Andrew Harrison – Founder

Andrew Harrison has a unique background as social innovator, author and researcher of human motivation. Andrew’s research began in 2004 when he exchanged his master’s degree and high paying sales job for a year on the road—traveling the United States interviewing people from varied backgrounds about how they came to discover passion for their work; a passion which inevitably spilled over into the remaining aspects of their lives www.iamontheroad.com.

His study of human motivation now spans many industries and fields. Andrew’s debut book entitled, “Love Your 84,000 Hours at Work: Stories on the Road from People with Purpose and Passion” (Dotted Lines Press, 2010), chronicles the inspiring journeys of a select number of people who have mastered one of the core ingredients to maintaining a happy life—loving what you do.

In 2007, Andrew’s travels and studies brought him to Idea Connection Systems, a global innovation consulting firm (www.innovating.com), where he interviewed Bob Rosenfeld. Their meeting was a connection of values and minds that spawned Andrew initially joining the company as the writer of Bob Rosenfeld and Gary Wilhelmi’s book, “The Invisible Element: A Practical Guide to the Human Dynamics of Innovation” (Innovatus Press, 2011).

Writing “The Invisible Element” allowed Andrew to learn firsthand from two expert practitioners how innovation happens inside organizations. In the process of researching and writing the book, Idea Connection Systems asked him to come aboard in a more active day-to-day role. Andrew has been an understudy to Bob Rosenfeld since 2008 and was also an instrumental part of the Idea Connection Systems team that developed the ISPI™ (Innovation Strengths Preference Indicator®). He was on the delivery team for the first ever ISPI™ workshop, is Certified in the ISPI™ and one of the leading experts for using the ISPI™ for individual, team and organizational development. Andrew continues to have a strong relationship with Idea Connection Systems, as he is their Innovation Ambassador.

In 2010, Andrew co-authored a chapter in, “The Innovation for Development Report 2010-2011” (Palgrave Macmillan, 2010, by Augusto Lopez-Claros). Chapter 2.2, “Organizations Don’t Innovate, People Do: Trust is the Foundation,” by Robert Rosenfeld, Gary Wilhelmi and Andrew Harrison discusses the key element of trust to innovation. There were 12 contributors to the report and they include notables such as Steven Ballmer (CEO of Microsoft) and Jose Maria Figueres (former President of Costa Rica).

Andrew continues to blend his interests of research, writing and speaking. He particularly enjoys keynote presentations as well as leading programs on the human principles that create a more positive and motivating culture. Andrew also instructs and inspires people on how to marry purpose and passion into their work. He has a true passion for teaching the tools of the motivation trade; a byproduct from his days as a former adjunct college professor at St. John Fisher College.

In 2012, Andrew founded Bonfire Consulting, an organization focusing on workplace innovation that provide talks and workshops which inspire more engaged and productive teams, leaders and organizations.

Andrew’s work has been featured in the Miami Herald, Charlotte Observer, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, as well as on local ABC, CBS, Fox, and Time Warner TV news programs, NPR radio, and a number of business journals and national magazine publications. He is currently based in Rochester, NY and is both purposeful and passionate about family, writing, traveling, meeting new people, speaking to groups, food, playing golf and watching sports.