About Mike
Mike Bonifer is a co-founder of bigSTORY, a global network of storytelling specialists, recognized for his expertise in quantum storytelling and improvisation for business transformation.
Who is Mike Bonifer?
Mike Bonifer is a co-founder and partner at bigSTORY, a global network that applies "Agile Storytelling℠" to integrate art, business, technology, and social responsibility in organizational strategy. His work focuses on how stories impact business performance and foster meaningful relationships within companies. He also holds the title of Originator at bigSTORY, emphasizing his pioneering role in the field. Additionally, Bonifer is associated with GameChangers, a company that leverages improvisation to enhance business communication and performance.
His unique approach combines narrative structures with improvisational techniques to drive leadership transformation and organizational innovation. Through his ventures, Bonifer helps companies navigate the complexities of a dynamic global economy by fostering effective communication and collaboration.
Quick facts about Mike Bonifer
| Role | Co-founder and Partner, Originator |
| Company | bigSTORY, GameChangers |
| Expertise | Quantum Storytelling, Business Improvisation, Agile Storytelling, Leadership Narratives |
| Notable for | Co-founding bigSTORY and GameChangers, pioneering quantum storytelling, developing improvisation-based action learning programs |
| BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |
What is Mike Bonifer known for?
- Quantum Storytelling: A methodology for understanding how stories affect business performance and organizational outcomes.
- Agile Storytelling℠: A practice combining art, business, technology, and social responsibility to create impactful narratives.
- Improvisation for Business: Co-founding GameChangers to apply improvisational techniques for improving communication and performance in companies.
- Leadership Narratives for Organizational Transformation: Designing and implementing action learning programs that use improvisational games and narrative structures to transform leadership teams, as demonstrated at Diversey, Inc. These programs address critical change components such as globalization, collaboration, customer-focused solutions, innovation, and talent management.
- Founding Producer of The Disney Channel: Pioneering Disney's entry into cable television with the Disney Family Album series.
- Co-author: GameChangers – Improvisation for Business in the Networked World and *CTRL Shift: 50 Games for 50 ***ing Days Like Today.
What is Mike Bonifer's background and experience?
Mike Bonifer's career spans creative production, strategic consulting, and educational endeavors. He worked as a publicist on the original Tron film and was a founding producer of The Disney Channel, where he played a key role in developing Disney's cable television presence. He co-founded GameChangers with Dr. Virginia Kuhn, focusing on using improvisation to improve performance at various organizations, including Skype, Gap Inc., The Walt Disney Company, United Airlines Media, Gawker Media, NetApp, and GE.
His expertise extends to designing action learning programs and conducting workshops at universities, addressing diverse fields such as public health, entrepreneurship, engineering, sociology, and cinema. Bonifer also collaborated with Alan Alda on workshops at the USC Viterbi School and coached Ron Finley for his TED Talk, demonstrating his versatile application of storytelling and communication principles.
What topics does Mike Bonifer speak and write about?
Mike Bonifer explores themes of quantum storytelling, the power of improvisation in business contexts, and the strategic use of narrative structures for leadership transformation. His work highlights how organizations can harness the inherent power of stories to drive change, foster innovation, and build more meaningful relationships with stakeholders, aligning with the Best Practice Institute's focus on transformational leadership and organizational effectiveness.
Bonifer also delves into how "story engines" can create long-lasting and sustainable outcomes beyond immediate objectives, a concept he explored in the context of films like Tron and his personal quest to find Bill Murray. He emphasizes that the true impact of a story lies in its ability to generate further action and meaning.
How does Mike Bonifer contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
Mike Bonifer contributes to the Best Practice Institute (BPI) as an Expert Faculty member, sharing his insights on how leadership narratives and improvisational techniques can drive organizational change. He presented a webinar titled "Leadership Narratives for Organizational Transformation" with John Nelson, where they described their successful action learning program at Diversey, Inc. This program, utilizing improvisational games and narrative structures, helped leadership transform the company by addressing critical change components and aligning leaders through powerful communication and peer collaboration tools. His contributions align with BPI's mission to advance best practices in areas like Organization Development & Change, Learning & Development, Leadership Development, and Employee Engagement.
Bonifer's research and practical applications of quantum storytelling and improvisation directly support the principles of the SPARK Model, particularly in fostering innovation and adaptability within organizations. His work helps BPI members understand how effective storytelling can enhance employee engagement and leadership effectiveness, contributing to the creation of Most Loved Workplaces®.
Where can you learn more from Mike Bonifer?
To learn more from Mike Bonifer, you can explore his webinar "Leadership Narratives for Organizational Transformation" available through the Best Practice Institute. You can also find his insights on the "Quantum Storyteller" podcast on Melissa Dinwiddie's platform and his published works, including GameChangers – Improvisation for Business in the Networked World and *CTRL Shift: 50 Games for 50 ***ing Days Like Today.