About Duncan Wardle
Duncan Wardle has ideas that are out of this world. Literally…
The former Vice President of Innovation & Creativity at The Walt Disney Company, Duncan Wardle spent his 25-year career at Disney developing some of their most innovative ideas and strategies. Ideas that would forever change the way the company expands its impact, trains its employees, and solves problems creatively.
What sort of ideas? Instead of asking “How Might We … make more money?” Duncan asked “What If there are no lines in the Disney Parks? No gates at the entrance? No reception desks? No lines for favorite attractions to pay for F&B.”
Fast forward to Disney’s Magic Band, piloted and rolled out across Walt Disney World, eliminating the need to check in at the hotels, waiting to get into a Disney park, lines to ride, etc. Disney’s Magic band has resulted in record revenues and essentially created an open source monitoring of consumer likes and dislikes, informing all future products and services.
“Duncan made a deal to send the one and only Buzz Lightyear up on NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery”
Duncan Wardle and his team were tasked with leading the creative process for LucasFilms, Pixar, Marvel, Disney Imagineering, Disney Parks and ESPN. Realizing that innovation and creativity were not inherent traits, but
something that could be taught and learned, Duncan founded the Innovation Catalyst Team. This team was used to teach employees across all the Disney properties how to develop their own “thinking toolkit,” which would enable them to strategically and repeatedly create moments of innovation within their business units.
The program was a massive success, and during Duncan’s tenure, the group trained over 5,000 professional and executive Disney cast members. Participants walked away from Duncan’s program with the ability to think more audaciously when solving challenges and create innovative new storylines, products and services throughout the entire Disney universe.
While Duncan Wardle loved the challenge of running the creativity and innovation teams at the world’s most creative company, he understood that his ability to successfully teach others to develop an innovation and ideation toolkit was something that could have a massive impact for people and organizations across the globe. And so, he left to launch his creative consulting company id8, which has
“Participants walked away from Duncan’s program with the ability to think more audaciously when solving challenges”
quickly become one of the top innovation consulting firms in the world, and in the process, has allowed Duncan to share his creative consultant services and innovation workshops to thousands of employees and executives at companies such as Ford, McKinsey, Coca-Cola, NBA, Apple, Johnson & Johnson and Forbes.
With an infectious energy and playful collaboration, Duncan Wardle pushes executives and their teams to overcome preconceived ideas, act more audaciously, and develop their own innovation “light switch”, which is a method to activate their creative brain and access the ideas that turn ordinary companies into industry leaders.
awards
Honorary Doctorate
On July 5, 2019, I was honoured and humbled to receive an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from my Alma Mater, Edinburgh Napier University. The Doctorate was given “In recognition of Duncan’s global and unique approach to design thinking and his dedication to Disney where he spent 30 years leading the innovation and creativity team.” The award was presented at the University’s graduation ceremony. For the full story visit bit.ly/EdNDunc
American Citizen Award
Presented at the White House in 2008 for my services to my fellow immigrants for creating a United States Citizenship ceremony on Main Street USA at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom for 1000 new U.S. citizens and their families on July 4, 2000
Hons. MBA Hons. PHD
Awarded on July 4, 2014 by the Chancellor and Dean of Edinburgh Napier University at the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, Scotland. I was honored to give the commencement speech at my alma mater that day surrounded by family and friends going back many, many years. I even wore my old Rannoch School uniform.
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Presented at Hollywood Palace in the presence of H.M Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1981.
Favourites From The Archives
Christmas Lunch At The Whitehouse
TBT to the time I met President Clinton First Lady Clinton as part of a TV Xmas Special for Disney. The President and the First Lady hosted us to a very special Xmas lunch at the White House.
Ears That Soared
I worked with @British_Airways to put a pair of Mickey Mouse ears on Concorde to celebrate the opening of @DisneylandParis. No, the plane didn’t take off! It was just a publicity stunt but with Concorde’s nose, it was easy to see how we could create a Mickey Face.
An evening with Richard Sherman
#TBT to spending an evening with Richard Sherman, who worked for Walt, writing the music and lyrics for Winnie the Pooh, Mary Poppins, the Jungle Book and It’s A Small World. He is one of the most creative people I ever had the opportunity to work with at Disney. Anyone who can come with the word "Super cali fragic listic expealidocious" and can sing it backward, is truly special.
Opening Disneyland Paris 1992
TBT to when … I opened Disneyland Paris on April 22, 1992. During my Disney career, I also launched Disney's Hollywood Studios (88), Disney's Animal Kingdom (98), Disney Cruise Lines (98) Disney’s California Adventure (01), Tokyo Disney Seas (01), Hong Kong Disneyland (05) and Shanghai Disneyland (16).
Meeting My Childhood Hero
TBT to one of my best days at Disney… the day I got to work with the Muppets and my favorite childhood hero, Fozzie Bear!
Making Buzz Lightyears Dreams Come True
For the opening of Toy Story 2 we helped Buzz Lightyears dreams come true and he got to take a trip to the international space station and fulfill his dream of going to space!
Olympic Swim Down Main street USA
Welcomed back Olympian Michael Phelps with a custom pool constructed down Main Street USA, Disneyland.
Inauguration Day
Inauguration Day of the Disney Magic and Disney Cruise Lines.
Career Highlights
Duncan’s Musings
A Box is Never Just a Box
Think back to your birthday morning as a child… That rush of anticipation as you leap out of bed and run towards the living room, your brain cycling through all the possibilities of what your Mom and Dad may have [...]
Why Richard Branson Just Gave $250 Million to his Employees – A Lesson in Employee-First Mentality
What if every executive gave up this year’s annual bonus and shares to help keep their people employed? Iconic entrepreneur Richard Branson made headlines this week with the announcement of a $250 million package aimed at saving his employees. With [...]
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