Meet Duncan2019-01-26T06:43:37+00:00

About Duncan

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? How about sending a beloved Pixar character into outer space?

When tasked with developing a creative public relations campaign to launch Walt Disney World’s newest attraction, Toy Story Mania, Duncan made a deal to send the one and only Buzz Lightyear up on NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery, where he took part in the live broadcasts Astronauts beamed back to earth. It was the ultimate in creative cross-promotion, and forever gave Duncan bragging rights, having launched a PR campaign that was literally out of this world!

“Duncan made a deal to send the one and only Buzz Lightyear up on NASA’s Space Shuttle Discovery”

Back on Earth, Duncan and his team were tasked with leading the Walt Disney 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 Creative 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 3,000 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 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 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

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, 200?

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.

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.

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

In one word I would explain Duncan’s creativity training as transformative. One day with Duncan created more than a year of conversation and fresh approaches to brainstorming throughout our agency.

-Tom Coyne, CEO of Coyne PR

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 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

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’s power comes from his engaging exercises, energetic delivery and the memorability of his tools. When a 100 year old brand starts replacing stagnant approaches with expansive language like “how might we?” or “Yes, And,” - you know the culture is beginning to shift.

-Lori Geoffrey, Director of Digital Experience Pacific Gas and Electric

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

If your company is looking for ways to continuously improve, engage your employees to think differently and have fun along the way, you’ll find inspiration in Duncan’s Innovation Emporium., Not only have our teams returned from Duncan’s workshops with a newfound excitement and a belief that they have what it takes to be innovative, they’ve also generated tangible ideas that are moving into the implementation phase.

-Laurie Giammona, Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer - Pacific Gas and Electric Company

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’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's interactive presentation breathed a new life of excitement into our Driven Brands Marketing teams. Immediately following his innovation seminar, we all created desktop screensavers with little tidbits or quotes from his lessons ensuring we would be reminded every day to "find the yes" or "get out of our river of thought"... and to "share early and often". We started having breakfast meetings where we idea shared. Ultimately Duncan's teachings continue to remind us that innovation is such a vital part of jobs and we can also have a lot of fun doing it.

-Hannah Ross, Sr. Marketing Manager, Carstar

In true Disney fashion, Duncan’s teaching methods are educational and entertaining. He has successfully introduced new ways of thinking into our company, paving the way to invigorating and enhancing our culture of continued innovation and creativity.”

-George Scammell, Director of Interior Design, Princess Cruises

Duncan’s Musings

Goodbye to Hollywood?

 “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again.” -Billy Joel, “Say Goodbye to Hollywood”  I’m in Los Angeles this week, and as expected, Oscar fever is sky high. The 91st Annual Academy Awards [...]

20 February, 2019|
Read On!

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(407) 569-7050

ignite@duncanwardle.com

  • @TheAcademy Awards are only a few weeks away and Hollywood is buzzing! Other then the glitz and glam, there is going to be something else on this year’s red carpet... A huge, absolutely massive fight: Read my latest article titled, "Goodbye to Hollywood?" Link in bio. @Variety @ABCNetwork @Billboard @AMCTheaters @RegalMovies @Netflix @HollywoodReporter #Disrupt #Innovation #DesignThinking
  • “Life is a series of hellos and goodbyes. I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again.” -Billy Joel, “Say Goodbye to Hollywood” I’m in Los Angeles this week, and as expected, Oscar fever is sky high. The 91st Annual Academy Awards is just a few weeks away, and Hollywood is absolutely buzzing. As I stopped to take it all in, it occurred to me that in addition to all the glitz and the glamour, there is going to be something else on this year’s red carpet. Something Hollywood hasn’t seen before: A huge, absolutely massive fight... link in bio... @AMCTheaters @RegalMovies @Netflix @HollywoodReporter #Innovation #DesignThinking #MarketDisruption #Oscars #Oscars2019
  • Have you ever been guilty of arriving home after your commute home only to ask yourself "How did I get here?" What happened was your brain shut down. It was able to see the routine, and predictability and go on autopilot all the way home. The challenge? No new stimulus in means no fresh ideas out. I'm going to show you how some of the worlds top brands get fresh stimulus into spark innovation into their organizations. #InnovationMasterclass #InnovationSpeaker #InnovationConsultant #InnovationKeynote
  • It’s the people… As much as I love being on stage and sharing my passion for innovation and creativity, there nothing that I love more than meeting attendees afterwards. I love hearing their stories, seeing their passion for their businesses, and learning more about how they are going to innovate and change the world. “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life” and I’m honored to be able to share my work with so many amazing people all around our beautiful world.
  • What if every car was a taxi? (Uber) What if there was no such thing as a video rental store? (Netflix) What if you could stay in strangers homes instead of hotels? (Airbnb) Now, what if YOU had the tools you needed to innovate and ignite your business? I invite you to join me at my Innovation Masterclass in Vancouver. Reserve your seats by clicking the link in my bio. #InnovationMasterclass #Innovation #InnovationSpeaker #InnovationClass #CreativitySpeaker #Creativity #DesignThinking #Ignite #604 #778 #YVR #Vancouver #BC #VancouverBC #BusinessInVancouver #BCBusiness
  • ‪Today’s keynote entitled “Human to the power of Machine,” focused on how we can blend the skills of A.I. and human creativity to innovate in a decade of Disruption.‬ ‪#AI #Innovation #Disrupt #DesignThinking #InnovationKeynote #InnovationSpeaker ‬