Duncan Wardle Featured Former Head of Innovation and Creativity at Disney

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• The Theory of Creativity™ C=ME2 (creativity = me empowered)
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  The Theory of Creativity™ C=ME2 (creativity = me empowered)

  The ability to think Creatively is the one core human truth that will remain relevant in the brave new world of Artificial Intelligence. Thankfully, I believe everyone has the power to be Creative. 

  But wait, haven’t we all been told at one point or another that we’re not the “creative type”? That we should leave the creativity to the “Creatives”? For most of us, this has happened so many times that we end up actually believing it. For adults, not being creative is an accepted fate.

  But weren’t we kids once? Turning boxes into spaceships and pillows and blankets into forts and castles? What happened to that creativity? Well, with an education and corporate structure that encourages finding the single “right answer” to every question, we are trained to fall in line, and shut down that creative portion of our brain. 

  Fortunately, that childhood creativity did not dissipate – it’s just lying dormant, waiting to be brought back to life. And those that are able to access it – the Edisons’ and Einsteins‘ and Disneys’ and Jobs’ of the world – are the ones that are able to drive massive creative disruption through major new theories and industries. 

  So, how can you embed a sustainable culture of innovation and creativity throughout your organization, and encourage every employee to think creatively? Let me show you with my Theory of Creativity keynote. Leaning on 25 years with the Walt Disney Company, most recently as Head of Innovation & Creativity, I have designed a tangible Innovation Toolkit that everyone can use to “Think Different” and solve real challenges in the marketplace by leveraging their creative mind.

  By the end of my talk, your audience will walk away with a series of unique Creative Behaviors and Innovation Tools that will allow them to deliver revolutionary thinking and drive substantial results in all areas of your business.

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• Think Different
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  Think Different

  In his over 25-year career at the world’s most innovative organization – The Walt Disney Company – keynote speaker Duncan Wardle learned many important things about building a profitable business and winning creative culture. The most important? If you want to be different, you have to think different.

  As one of the most impactful creativity speakers, Duncan leans on his experiences as the Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney to take audiences on a journey. Throughout Think Different, they’ll be given a unique set of Innovation Tools and Techniques – the same ones Duncan used with teams inside the Disney organization. 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 the acclaimed creativity keynote speaker, 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 steps they can take to immediately start reshaping your company’s culture, creating a space where innovation thrives, and teams are encouraged and rewarded when they think different.

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• Embedding a Culture of Innovation into Everyone's DNA
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  Embedding a Culture of Innovation into Everyone's DNA

  Leading A.I. expert Kai Fu Lee has suggested that upwards of 40% of current jobs could be replaced by Artificial Intelligence within the next 15 years. 40%!

  So, 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. CEO’s 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 Embed- ding a Culture of Innovation into Everyone’s DNA presentation.

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• Delivering Customer Experience Magic
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  Delivering Customer Experience Magic

  The Walt Disney Company’s ability to redefine and dominate nearly every industry it’s ever entered is no coincidence. The continued success of Disney has been driven by foundational trait of the company that goes all the way back to it’s founder Walt Disney who was merciless in his pursuit of innovating the customer experience? 

  By viewing all major business decisions as a customer experience decision, 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 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 by challenging the rules of the industry, Walt came up with the biggest creative solution of the twentieth century. 

  Learn how Disney Parks turned very product centric culture into a consumer centric one.

  How Disney leverages High Tech to enable High Touch, delivering record guest satisfaction.

  And How instead of asking ourselves How We Might make more money, by asking how my we address the biggest consumer pain point we created record revenues at Disney.

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• Duncan Shares: Innovation & Creativity Customized to Your Company
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  Duncan Shares: Innovation & Creativity Customized to Your Company

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

  He now brings his Disney experience to audiences around the world, delivering a series of keynotes, masterclasses, and ideation forums, that help people capture unlikely connections, leading to both disruptive thinking and revolutionary ideas.

  He is a multiple TEDx speaker and contributor to Fast Company Magazine. He teaches Innovation and Creativity Masterclasses at Yale University, UNC and U.F. He also holds the American Citizen Award presented at the White House, an Hons. MBA and Hons. Doctorate from Edinburgh University and the Duke of Edinburgh Award, presented by her majesty, Queen Elizabeth.

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• Customer Service Magic
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  Customer Service Magic

  The Walt Disney Company’s ability to redefine and dominate nearly every industry it’s ever entered is no coincidence. The continued success of Disney has been driven by foundational trait of the company that goes all the way back to it’s founder Walt Disney who was merciless in his pursuit of innovating the customer experience?
  By viewing all major business decisions as a customer experience decision, 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 fan-bases of all time. 

  
  So, how does Disney Think Different and leverage Creativity to innovate the customer experience? Through several specific tools and examples Duncan will share 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 by challenging the rules of the industry, Walt came up with the biggest creative solution of the twentieth century.
  Learn how Disney Parks turned very product centric culture into a consumer centric one.

  
  How Disney leverages High Tech to enable High Touch, delivering record guest satisfaction.

  
  And How instead of asking ourselves How We Might make more money, by asking how my we address the biggest consumer pain point we created record revenues at Disney.

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• Workshop: Leading for Creativity
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  Workshop: Leading for Creativity

  Establish an untouchable competitive advantage by turning your team into an innovation powerhouse, leveraging 8 key creative behaviors to build a culture of creativity and positive disruption.

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• Workshop: Insights for Innovation
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  Workshop: Insights for Innovation

  Become customer mind readers, learning how to identify and evaluate the most worthwhile opportunities in your industry, and create innovative solutions that exceed the needs and expectations of consumers.

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