Duncan Wardle keynotes in Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Duncan Wardle – Former Head of Innovation & Creativity at Disney | Unlocking Human Ingenuity in the Age of AI
Duncan Wardle is the former Head of Innovation & Creativity at The Walt Disney Company, where he spent 25 years leading teams to invent, disrupt, and reimagine the entertainment experience. With a deep belief that everyone is creative, Duncan developed unique methods to democratize innovation across global organizations, helping them break through barriers to original thinking. Today, he is a globally recognized keynote speaker and founder of ID8, a consultancy dedicated to helping companies embed a culture of creativity and problem-solving.
Duncan’s mission is clear: to empower individuals and organizations to rediscover their innate creativity, fostering bold innovation even in the face of disruption. Through immersive storytelling, engaging workshops, and transformative keynotes, he shows audiences how to think differently and act boldly in an increasingly complex world.
🏆 Notable Achievements
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Led the Innovation & Creativity team at Disney for over a decade.
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Developed and implemented Disney’s “Innovation Toolkit” used across the company globally.
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Recipient of the White House American Citizen Award for services to creativity and innovation.
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Founder of ID8 & Company, helping Fortune 100 companies like Apple, Amazon, Ford, and Coca-Cola unlock human ingenuity.
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Delivered hundreds of keynotes globally, including at TEDx, SXSW, Cannes Lions, and business schools worldwide.
Language spoken by the keynote speaker:
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English
✨ Key Themes & Expertise
Duncan Wardle’s keynotes are a powerful call to arms in a world hungry for creativity and human-centric innovation. With a rare blend of high-energy delivery, practical tools, and deep corporate insight, he equips teams and leaders to unleash the ideas that drive real impact.
🎡 Disney-Tested Creativity Tools: Duncan shares the very frameworks that powered Disney’s global innovation—from storytelling to experience design.
🧠 Reclaiming Human Ingenuity: In an age dominated by AI, Duncan empowers audiences to tap into the one thing machines can’t replicate—imagination.
🚀 Action-Oriented Inspiration: His sessions aren’t just talks—they’re immersive journeys where attendees actively shift their thinking, armed with tools to apply immediately.
🌍 Cross-Industry Relevance: From banking to FMCG, tech to healthcare, Duncan translates innovation into the language and needs of each audience.
💡 Engagement Over Information: Using play, empathy, and provocations, he ignites curiosity and fosters cultures of experimentation.
Whether you’re preparing for the future of work, navigating AI disruption, or simply trying to out-innovate your competition—Duncan Wardle’s keynote offers both mindset and method to thrive.
