Michelle Jones is a Managing Partner of Stage-Gate International and leads our New Product Development and Innovation Management practice. She is the trusted advisor and consultant to numerous organizations and industries that seek new product excellence.  Michelle works with clients to uniquely adapt proven product development and innovation management frameworks, processes and governance models to enable high impact performance improvements and lasting, sustainable results.

Michelle is one of the founding members of Stage-Gate International. She has worked closely with co-founders and world-renowned innovation management scholars Dr. Robert Cooper and Dr. Scott Edgett for over 2 decades researching and implementing ground-breaking innovation management discoveries such as, Stage-Gate, Portfolio Management for New Products, the Basic 8 Framework and the Stage-Gate Canvas, into companies around the world. Michelle is credited for implementing more successful Stage-Gate Innovation programs into businesses than anyone else in the world. She is the undisputed expert in tailoring and implementing Stage-Gate to meet the unique environment, capability, culture and business needs of organizations of all sizes, industry and strategic focus. Prior to joining SGI, Michelle was a Senior Management Consultant with Bearing Point KPMG leading post-merger integrations and R&D management initiatives. Michelle also spent 10 years managing product and service operations in the Healthcare industry.  


Innovation Expertise
  • Measurement – expertly audits and analyzes new product, portfolio, process, and project organizations to pinpoint performance improvement opportunities
  • Design – collaborates with organizations to tailor proven frameworks, processes and governance models to drive their new products and innovations successfully to market
  • Implementation – develops and leads creative programs and plans for accelerated adoption, change, innovation capability-building and in-market results  
  • Training – facilitates and delivers convincing and engaging presentations, curriculum and learning programs aimed at cross-functional business leaders 
  • Co-development – collaborates with industry to adapt and align on innovation solutions proven to improve supply chain and member network coordination and performance
Industry Experience

30+ years’ experience as a consultant to businesses, organizations and industries in Canada, the United States, Europe, China, and South America:

  • Agriculture, Food and Beverage industries 
  • Chemicals & Process industries
  • Consumer Packaged Goods (B2C) 
  • Defense and Aerospace industries 
  • Financial services 
  • Industrial and Manufactured Products (B2B) 
  • Life sciences
Background
  • Managing Partner at Stage-Gate International
  • MBA in International Business from University of Western Ontario
  • Food Science and Nutrition from University of Guelph Ontario
  • Certified New Product Development Professional NPDP from PDMA 
  • Certified Program Management Professional from McGill University
  • Certified Instructional Design (Design Thinking) from Mohawk College

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