Erik Wahl Speaker Biography
Artist, Author and Expert on Creativity and Innovation
Erik Wahl is an internationally recognized graffiti artist, # 1 bestselling author and entrepreneur. Erik redefines the term “keynote speaker.” Pulling from his history as both a businessman and an artist, he has grown to become one of the most sought-after corporate speakers available today. Erik’s on-stage painting seamlessly becomes a visual metaphor to the core of his message, encouraging organizations toward profitability through innovations and superior levels of performance.
Clients
His list of clients includes AT&T, Disney, London School of Business, Microsoft, FedEx, Exxon Mobil, Ernst & Young, and XPrize; Erik has even been featured as a TED presenter. The responses received have been nothing short of incredible, with standing ovations to prove it.
Books
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.”
Innovative Expert
Erik’s understanding of vision was originally born in the school of disappointment. After a eight-year career as a partner in a corporate firm, he became frustrated by the lack of innovative thought and corresponding profits he saw in business. So he set out to challenge companies to change their way of thinking, while simultaneously pursuing his own individual passions. He rediscovered his love for art, and now plays in the business world by working through his art.
Groundbreaking Artist
In the past 10 years, he has shared his incredible message with the largest and most influential companies in the world, leaving behind his prized artwork as a reminder of his passion for breakthrough thinking. He’s the Warhol of Wall Street, the Renoir of ROI, the Picasso of Productivity, the Jobs of… well, having a Job.
He is Erik Wahl: graffiti artist, author, entrepreneur and philanthropist.
Erik Wahl Speaking Topics
THE ART OF VISION
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
THE ART OF LEADERSHIP
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
THE DISCIPLINE OF CREATIVITY - The Spark and the Grind
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?
ERIK AND TASHA WAHL INTERVIEW
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.
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.
Erik Wahl Books
The Spark and the Grind: Ignite the Power of Disciplined Creativity
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Unthink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius
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Erik Wahl Articles
Erik Wahl Speaker Testimonials
“Erik’s presentation was one of the highlights of our three day conference for financial institutions! People were not just inspired, they were challenged to look at things differently, which I believe will make a positive impact on the financial service’s industry. Erik and his entire team were wonderful to work with and I would definitely hire him again and highly recommend him to others!”
- Digital Insight, an NCR company | Gwen Peters, Senior Event Manager
“Erik Wahl was the highlight of our entire conference. He captured everyone’s imagination with his creativity and added a whole new dimension to the usual motivational message. Not to mention his artistic finale was a complete knockout!”
- | AT&T
“Erik’s keynote set our twitter feed on fire. His revolutionary show gave our attendees an experience they won’t soon forget”
- | Association for Talent Development
"Game Changer"
- | Microsoft