Duncan Wardle

Duncan Wardle

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Corporate Culture, Creativity, Innovation, Leadership

We are all born creative. We are born with amazing imaginations, are full of curiosity, and carry this remarkable built-in tool known as intuition.

As Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney, Duncan and his team helped Imagineering, Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar and Disney Parks to innovate, creating magical new storylines and experiences for consumers around the globe.

As founder of iD8 & innov8 he now brings his extensive Disney experience to audiences around the world using a very unique approach to Design Thinking, that not only places the end user at the core of the creative thinking process, but also looks in new and usual places to uncover insights for innovation, helping people capture unlikely connections, leading to fresh thinking and disruptive ideas.

Delivering a series of keynotes, workshops and ideation forums, his unique Design Thinking process helps companies embed a culture of innovation into everyone’s DNA.

Duncan is a multiple Ted X speaker and contributor to Fast Company Magazine. He teaches Master Classes at Yale, the University of North Carolina, Duke University and the University of Florida. In 2008 he received the American Citizen of Choice Award at the White House. In 2014 he was awarded an Hons. Doctorate from Edinburgh University in Scotland. He also holds the Duke of Edinburgh Award presented by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
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Speaking topics

Thinking Differently

Ever wonder why your best ideas come to you in the shower? Or why that killer comeback one-liner always comes to you 5 minutes after the argument is over? Have you ever asked yourself how Einstein, Disney and Edison innovated? Or wondered how some people develop breakthrough ideas that revolutionize an industry? Through his “Think Differently” presentation, Duncan shares a series of case studies from his time at Disney and immerses the audience in a unique set of Innovation Tools and Techniques that everyone can use to think and act more audaciously and get to breakthrough ideas.

Embedding Innovation into Everyone’s DNA

Disruption is inevitable and part of our everyday lives. So, how do you make Innovation a part of everyone’s DNA? How do you create a culture that embraces risk and entrepreneurialism, which allows everyone to innovate? During this presentation, Duncan shares how he infused a culture of innovation with a startup mindset across one of the most creative companies in the world, Disney, by using a unique innovation toolkit.

Disruption is now a part of everyday life. So how do you make Innovation a part of everyone’s DNA? How do you create a culture that embraces risk and entrepreneurialism, allowing everyone to innovate? Here Duncan shares how he infused a culture of innovation with a start-up mindset, across one of the most creative companies via a unique innovation toolkit.

Leading for Creativity

How do some brands create a culture of creativity across everything they touch? Based on 25 years working with Disney, most recently as Vice President of Innovation & Creativity, Duncan shares some of the key creative techniques and behaviors he uses to develop big, innovative ideas. During this presentation, he stirs and unleashes the audiences’ creative juices.

Demystifying Design Thinking

What if you could learn a series of practical Design Thinking tools that you could actually use to create ideas that are embedded in consumer truth and drive business results? Duncan creates a deeply engaging, immersive presentation that not only answers these questions but also leaves the audience with a series of practical tools to take on challenges in new and different ways.

Insights for Innovation

How could we deliver breakthrough innovation by uncovering unique insights and pushing past our river of expertise? Leaning on 25 years of experience heading the Innovation & Creativity team at Disney, Duncan has created a unique insight gathering process that has led to some revolutionary new products and services. During this presentation, he shares a tangible collection of tips and techniques to uncover insights that fuel innovation.

Video clips

The Theory of Creativity

Speaker testimonials

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.

Orlando Magic

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!

TEDxLadyBirdLake

In one word I would explain Duncan’s creativity training as transformative. One day with Duncan created more than a year of conversation and fresh approaches to brainstorming throughout our agency.

CEO of Coyne PR

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