For Jeff Ponders II, embracing distinct passions and skills are the key to unlocking great performance. As such, he’s spent his career helping others unlock better performances with his creativity, innovation, and infectious energy.

For nearly 15 years, Jeff has developed strategic initiatives and consumer experiences for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. As an executive with firms like Leo Burnett and Digitas, he launched new capabilities and introduced game-changing strategies for clients such as General Motors, Walmart, Samsung, and Colgate. Today, Jeff helps ambitious brands understand their customers and develop effective business strategies & creative products as founding partner of The Better Company.

Jeff is also intimately engaged with the start-up community. He leverages his experiences building multiple tech start-ups to guide entrepreneurs and growth-stage businesses as an advisor and board member. Most recently, Jeff signed on as Entrepreneur-in-Residence at TechTown Detroit, one of the Midwest’s leading entrepreneurial incubators.

Despite a demanding schedule, Jeff remains true to his creative core. A professional saxophonist for 20+ years, he has performed and recorded with some of the most notable names in jazz, R&B, and gospel music. Jeff’s most recent jazz album, Spark, is available on all major music platforms. He frequently references his jazz training as the secret to his corporate and entrepreneurial success.

Jeff frequently pulls from his unique experiences from the boardroom to the bandstand to deliver vibrant, memorable keynote experiences. He blends live performance, real-world stories, and practical techniques to help audiences amplify their talents, boldly tackle challenges, and collaborate to discover big ideas and achieve breakthrough results.

Jeff graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and proudly resides in his hometown Detroit with his wife and children.