ThinkShop
Think forward to innovation
Chris believes an effective innovation process begins with a readiness to explore, push limits, and drive to discover new possibilities. Passionate and enthusiastic, Chris brings to her work unique skills and a dynamic personality as well as a full set of life experiences.
She was drawn to the field of innovation by her natural sense of adventure and optimistic attitude – characteristics fed by two of her passions: mountain climbing and trail running. An adventurer, she delights in exploring the intersections between disciplines and finding big new ideas along the way.
Chris draws upon more than 20 years of experience in the fields of innovation, marketing, advertising, and consumer research. Before co-founding ThinkShop, she acquired large ad agency and client-side experience, plus a Master’s in Marketing Research.
Chris resides in the foothills of the Cascade Mountains near Seattle, where she can run out her door and up a mountain trail. She is also a mother, organic gardener and cook.
As long as she can remember, Michelle has been involved in entrepreneurship and innovation. Other kids dreamed of being firemen and doctors, Michelle dreamed of starting her own company. Born into an entrepreneurial family, she participated in spirited discussions about ideas and business at an early age.
After graduating from the University of Georgia with a Master’s in Market Research, Michelle looked for ways to marry her love of innovation and ideas with her background in consumer insights. She found her dream job on the launch team of an idea generation consultancy within Leo Burnett Advertising.
Working on many signature brands while creating an idea generation business from the ground up, she honed her strategic, creative, and facilitation skills. In 1995, she co-founded ThinkShop - and her dream of starting her own company became real.
Based in New York, Michelle and her family split their time between New York City and a rural farmhouse. As a working mom with two children, she brings first-hand insight into the target audiences of many clients. The contrasting perspective of big city and very small town fuels her work in innovation.
