Biography
Erik Wahl is an internationally recognized artist, TED speaker, and bestselling author. His breakthrough experience as an artist and entrepreneur has translated into making him into one of the most sought-after corporate speakers on the circuit today.
On stage, Erik’s keynote experience creates a dynamic multidimensional metaphor for how to systematically embrace innovation and risk. His message: disruption is the new normal and businesses must embrace creativity in a wholesale fashion, or risk being left behind. Erik’s presentation inspires organizations to be increasingly agile and outlines how to use disruption as a competitive advantage. Some companies will be disrupted others will choose to be the disruptor. Choose wisely.
His new book, The Spark and the Grind, activates the essential components of translating ideas into action. His breakthrough thinking has earned praise from the likes of top influencers in both art and business. Erik’s previous book, a bestseller called Unthink was hailed by Forbes Magazine as the blueprint to actionable creativity, and by Fast Company Magazine as “provocative with a purpose.”
The Warhol of Wall Street, the Renoir of ROI, The Picasso of Productivity, the Jobs of … Well, Jobs. Erik discovered an alarming truth early in his career as a partner in a corporate firm: organizations that encouraged the mental discipline of creativity did better than those that did not put innovation as a priority mission. So he set out to challenge companies to change their way of thinking.
In the meantime, inspired by street art, he became an acclaimed graffiti artist—though he has since stopped selling his works for personal gain, and instead uses his art to raise money for charities. His keynote is where his passion for business growth and art converge into a fascinating performance.
Erik’s list of clients includes AT&T, Disney, London School of Business, Microsoft, FedEx, Exxon Mobil, Ernst & Young, and XPrize.
Videos
Erik Wahl - The Spark and the Grind
Erik Wahl - The Art of Vision
Erik Wahl 2016 sizzle reel
The Future of Virtual - Erik Wahl
Unlocking the Future of Business | Erik Wahl
Erik Wahl Sizzle Reel
Keynote Speaker | Erik Wahl
Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more
The most effective way to gain a sustainable advantage in the business world is by setting yourself apart from your competitors. In this engaging and highly practical program, we will explore innovative methods to enhance your organization's creativity, innovation, and profitability. Additionally, we will emphasize the importance of equipping your employees with storytelling skills, both within your company and throughout your industry.
By adopting innovative approaches, professionals at all levels can achieve exceptional levels of performance by distinguishing themselves creatively and visibly from the competition. Whether you lead a small company or a large corporation, employees at all levels will be better equipped to face the future with increased innovation, productivity, and, ultimately, greater profitability.
Adapting to Continuous Disruption:
Businesses must embrace mental flexibility
Avoid obsolescence in an age of disruption
Some organizations face disruption, while others gain a competitive edge as disruptors
The Power of Art unlocks intellectual curiosity
Dynamic thinking enhances human potential, nurtures trust, compassion, relationships, leadership, and service
Transcends automation
Connects on a deeply human level
Acts as a gateway to complex problem-solving
Facing the Challenge of AI:
Automation's inevitable advance
The risk of falling behind generative AI
The solution: Human creativity
Mental adaptability and flexibility are crucial for staying relevant
Today’s leaders face a pressure to innovate – or else perish – unlike any other time in history. Advances in social, mobile, and cloud technology coupled with fierce global competition have made the business landscape nearly unrecognizable from what it was a mere 10 years ago.
Erik Wahl’s entertaining and invigorating Art of Leadership presentation paints a compelling new portrait for what the successful leaders of tomorrow will look like. He inspires audiences to shed old ways of thinking and “business as usual” processes that are outdated, inefficient, and detrimental to productivity. Audience members learn new ways to build an emotional connection to drive future employee engagement. Erik’s presentation stretches traditional assumptions on leadership. The end results include:
Innovative solutions to further your organization
Attracting and engaging quality employees
New efficiencies and the end of detrimental redundancies
Growth and comfort cannot co-exist. When leaders come from a place of authenticity, curiosity, exploration, and purpose, this leads to more meaningful connections among team members and with clients and customers – and ultimately, a more profitable organization. An engaged employee equals an engaged customer.
It’s one thing to understand the importance of creativity to the success of your business, but what most people don’t understand is to how to put a structure in place so that innovation can find its way. The paradox of creativity is that structure creates freedom. Even the wildest minds require extreme orderliness and attention to detail so that they have the space and discipline to create.
Consider:
Beethoven sat down everyday at daybreak, regardless of season, and composed until 3:00pm.
Kafka started writing at 11:30pm each night.
Mozart taught lessons by day and composed only in the evenings.
Picasso ate lunch each day with his family in silence and only allowed visitors one day per week.
Mark Twain awoke at 5:30 am, ate a hearty breakfast, and wrote until 5:00 pm.
This program will allow your organization to:
Deconstruct the discipline of the creative process to ignite ideas to action.
Explores The Psychology of Success and the Science of Innovation to achieve superior levels of performance.
Harness The mental toughness required to navigate ambiguity and master complexity in a rapidly changing business environment
Disruption is the new normal. Are you creating or reacting?
60 minutes curated Q and A with Tasha and Erik Wahl to talk about 20 years of growing a business and consulting for organizations worldwide, 29 years of marriage, and honest conversations about growth, failure, resistance and gratitude.
Testimonials
Blog Posts
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Discover how courage in leadership transforms fear into purpose and action, with insights from keynote speaker Julian Pistone.
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Positivity at Work Is a Trust Signal, Not a Mood
Positivity at work isn't a mood: it's a trust signal. Here's how to build the conditions where hope is rational and progress is real in your workplace.
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