Former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney
Duncan Wardle: Biography at a Glance
- 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.
- He now brings his extensive Disney expertise to audiences around the world using a unique approach to Design Thinking.
- His book, The Imagination Emporium, is a business book like you've never seen before - filled with lessons on building innovative solutions for your business, no matter how large it is.
- Delivering a series of keynotes, workshops, and ideation forums, Duncan helps companies embed a culture of innovation into everyone’s DNA.
- After building a career based on providing unique experiences, Duncan now also discusses ways the metaverse embraces the experience economy.
- Duncan is a multiple TED speaker and contributor to Fast Company, Forbes & the Harvard Business Review and teaches innovation Master Classes at Yale, Harvard, and Edinburgh University.
Videos
Biography
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.
He now brings his extensive Disney expertise to audiences around the world using a unique approach to Design Thinking, helping people capture unlikely connections, leading to fresh thinking and disruptive ideas.
Delivering a series of keynotes, workshops, and ideation forums, his unique Innovation toolkit helps companies embed a culture of innovation into everyone’s DNA.
Duncan is a multiple TED speaker and contributor to Fast Company, Forbes & the Harvard Business Review. He teaches innovation Master Classes at Yale, Harvard, and Edinburgh University.
Topics
Working in Harmony with AI
Poised to replace millions of jobs, it’s easy to view AI as the enemy. But what if instead, we embraced Artificial Intelligence as the key to unlocking our true creative potential?
The future is here, and for the first time in history, it’s highly skilled labor at risk of losing jobs to robots. By some leading estimates, upwards of 40% of all current jobs could be replaced by AI within the next 15 years! But even with the uncertainty it brings, I do not believe AI should be treated as our enemy. In fact, it’s just the opposite.
We should embrace AI. Not as a tool to eliminate jobs, but as one to take over the tedious, repetitive parts of our work, freeing us up to leverage the skills that make us uniquely human: creativity, intuition, empathy, and imagination. The skills we were actually hired to use, but are so often restricted by unruly inboxes, excessive meetings, and repetitive reporting.
As Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney for the last decade, my job was to uncover the untapped creative potential of our teams by embracing new technology as an opportunity, not a treat. Today, I use this experience
to show CEOs across the world how to do the same, providing their organization with the tools needed to leverage their most important asset: their people.
As part of my Working in Harmony with AI presentation, I’ll show you how by leveraging AI to take over the mundane, repetitive, and time-consuming tasks hiding throughout your organization, you can to redirect your teams’ energy towards the skills that make them uniquely human. And as a result, give your company a massive competitive edge.
Embedding A Culture Of Innovation Into Everyone’s DNA
How we will compete in the next decade? What skills will we need to survive in a decade of total disruption and rise in A.I.? Simple. Businesses that will win will be those that leverage the most impactful human traits that A.I. won’t be able to replicate (at least not for the foreseeable future): Creativity, Intuition, Curiosity, & Imagination.
As Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney for the last decade, I learned that there is a huge gap in the market. CEOs everywhere would look to us – The World’s Most Creative Company – for guidance on how to create a culture of innovation, and provide their organization with the tools needed to leverage their most important asset: their people.
But here’s the challenge: until now, no one has made innovation tangible. Many companies hire an Innovation consultancy or build an “Innovation Department,’ only to find that they have not truly driven cultural change and embedded innovation across the entire enterprise.
What if instead, there was a Design Thinking Innovation Toolkit? One that everyone could use that makes creativity tangible, innovation easy, and the process enjoyable? That’s exactly what I have built leaning on my years of experience at Disney, and exactly what I’ll share with you as part of Embedding a Culture of Innovation into Everyone’s DNA presentation.
Delivering Customer Experience Magic
Disney’s ability to redefine and dominate nearly every industry it has ever entered is no coincidence. The continued success of Disney has been driven by a foundational trait of the company that goes all the way back to its founder, Walt Disney, who was merciless in his pursuit of innovating the customer experience.
By viewing all major business decisions as customer experience decisions, The Walt Disney Company continues to find innovative ways to engage consumers around the world, both old and new. And these innovative experiences have created one of the most passionate, loyal fanbases of all time.
So, how does Disney Think Different and leverage creativity to innovate the customer experience? Through several specific tools and examples, I’ll share this information with your teams during my Delivering Customer Experience Magic keynote.
You’ll learn from the following examples:
- By simply re-expressing the industry challenge Walt Disney created a level of hospitality that has never been replicated.
- How Walt Disney challenged the rules of the industry, coming up with the biggest creative solution of the twentieth century.
- Learn how Disney Parks turned a very product-centric culture into a consumer-centric one.
- How Disney leverages High Tech to enable High Touch, delivering record guest satisfaction.
- Instead of asking “What do we need to do to make greater profits?”, learn how Disney created record revenues by focusing on their consumers' biggest pain points.
Think Different, The Disney Way!
Ever wanted to know how Walt Disney came up with the idea for Disneyland or how Netflix completely revolutionized the movie rental industry?
In his over 25-year career at the world’s most innovative organization – The Walt Disney Company – Duncan Wardle learned many important things about building a profitable business and a winning creative culture. The most important? If you want to be different, you have to Think Different!
Leaning on his experience as the Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney, Duncan’s Think Different keynote takes audiences on a journey. Throughout this journey, they’ll be given a unique set of Innovation Tools and Techniques. These include the breakthrough “What If” creative thinking tool, made famous by Walt Disney himself, who used it to pivot his company from simply an animation house to an entertainment and theme park pioneer.
After this immersive crash course from Duncan, your organization’s ability to mine for creativity and innovation will be drastically improved. In the end, your audience will leave with an actionable set of Creative Behaviors and Innovation Tools that will immediately foster a culture of innovation and creativity in your company.
FAQs
How do I book Duncan Wardle for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Duncan Wardle to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Duncan Wardle's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Duncan Wardle’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Duncan Wardle in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Duncan Wardle's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Duncan Wardle's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Duncan Wardle, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Duncan Wardle's speaking fee?
Duncan Wardle's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Duncan Wardle's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Duncan Wardle's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Duncan Wardle as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Duncan Wardle as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Duncan Wardle's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Duncan Wardle's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Duncan Wardle for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Duncan Wardle speaking engagements.
Official contact for Duncan Wardle bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/duncan-wardle
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Duncan Wardle.
Is Duncan Wardle available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Duncan Wardle speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Duncan Wardle's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Duncan Wardle's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Duncan Wardle's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Duncan Wardle for?
Book Duncan Wardle for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Duncan Wardle customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Duncan Wardle engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Duncan Wardle can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Duncan Wardle booking information and availability
Check Duncan Wardle's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Duncan Wardle for your preferred event date.
Book Duncan Wardle keynote speaker through CAA
Book Duncan Wardle through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Duncan Wardle, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Duncan Wardle's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Duncan Wardle for your next event.
Will Duncan Wardle speak at private events?
Yes, Duncan Wardle speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Duncan Wardle's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Duncan Wardle?
CAA Speakers responds to Duncan Wardle booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Duncan Wardle?
Book Duncan Wardle 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Duncan Wardle pricing information?
Get Duncan Wardle pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.