Dr. D’s journey began with two pivotal Eureka moments that shaped his professional mission:
The first Eureka moment struck during his doctoral studies. Faced with a challenging measurement and operationalization problem in his thesis, Dr. D had already spent almost two years trying to solve it to no avail. Under immense pressure to meet a tight one-week deadline, he courageously decided to let go and take a break from conscious striving and commit the resolution of the challenge to his subconscious mind. On the third day, while running alone in the forest, inspiration struck, and the breakthrough solution emerged. This experience demonstrated the transformative power of the process of incubation—a moment that forever shaped his understanding of creativity.
The second Eureka moment came over Chinese New Year in 2003. After a year of intense exploration into his purpose, Dr. D was reading by a swimming pool when a flash of insight struck him with extraordinary clarity: he understood who he truly was and what he was meant to do. This powerful realization gave him the courage to leave a successful, well-paying career in corporate banking at Deutsche Bank, where he had worked for many years and relocated to Asia. He took the plunge into the uncertain world of creativity, transforming himself from a novice into a world-class creativity expert. This moment marked the birth of Thinkergy and Dr. D’s lifelong mission to empower.
—Dr. Detlef Reis
Dr. D’s unique practitioner-academic blend ensures that his clients benefit from field-tested innovation methods and approaches that are backed by rigorous research.
Dr. D’s ability to energize and captivate audiences is further amplified by his background as a former competitive athlete and DJ, skills that translate into his dynamic, high-energy speaking and facilitation style.
Dr. D’s choice of moniker comes from years of experience working in international contexts where his first name, Detlef, often proved challenging to pronounce. By adopting “Dr. D,” he simplifies introductions and creates a memorable, approachable brand identity that resonates globally.
Discover the story behind becoming Dr. D
The world is on the brink of the Sixth Wave of technological change, driven by the convergence of digital, sustainable, and human-centered technologies.
Dr. D is passionate about equipping leaders with the creative tools, methods, and mindsets needed to thrive in this disruptive era of transformation.
Shift your mindset to genuinely lead creative teams with confidence, vision, and advanced creativity (Genius Journey).
Align talents and foster a creative culture of continuous innovation within your organization with methods like TIPS and CooL.
Navigate complexity and drive impactful innovation with our proven creative process methods (X-IDEA and Genius Journey). Or let Dr. D and Thinkergy create your breakthroughs.
“There is a genius in all of us.” Dr. D believes that Albert Einstein was right and that every leader has the potential for creative breakthroughs. His work focuses on unlocking that potential and turning it into tangible results.
From breakthrough ideas to systemic organizational changes, Dr. D’s methods are designed to create tangible results and lasting impact.
Through Thinkergy, Dr. D aims to leave behind an integrated suite of innovation methods and tools that continue to inspire outstanding creativity and innovation for generations to come.
