisation to professional orchestral musicians. The idea for Jazz Impact crystallized in 1996 when Mr. Gold became vice president of operations for a financial services company in Minneapolis. Michael Gold is an exciting speaker whose vision of collaborative dynamics and passion for jazz will enlighten, entertain, and motivate the people whose collaborative skills and creative energy you value.

Why jazz impact

Jazz Impact extends the concept of the traditional motivational speaker at corporate seminars or conventions from entertainment to breakthrough learning. The combination of provocative ideas and compelling live performance of a world-class jazz ensemble creates a multifaceted product that provides several different products in one package.

The Jazz Impact 90-minute motivational seminar is ideal for opening or closing corporate functions of any size and nature.

What People Are Saying:

"Well, the feedback is finally in from our Summit Award program attendees, and I can say that on all accounts, Jazz Impact was a hit! You and your group did a terrific job at providing just the right balance—making your session educational, in terms of the relationship between jazz and our organization, and offering attendees something that was also entertaining and unique. I did not expect my CEO and CFO to stand up and participate in your interactive sessions; it was gratifying to see that they too enjoyed your program.

Presenting to such a mixed audience, with people from so many levels of management representing 23 countries, could certainly be a challenge. But you “worked the crowd” well. Music is a universal language that unites us all and it was evident when I looked around and saw full participation from the group. You really added to our event, closing it on such a high note, (sorry, couldn’t resist the pun) and I believe, offering participants a fuller appreciation of jazz and its connections to business. And, along the way, our attendees had some fun.  Thanks so much. Kudos to all."
-- Barbara Henderson - Director, Corporate Media Relations and Public Affairs

These comments from the Senior Executives of Mahle after a seminar in Germany, December of 2005:

"The "JAZZ" workshop was a highlight. The direct parallel between a group of musicians to what we are facing as a group of executives in the MAHLE family made an impression. The rules that make the whole group work could be integrated into our HR policy"

"The Jazz theme was really well done, especially on Saturday night - a brilliant exercise in team building"

"It was a brilliant idea to use music to demonstrate the importance of passion, improvisation, intuition and integrated performance."

"The JAZZ theme was quite enjoyable and surprisingly effective"

"Jazz impact: new point of view - excellent!"

Jazz Impact's Key Note Program at The National Accounts 2004 Consultant Forum for Aetna Insurance Company, Feb 2004, Miami, FL

"Michael, everyone is still talking about our Forum and your presentation!!!! Thank you! I never thought we'd get the enthusiastic response that we did to our event. And, in hindsight, I wish we had set your time with us a bit longer. But, its fair to say you hit a home run with our audience last week and you can be sure to get an enthusiastic endorsement from me should you wish to have me serve as a reference.

My many thanks to you and your ensemble for a meaningful and insightful session. The group loved it! You really helped bring our theme together and your music and your message resonated with the group. It was a huge success. Thank you!"- -- Don Potter - Aetna Insurance Company

" I am writing to briefly add my personal thanks to you and the Jazz Impact team for the exciting contribution you made to our conference in Venice last month. We wanted something delicious to excite those parts that the average session doesn't reach, you gave me that and more. Once again, thank you, it was a privilege to see you all at work."
-- Wendi Pasco - Management Centre Europe

" I've participated in many attempts to use the arts, sports, or other forms of entertainment as metaphors for business. But rarely have I seen a session more perfectly 'on pitch' than the approach used by Michael Gold and Jazz Impact. Jazz is more than just a metaphor for creativity and collaboration in business. It maps perfectly to the dynamics of high performance groups in way that reveals new understanding of how teams should work together. Bravo!"
-- Tom Petzinger, Jr / Renowned Wall St. Journalist and Author of "The New Pioneers"
Co-founder and CEO LaunchCyte LLC LaunchCyte

" I want to thank you for bringing Jazz Impact to our Northwest Zone Managers Conference in April. I found the seminar to be an astounding combination of entertainment, learning and inspiration. It transformed our meeting into an experience that will resonate with our company for a long time."
-- Paul Davis / President - Starbucks North America

" The presentation was an ingenious and original approach correlating the jazz ensemble's creative interconnectivity with corporate interrelations. As a result of your presentation there is a palpable sense of heightened awareness."
-- Craig Kanarick / CCO - Razorfish

" It was a pleasure working with you on our Managed Care Group National Training Meeting in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. We have never used jazz music to convey a business message, but you have definitely changed my perspective on the matter. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the seminar and the performance of the outstanding ensemble- in fact many of them approached me stating so. Jazz Impact is a class act and we look forward to working with you again."
-- Barry Pritchard / Vice President - Johnson & Johnson Managed Care

" Your involvement with Jazz Impact has had a tremendously positive influence on our new company- learning to listen differently to each other, learning to collaborate with each other, learning to innovate in ways no one ever thought of before your presentation. Jazz is music in motion and alive to change. Companies, whether not for profit or corporate, are individuals in motion and alive to change. We all need to use your concepts to develop a healthier and more productive workplace."
-- Annette Rodriguez /Organizational Resources Manager - People Serving People, Inc.

Past Clients

Accenture
Aetna Insurance
Agilent Technologies
Alex Lee
AMS (Part of CGI)
The Banff Centre For Leadership Development
Benedictine Health Services
Best Buy
Cargill
Carlson Companies
The Case Workers Society of America
CB Richard Ellis
Child Health Corporation of America and Fairview Health
Choice Hotels
Event Solutions Magazine
The Farm Credit Council
Fenwick and West
General Dynamics
Georgia Pacific
The Hay Group International
IBM
IMS Health
Institute for Alternative Futures
Lucent Technologies
Mahle Leadership Conference
Makro Cash and Carry Poland
Management Centre Europe
Medical Marketing Association
Material Handling Industry of America
McGraw Hill
Medical Marketing Association
The Plexus Institute of Complexity Science
The New Product Development Association (PDMA)
Prudential Financial/American Skandia
Reynolds & Reynolds
Rio Grande
Thomson Corporation
The United Nations
Women's Transportation Society