William Higham helps you thrive in uncertain times
William Higham helps you thrive in uncertain times
The unpredictability of business today can be a challenge. Whether you’re trying to plan your strategy, justify spend on new technology or identify what skills you’ll need in your next employee. But William Higham can help.
William is a global authority and speaker on Future Business Strategy and Leadership. Skilled in Strategic Foresight, Customer Engagement and Behavioural Science, he’s spent 20 years helping brands navigate change.
His talks offer guidance across the whole future business landscape: customers to employees, technology to ethics, finance to luxury.
He’s delighted audiences at events for FT to Barclaycard, Disney to Colgate, from San Antonio to Seoul. His talks have inspired thousands to face the future without fear, armed with practical ways to handle any challenge.
Audiences love William’s talks
Audiences love William’s talks
“Will was engaging and thought provoking and set our agenda for change. It was great working with him.” Mike Hulse, Sales Director, Philips
“Will’s provocative insights inspired the audience to think up new ways to serve tomorrow’s consumer.” Matt Houston, Director of Strategy, Primark
“William gave great insights into the ways consumers are changing, and how companies will need to adapt their strategy.” Michaela Ridgeway, Senior Content Editor, Financial Times Global Conference
“William got the brief exactly, and delivered just the kind of speech we wanted.” Laura Kozasvili, Head of Events, British Property Federation
“Superb session, especially in the tough environs of Zoom. The delegates found it really valuable.” Kev Richardson, CEO, Ch. Inst. Logistics & Transport
“He delivered great food for thought: inspiring ideas and practical stimulus for discussions and workshops.” Charlie Gower, Head of Insight, Hiscox
NEW TALK
The Flexible Organisation | The Future of Work
In tomorrow’s uncertain business landscape, the most successful companies won’t be those with the best products or marketing teams. They’ll be the ones that can best adapt to new circumstances. The ones with the best organisation: the most efficiently run offices, smartest workflows and resource allocation, inspiring cultures and engaged, productive employees.
But old fashioned environments and reporting structures are really hampering many companies’ productivity, engagement and efficiency. The introduction of hybrid is a good start – but much more needs to be done.
In this talk, I look at what CEOs and the HR department can do to rebuild the enterprise: creating environments and organisational structures fit for the future. That give individuals the autonomy and flexibility to excel – while fostering a collaborative, engaged community across blended workforces. That build flatter, teams-based, results-driven hierarchies working towards a common purpose. That use new technologies like generative AI and smart materials to empower individuals and improve workflows.
NEW TALK
Customers as family | The Future of Loyalty
Brand loyalty and employee engagement are at an all-time low. According to one study, 92% of consumers say they aren’t even loyal to their favourite brand. And 85% of employees admit to being disengaged at work.
But, despite such disturbing statistics, I believe it’ll actually be easier to build loyalty tomorrow than in the past: in both consumers and employees. Why? It’s all down to a growing desire to belong, to ‘feel part of something’, to have the support of ‘people like me’ in an increasingly uncertain world.
In my new talk, I use examples from social media to competitive leisure, neighbourhood groups to book clubs, to show how smart companies can foster loyalty by creating ‘brand families’. I help audiences identify passions and values that can unite their employees and engage their customers. How to use events and advice to bring customers together. How to give people a voice without losing your own.
NEW TALK
Managing Uncertainty | The Future of Leadership
NEW TALK
Managing Uncertainty | The Future of Leadership
Those who thought business life might calm down post-Covid have been disappointed as the economy hits new bumps and ChatGPT heralds the return of disruptive tech. Far from diminishing, the volatility of the last three years looks set to become the norm. That’s a problem for anyone who’s planning for the future: whether they’re trying to create new marketing strategies, justify spending on new technology, or identify the skills needed in tomorrow’s workforce.
So how do you plan for an uncertain future? In this new talk, I reveal five practical ways managers can successfully do just that. You’ll learn how to boost your adaptability, embrace uncertainty, focus on your strategic vision, get a grasp on scenario planning and build a change-friendly team culture.
NEW TALK
Hype-free Guide to AI & Beyond | The Future of Tech
NEW TALK
Hype-free Guide to AI & Beyond | The Future of Tech
Sometimes the world feels like it’s full of acronyms – AI, AR, W3, GPT – with every one of them getting hyped up by the media and consultants. But some will matter much more than others – and some won’t really matter at all. So how do you tell which innovations you need to focus on and which you can ignore. Which can help, and which will hinder, your business model?
In this talk, I cut through the hype to identify the new technologies that will really matter, what makes them special – and what they can do for your business. I reveal how they’ll impact customer strategy, employee engagement, administrative efficiency and new product development.
Will’s spoken at events for many major brands
Watch William talk about Community and Loyalty
Watch William talk about Community and Loyalty
Watch an extract from William’s keynote speech at the prestigious Future Korea Forum 2022 in Seoul, South Korea in November last year. The event was organised by Money Today Network, the biggest Business and Finance broadcaster in Korea, and a flagship of the Newsis News Agency.
William gave a powerful talk on the new Community Spirit trend. What’s driving it – and its implications for Finance, Retail and the financial markets.
Watch William talk about the Future of Work
Watch William talk about the Future of Work
Watch an extract from William’s opening speech at Rumania’s premier Human Resources event – Everything HR – in Brasov in May this year.
William began by considering how outdated many of today’s workplaces and organisational hierarchies are. Then offered his audience practical suggestions on how to build a successful organisation that is “fit for the future”: profitable and productive – adaptable enough to navigate an uncertain future – and able to attract and retain the best employees.