Tom Wujec Bios

SHORT VERSION

Tom Wujec is a technologist, executive consultant and facilitator, multi-TED speaker, award-winning author, and creator of the Wicked Problem Solving® system. For 30 years, Tom has developed advanced digital tools for designers to make better cars and buildings, more beautiful and sustainable consumer products, and more captivating movies and playable games. Maya, an advanced animation application, won an Academy Award for its contribution to the film industry. Sketchbook Pro is used by 40 million designers and artists.

As the founder of a boutique consultancy, Tom works with leadership teams in many industries — manufacturing, construction, pharma, private equity, retail, and professional services, among others — to foster strategic breakthroughs and align team talent.

Tom has also delivered over 400 keynotes globally, speaks at TED regularly (with talks that have been viewed over 20 million times), and has written seven books on emerging technologies, design thinking, and creative collaboration.

LONG VERSION

General

Tom Wujec is a writer, speaker, and master facilitator who focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies, business transformation, and creative collaboration. He has worked in the public and private sectors and now focuses on helping large organizations transform their businesses by applying advanced digital tools as well as design thinking techniques. 

The Wujec Group

The Wujec Group helps individuals, teams, and organizations create massive positive impact in business and society. We do this by addressing their wicked problems - the complex, dynamic, biased, and charged challenges that shape today’s world. Through the design and facilitation of immersive workshops, the creation and deployment of engagement tools, and the delivery of deep training, our clients become Wicked Problem Solving superstars. 

Our clients include Fortune 500 leadership teams in Manufacturing, Pharma, Finance, Construction, and Technology. We have helped our customers tackle a vast range of complex challenges: from creating disruptive technology strategies to refreshing ailing brands, and from developing better innovation and design thinking systems to improving engagement with customers and partners. 

Autodesk

Tom worked at a Fellow at Autodesk where he repositioned the $3 billion design, engineering, manufacturing, and production software firm from an industry fast-follower to an industry thought-leader. His team developed an end-to-end thought-leadership pipeline. Creating bespoke leadership events, high quality publications, and enterprise business agreements he engaged Autodesk’s customers to think about the future of work more creatively. Tom also worked at Alias, a Canadian design  and animation software firm, where he brought several products to market, including Maya, (which won an Oscar for its contribution to the film industry) and Sketchbook (now used by 40 million designers).

Technology

Tom is a founding professor at Singularity University, where he taught design innovation in an exponential world. He also designed the XPRIZE Visioneering program for several years. Before immersing himself in technology, Tom worked as a creative director in Canada’s largest museum for over a decade as a creative director. There he produced museum exhibits celebrating the world of science, nature, and discovery. His work with interactive multimedia was featured in museums globally, including the Louvre, and the National Gallery in London and the Smithsonian.

Talks

Tom has delivered over 400 talks globally about the subjects of emerging technologies, business transformation, and creative collaboration globally. He is a featured keynote speaker at industry and business events.

Tom has given six TED Talks and several TEDX Talks. These include

Books

Tom writes about the intersection of technology, creativity, innovation, and complex problem solving. He is author of five books.

  • The Future of Making explores how emerging technologies are transforming the way people make things, who is making them, and the nature of what we make. 

  • Imagine Design Create illustrates the role of design in addressing complex business challenges and opportunities. It won best business book and book of the year by the NY Publishing Guild.

  • Pumping Ions is a collection of mental exercises primarily focused on building working memory, and concentration. It was  translated into 16 languages and printed in 22 countries. 

  • Five Star Mind: Games and Exercises to Flex the Mind. More brain stuff translated into 5 languages.

  • Return on Imagination: Realizing the Power of Ideas (Co authored by my wife). This book was recognized as the Business Book of the Year by the Times of India in 2004.

  • Wicked Problem Solving: Methods and tools to lead change, solve complex problems, and create breakthroughs.