UK: +44 20 7871 1829
    ES: +34 919032576 ES: +34 956737527 PE: +51 17071599 UK: +44 2078711829
    Promotivate-New-Logo
    Duncan Wardle - Speaker - By Promotivate Speaker Agency

    Duncan Wardle

    Conference Speaker Duncan Wardle - By Promotivate Speaker Agency

    Duncan Wardle

    Discover expert insights from the Former Head of Innovation and Creativity for Disney. Learn how to maximise your creative potential and drive meaningful innovation in your organisation.


    Business ChangeManagement CrossCulture ElitePerformance Innovation

    North America

    • Fee Range:

    • €
    • £
    • $
    • P.O.A
    To Shortlist

    Business & Corporate Strategy Change Management & Strategy Cross Culture Elite Performance & Mindset Innovation Motivation

    View Videos & Related Speakers

    Inquire About Booking Duncan Wardle

      Duncan Wardle

      Former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney & Global Authority on Design Thinking

      Core Intelligence Domain: Innovation & Creativity
      Location: United States | Languages: English
      Representation: Represented globally by PSpeakers Global Intelligence

      Duncan Wardle is a globally recognised pioneer in design thinking and corporate innovation, having served as the Vice President of Innovation and Creativity for The Walt Disney Company. Across his illustrious 25-year tenure at Disney, he spearheaded strategic foresight and creative ideation for the world’s most beloved entertainment properties, including Marvel, Pixar, Lucasfilm, ESPN, and Disney Parks. Today, he empowers C-suite executives and Fortune 500 organisations to embed a culture of disruptive innovation, leveraging his proprietary ‘Theory of Creativity’ frameworks to navigate an increasingly complex, AI-driven commercial landscape.

      Throughout his executive career, Duncan was tasked with a monumental objective: to maintain Disney’s position at the cutting edge of global entertainment by continuously reimagining the customer experience. By developing an internal innovation toolkit, he successfully democratised creativity across the enterprise, proving that innovation is not an exclusive departmental function, but an accessible, essential capability for every employee. Since transitioning from his corporate role, Duncan founded iD8 & innov8, an advisory firm dedicated to embedding design thinking methodologies into the DNA of global corporations.

      As a highly sought-after strategic advisor, Duncan has delivered masterclasses and transformative keynotes to executive teams at Apple, Coca-Cola, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, and McKinsey. His proprietary methodologies equip leaders with the tangible tools required to pivot from traditional ‘business as usual’ operations to agile, consumer-centric models. He is celebrated for his interactive, high-energy delivery that bridges the gap between theoretical strategy and practical commercial execution.

      Professional Milestones & Strategic Achievements

      • Former VP of Innovation & Creativity at Disney: Directed the creative strategy and experiential innovation for multi-billion-dollar global franchises.
      • Founder of iD8 & innov8: A global consulting firm empowering enterprises with proprietary design thinking and cultural transformation toolkits.
      • Fortune 500 Strategic Advisor: Consults for industry titans including Apple, Forbes, Coca-Cola, Ford, and McKinsey & Company.
      • Award-Winning Innovator: Recipient of the ‘Outstanding American Citizen Award’ at the White House and the prestigious Duke of Edinburgh Award.
      • Academic Recognition: Awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Edinburgh Napier University for his global contributions to business innovation.
      • Global Thought Leader: Multiple TEDx Speaker and frequent contributor to leading business publications on the intersection of human creativity and artificial intelligence.

      Core Keynote Themes & Speaking Topics

      • Think Different: Embedding a Culture of Innovation: Actionable strategies to dismantle corporate silos, encourage risk-taking, and build a resilient, innovative workforce.
      • Customer Experience (CX) Magic: Leveraging design thinking to transition from product-centric models to consumer-centric experiences that drive profound brand loyalty.
      • Creativity in the Age of AI: Strategic foresight on how human intuition, empathy, and creativity will remain the ultimate competitive advantages in an automated and data-driven world.
      • The Innovation Toolkit: A proprietary methodology providing leaders with tangible exercises to spark out-of-the-box thinking and accelerate problem-solving.
      • Designing the Future of Work: Reimagining corporate structures to foster psychological safety, playfulness, and high-impact collaboration.

      Key Takeaways

      • Immediate access to proprietary design thinking frameworks utilised by the world’s most successful and enduring entertainment brands.
      • Actionable tools to transition leadership mindsets from ‘business as usual’ to disruptive, agile, and forward-thinking paradigms.
      • Proven strategies to redefine the customer experience by focusing on deep emotional connections rather than purely transactional engagements.
      • A clear, implementable roadmap for democratising creativity across all levels of a global organisation to ensure sustainable commercial growth.
      A PSpeakers Global Intelligence Briefing
      WWW.PSPEAKERS.COM

      • "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."

        Allianz Worldwide Partners Conference - Virtual, Oct 2020

        • Duncan Wardle "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."
        5 / 5

      • “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!”

        Paul Noland, President & CEO, International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions

        • Duncan Wardle “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!”
        5 / 5

      • “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.”

        Mike McMahon, President & Executive Director, Path to Purchase Institute

        • Duncan Wardle “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.”
        5 / 5

      • “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!”

        Marcelo Cataldo, CEO, Tigo Une

        • Duncan Wardle “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!”
        5 / 5

      • “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.”

        Lisa Cotter, Vice President of Marketing, Orlando Magic

        • Duncan Wardle “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.”
        5 / 5

      • “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."

        Michael Stelzner, Founder, Social Media Examiner and Social Media Marketing World

        • Duncan Wardle “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."
        5 / 5

      • “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!”

        Cassaundra Melgar-C’De Baca, Executive Producer, TEDxLadyBirdLake

        • 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!”
        5 / 5