MJ Petroni is a consultant and researcher based in San Francisco, California. He is the owner and founder of Causeit, Inc., a firm which helps organizations discover authentic narratives around which their teams, customers and industry partners can rally—facilitating cultures of innovation, real listening, straight talk and shared success. In addition, MJ is the Cyborg Anthropologist in Residence for NTT, the world's largest telecom, and also serves as a founding advisor of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation's Global Digital Financial Services Platform for poverty alleviation. To create capacity for the demand Causeit has experienced from thought leaders and paradigm-shifters out to make a difference in the world, MJ has worked with his team to launch BrandToGrow™, a platform for personal and professional self-discovery.

MJ is an alumni of Lewis and Clark College, where he focused on the emerging field of Cyborg Anthropology, with minors in English, Latin American Studies and Gender. He is a total nerd for exploring the intersection of authentic human connections, business and technology—and it is this passion which inspires him to fly all over the planet having fun, mind-stretching conversations with inspiring people and attending thought leadership summits. MJ has presented at SIBOS, the world's largest financial conference, and is a co-producer of TEDxBellevue and the people-innovation-focused PurpleBeach gathering in London, and is currently authoring the living book Field Guide to Creating Cultures of Innovation.

Photo courtesy and ©2014 TED.