Former Head of Innovation and Creativity for Disney
North America
Duncan Wardle spent his 25 years career at Disney developing some of their most innovative ideas and strategies. Ideas that would forever change the way the company expands its impact, train its employees and solves problems creatively. Duncan is best known as an ideation consultant and change agent who, by combining his creative talents and unconventional methods, helps both companies and individuals find breakthrough ideas that give off extraordinary results.
Duncan, who was born in London and educated at Edinburgh University where he received a Hons Doctorate in 2014, was a recipient of the ‘Outstanding American Citizen Award’ at the White House in 2008. He was also presented the Duke of Edinburgh Award by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
His creativity and innovation were honed at Disney where he was the Vice President of Innovation and Creativity, a position that saw him leading a creative team spanning all the company’s divisions. Prior to this, his position at Disney was that of Vice President Global PR for all Disney’s parks across the globe. His time at Disney saw him found the Creative Catalyst Team. Together, they trained over 3,000 professional and Disney cast members, including those from Marvel, Lucas Film. Imagineering, Pixar, Disney Institute, Animation, and Disney University to unlock their individual creativity by means of tools that encouraged them to think outside the box in order to solve challenges, create new storylines, products, and services.
These days, with over thirty years’ worth of experience under his belt, Duncan Wardle works as an ideation consultant and change agent who is well-versed in the sharing of innovative strategies in order to create extraordinary ideas. His different presentations focus on the auditory, visual, and kinesthetic, in other words, he uses an approach that has audiences seeing, hearing, and doing, resulting in an optimum intake.
A multiple TedX speaker, Duncan is also a regular contributor to Fast Company Magazine and teaches Innovation and Design Thinking workshops at Yale, UNC, and the UF.
Duncan Wardle – Creative Leadership – Innovation Speaker
Duncan Wardle will empower you to create innovative solutions that will immediately drive positive growth for your organization
As a speaker, Duncan Wardle has shared his strategies with myriad companies, including the likes of McKinsey & Company, Disney, Apple, Forbes, NBA, Coca-Cola, and many others.
“While Duncan spoke to a large and packed room, people were inspired and hung on his every word. Many claimed it was one of the best presentations they’d ever experienced. If you’re looking for an amazing speaker who can motivate others to innovate then look no further than Duncan.” – Michael Stelzner, Founder, Social Media Marketing World.
June 2020 – Keynote added with Coronavirus in consideration
4. Combine all three ingredients and pivot to a whole new approach, reinventing the way we do business by creating a whole new tool kit that makes innovation easy, creating tangible and the process fun.
5. Top off with a dose of Magical Pixie Dust. 25 years of experience with the world’s most creative, company, Disney (most recently as Head of Innovation and Creativity,) Duncan Wardle.
6. And bake for an hour. Could be a webinar, could be a virtual workshop using virtual breakout rooms and whiteboards, to help your team Think Different and re-Imagine your way to business as “Unusual!”
"Just a quick note to say thank you so much for participating in our event today. Initial feedback is that everyone loved the session and how you were full of energy! My phone is blowing up with good comments. I am sure we will have an official debrief with Jonathan but wanted to also thank you personally."
“Duncan has a unique way of connecting with an audience and challenging them to approach creativity in a radically different approach. Considering that many of the people in the audience are creative people by nature and job description, that is fairly remarkable. Duncan’s insights and sense of humor keep the audience engaged from start to finish!”
“We've had the pleasure of having Duncan speak at three different events in 2017. Each time, he was the audience favorite, hands down. His presentations are work sessions designed to be fun, interactive, and fast-paced. Duncan is true wealth of creative knowledge and inspiration, and he helped our members stretch their out-of-the-box thinking.”
“Duncan has amazed all of us and our audience during his visit to Colombia. Addressing to an audience of over 1,000 people he was able to land innovation and creativity in very simple and practical steps, and in a very fun way also! It is obvious that his over 20 years of experience with outstanding results in his back has given us also proven results of his proposed methodology. As a speaker, he comes across very simple, clear but with an incredible passion that is so contagious, you don’t realize how time goes by in his presentation!”
“Duncan’s workshop sparked our creative minds and gave us tools that will pay dividends for years to come. My team was thoroughly captivated, fully engaged, energized and inspired. Look no further than Duncan for one of the best investments you will ever make in your business.”
“While Duncan spoke to a large and packed room, people were inspired and hung on his every word. Many claimed it was one of the best presentations they'd ever experienced. If you're looking for an amazing speaker who can motivate others to innovate, then look no further than Duncan Wardle."
“Duncan was an inspiring part of TEDx. His knowledge and experience are matched by his enthusiasm for delighting the audience with his wit and charm. I look forward to working with Duncan again- learning & exploring, in-depth, through his design workshops!”
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