Disney Chief: How AI Will Change Creativity Forever

Creativity is the key to staying competitive, so why do so many organizations struggle to innovate?Today on Digital Disruption, we’re joined by Duncan Wardle, former 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. Now a global keynote speaker and innovation advisor, he shares his unique Design Thinking approach to help organizations spark creativity, unlock fresh thinking, and embed innovation into their culture. A TED speaker and contributor to Fast Company, Forbes, and Harvard Business Review, Duncan also teaches innovation Master Classes at Yale, Harvard, and the University of Edinburgh.Duncan sits down with Geoff to explore how businesses can break down the barriers to innovation by tapping into their most powerful resource: human imagination. Duncan gives a look into the magic of Disney’s approach to creativity and explains how companies can design cultures that foster curiosity, risk-taking, and collaboration. From solving complex problems with simple questions to creating space for disruptive thinking, Duncan shares practical, transformative advice for leaders ready to think boldly and challenge the current workplace roles. In this episode: 0:00 Intro2:00 Time at Disney5:40 Creativity is now the most in-demand skill8:15 Barriers to innovation11:30 Tools for creative thinking14:45 Reframing problems as innovation18:10 The power of naïve experts21:00 Innovation at Disney25:50 Tips for embedding in any organization29:00 How leaders can foster innovation32:00 Tools to think differently33:21 Overhyped tools34:01 What’s different about Gen Z36:03 Duncan’s mission to unlock creativity39:03 Changing cultureConnect with Duncan:Website: https://duncanwardle.com/Twitter: https://x.com/duncanjwardleInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/duncanjwardleLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncanwardle/  Visit our website: https://www.infotech.com/Follow us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@InfoTechRG