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Tippie Alum Rob Johnston, MBA '09
Impact

Be an Innovative Thought Leader

Tippie alum Rob Johnston uses the skills he gained in the SI academy every day at AEGON USA. Rob works with many divisions to establish strategic direction for the company, using the cross-functional thinking he honed at Tippie.

Individual Coaching and Mentoring
Integrity

Individual Coaching and Mentoring

The Strategic Innovation Career Academy directors bring rich and varied backgrounds in industry and research to the table. You'll be on a first-name basis with the directors and receive one-on-one mentoring and coaching.

Real Projects, Real Companies
Innovation

Real Projects, Real Companies

SI academy students have a variety of opportunities to work on real-world consulting projects, whether through Tippie's consulting arm or academy projects in Technology Commercialization, Lean, or Rapid Continuous Improvement.

Lean projects alongside a Lean expert
Impact

Process Improvement in Practice

Suggest process improvement strategies as part of your team consulting project with companies like John Deere and Principal Financial, working closely with Lean manufacturing expert Tom Bednar.

Strategic Innovation Academy News

  • SI academy hosting Doug Goschke from Simpler Consulting for a presentation on Lean certification Nov. 4.
  • New Lean Silver certification added to SI curriculum
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Certifications

Earn Lean & Six Sigma Certifications at Tippie

Find out how you can gain these credentials.

Wall

Meet Tippie Strategic Innovation Alums

Get to know Tippie alums around the country.

Recruiting Companies

Strategic Innovation Recruiting Companies

View a sampling of the companies that recruit and hire our graduates.

Meet Our Students

Meet Our Students

Get to know the faces of the Strategic Innovation Career Academy.

The Impact Zone

Ann Campbell

This professor's work is focused on impacting the lives of people who have experienced disasters. Read more...

The Impact Zone

Strategic Innovation Career Academy

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We think the difference between an average business career and an outstanding career has everything to do with how innovatively you think. The ability to think strategically and to continuously pursue innovation is what'll drive your career to higher levels.

Our uniquely designed Strategic Innovation Career Academy prepares students for careers centered on purusuit of innovation regardless of the specific functional area of focus. In short, we'll train you to be an innovative thinker.

More Than a Student

  • Network with execs who are solving real-time innovation challenges each day, like Matt Lane, managing director at HP, or Steve Nikrant, Supply Chain VP at Eaton Corp.
  • Develop a feasibility plan to take new technologies—like innovative software programs, or stents used to repair aneurysms—to market in cooperation with The University of Iowa Research Foundation.
  • Examine and recommend process improvement opportunities as part of consulting projects with service providers and manufacturers like Mercy Hospital or AllSteel.
  • Earn process improvement certifications that are the industry benchmarks, including a Simpler® Lean Silver Certification and Six Sigma Green Belt.
  • Connect with the business community through company visits, speakers, and alumni outreach.

You'll develop your analytical skills by merging multidisciplinary analysis of business issues and decisions to produce results for a business problem or overall new business direction. You'll transfer into a strategic innovative thought leader in the positions you hold in the future.