--- title: Centered Articles | JL Heather (4) description: "I’ve spent 20 years working in organizational transformations and I discovered the #1 path to real change and improvement was through helping leaders rise to the challenge of their role. For the last 5 years I’ve been coaching senior and executive leaders at companies like VML, Ford, Pfizer, Wendy’s, T-Mobile, GE, and many others doing just that! \n
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I am CPCC certified through the Coactive Training Institute \n
I hold the ACC (Associate Certified Coach) credential through the ICF (International Coaching Federation) \n
Leadership Circle Profile (LCP) Certified \n
I have hundreds of hours of coaching experience with senior to executive leaders \n
I have 20 years of experience applying lean/agile principles to leadership, organizations, and processes \n
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I am also a passionate and skilled facilitator who creates safe spaces for teams and leaders to tackle organizational, product, or interpersonal issues and co-create solutions. (4)" --- [![CENTERED LOGO Dark](https://centered.work/hubfs/CENTERED%20LOGO%20Dark.png)](https://centered.work) - Services - [Breakthrough Lab](https://centered.work/breakthrough-lab) - [Design Sprint](https://centered.work/services/design-sprints) - [Innovation Coaching](https://centered.work/innovation-coaching) - Case Study - Books - Workshops - Podcast - Articles - About Us [Get in touch](https://centered.work/contact-us) AUTHOR # JL Heather I’ve spent 20 years working in organizational transformations and I discovered the #1 path to real change and improvement was through helping leaders rise to the challenge of their role. For the last 5 years I’ve been coaching senior and executive leaders at companies like VML, Ford, Pfizer, Wendy’s, T-Mobile, GE, and many others doing just that! I am CPCC certified through the Coactive Training Institute I hold the ACC (Associate Certified Coach) credential through the ICF (International Coaching Federation) Leadership Circle Profile (LCP) Certified I have hundreds of hours of coaching experience with senior to executive leaders I have 20 years of experience applying lean/agile principles to leadership, organizations, and processes I am also a passionate and skilled facilitator who creates safe spaces for teams and leaders to tackle organizational, product, or interpersonal issues and co-create solutions. [Follow me on my website](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/www.centered.work) [Follow me on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/jlheather/) ## Stories by JL --- Coaching ### [You’re Asking for Innovation But Rewarding Compliance](https://centered.work/articles/youre-asking-for-innovation-but-rewarding-compliance) The real rewards—promotions, bonuses, recognition—go to those who play it safe, deliver predictably, and avoid rocking the boat. The result?... JL Heather Oct 1, 2025 Coaching ### [The Dark Side of Innovation Culture: When Creativity Becomes Chaos](https://centered.work/articles/the-dark-side-of-innovation-culture-when-creativity-becomes-chaos) Innovation is the lifeblood of growth. But what happens when a culture built to unleash creativity starts to unravel into disorder? JL Heather Sep 17, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Your DEI Efforts Are Failing to Drive Innovation](https://centered.work/articles/why-your-dei-efforts-are-failing-to-drive-innovation) There’s no shortage of corporate statements championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Most innovation leaders have embraced the research.... JL Heather Sep 3, 2025 Coaching ### [Why People Lie About Innovation Success (And How to Spot It)](https://centered.work/articles/why-people-lie-about-innovation-success-and-how-to-spot-it) People are lying about innovation success. JL Heather Aug 20, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Your Most Creative People Stay Quiet in Meetings](https://centered.work/articles/why-your-most-creative-people-stay-quiet-in-meetings) You bring your smartest, most creative people into the room. You carve out time for brainstorming. You invite ideas. And yet—you hear from the same... JL Heather Aug 6, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Smart Teams Kill Innovation: The Groupthink Trap No One Talks About](https://centered.work/articles/why-smart-teams-kill-innovation-the-groupthink-trap-no-one-talks-about) We assume that assembling the best and brightest will drive breakthrough innovation. But what if the very strength of your smartest teams is exactly... JL Heather Jul 23, 2025 Coaching ### [Mind The Leadership Gap: Why Cross-Functional Teams Stumble](https://centered.work/articles/mind-the-leadership-gap-why-cross-functional-teams-stumble-without-the-right-support) According to Gallup, only 22% of employees strongly agree that their leaders foster collaboration effectively. That’s not just a minor disconnect.... JL Heather Jul 9, 2025 Coaching ### [Cross-Functional Teams Don’t Fail Because of Tech—They Fail Because of Trust](https://centered.work/articles/cross-functional-teams-dont-fail-because-of-tech-they-fail-because-of-trust) We often assume the challenge with cross-functional collaboration is logistical or technical, but time and time again, what really undermines these... JL Heather Jun 25, 2025 Coaching ### [The Hidden Barrier to Empowered Teams: Skills Are Easy. Mindsets Are Hard.](https://centered.work/articles/the-hidden-barrier-to-empowered-teams-skills-are-easy.-mindsets-are-hard) Building a successful cross-functional team isn’t just about moving names into new boxes on an org chart. It’s about preparing humans—real,... JL Heather Jun 11, 2025 [1](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/1) ... [3](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/3) [4](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/4) [5](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/5) ... [10](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/10) ### Get notified of new insights Be the first to know about new insights into the world of innovation.  We send out monthly updates on what it takes to integrate innovation into your organization. ###### BLOG # Articles Explore actionable insights, strategies, and real-world frameworks to help teams innovate more effectively, solve complex challenges, and build a culture of resilient growth Coaching ### [You’re Asking for Innovation But Rewarding Compliance](https://centered.work/articles/youre-asking-for-innovation-but-rewarding-compliance) The real rewards—promotions, bonuses, recognition—go to those who play it safe, deliver predictably, and avoid rocking the boat. The result?... JL Heather Oct 1, 2025 Coaching ### [The Dark Side of Innovation Culture: When Creativity Becomes Chaos](https://centered.work/articles/the-dark-side-of-innovation-culture-when-creativity-becomes-chaos) Innovation is the lifeblood of growth. But what happens when a culture built to unleash creativity starts to unravel into disorder? JL Heather Sep 17, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Your DEI Efforts Are Failing to Drive Innovation](https://centered.work/articles/why-your-dei-efforts-are-failing-to-drive-innovation) There’s no shortage of corporate statements championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Most innovation leaders have embraced the research.... JL Heather Sep 3, 2025 Coaching ### [Why People Lie About Innovation Success (And How to Spot It)](https://centered.work/articles/why-people-lie-about-innovation-success-and-how-to-spot-it) People are lying about innovation success. JL Heather Aug 20, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Your Most Creative People Stay Quiet in Meetings](https://centered.work/articles/why-your-most-creative-people-stay-quiet-in-meetings) You bring your smartest, most creative people into the room. You carve out time for brainstorming. You invite ideas. And yet—you hear from the same... JL Heather Aug 6, 2025 Coaching ### [Why Smart Teams Kill Innovation: The Groupthink Trap No One Talks About](https://centered.work/articles/why-smart-teams-kill-innovation-the-groupthink-trap-no-one-talks-about) We assume that assembling the best and brightest will drive breakthrough innovation. But what if the very strength of your smartest teams is exactly... JL Heather Jul 23, 2025 Coaching ### [Mind The Leadership Gap: Why Cross-Functional Teams Stumble](https://centered.work/articles/mind-the-leadership-gap-why-cross-functional-teams-stumble-without-the-right-support) According to Gallup, only 22% of employees strongly agree that their leaders foster collaboration effectively. That’s not just a minor disconnect.... JL Heather Jul 9, 2025 Coaching ### [Cross-Functional Teams Don’t Fail Because of Tech—They Fail Because of Trust](https://centered.work/articles/cross-functional-teams-dont-fail-because-of-tech-they-fail-because-of-trust) We often assume the challenge with cross-functional collaboration is logistical or technical, but time and time again, what really undermines these... JL Heather Jun 25, 2025 Coaching ### [The Hidden Barrier to Empowered Teams: Skills Are Easy. Mindsets Are Hard.](https://centered.work/articles/the-hidden-barrier-to-empowered-teams-skills-are-easy.-mindsets-are-hard) Building a successful cross-functional team isn’t just about moving names into new boxes on an org chart. It’s about preparing humans—real,... JL Heather Jun 11, 2025 [1](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/1) ... [3](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/3) [4](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/4) [5](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/5) ... [10](https://centered.work/articles/author/jl-heather/page/10) ### Get notified on new marketing insights Be the first to know about new B2B SaaS Marketing insights to build or refine your marketing function with the tools and knowledge of today’s industry. ## Accelerate your innovation journey For over a decade, we've partnered with leading businesses to transform and drive growth. 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