William Higham

William Higham is a strategic futurist and global authority on future business strategy who specialises in translating emerging trends into practical actions for sustainable growth. As founder of consultancy Next Big Thing, he has spent over two decades advising organisations including Disney, HSBC, Vodafone and Colgate on consumer foresight, innovation and leadership, helping them navigate change with confidence. His approach combines grounded insight into customer expectations, workforce dynamics and organisational culture with clear analytical frameworks audiences can use immediately. Whether delivering keynotes from Seoul to San Antonio or facilitating leadership offsites, William equips senior teams to build future-ready organisations, embed innovation and turn uncertainty into opportunity.

After founding strategic consultancy Next Big Thing in 2002, William Higham has spent more than two decades advising organisations across the globe on how to turn emerging trends into commercial advantage. His client portfolio spans retail giants such as Sainsbury's and Amazon, financial institutions including HSBC and Nationwide, technology leaders from BT to AOL, and major brands like Budweiser, Diageo and Walt Disney. What distinguishes his work is the unusual career foundation that shaped his approach: a decade in the music industry during the 1990s, where he ran marketing campaigns for artists including The Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson and The Cure at Sony Music, Virgin and Universal. It was this early immersion in audience behaviour and cultural shifts that taught him to spot patterns before they became obvious, a skill he now applies to business strategy.

William's credentials extend well beyond consultancy. He authored The Next Big Thing: Forecasting Consumer Trends For Profit, published by Kogan Page in 2009, which has since been translated into five languages and remains the first practical handbook for trend strategists. His thought leadership appears regularly in publications such as The Economist, The Guardian, Advertising Age and the Huffington Post, whilst his media presence includes interviews and commentary across the BBC, Bloomberg TV, Al Jazeera, The Times and Cosmopolitan. He has also presented a television programme for CNBC exploring the future of work and frequently serves as a spokesperson for high-profile brand campaigns. His speaking engagements have taken him from Seoul to San Antonio, delivering keynotes and chairing events for organisations including Barclaycard, the Financial Times, Amazon, Heineken and the British Council.

As a speaker, William equips audiences with the clarity and confidence to face uncertainty without fear. His sessions cut through complexity, translating insights about consumer expectations, workforce dynamics and organisational culture into practical frameworks that senior leaders and teams can apply immediately. Whether addressing multi-generational workforces, embedding innovation in change-resistant environments, or preparing organisations for the impact of artificial intelligence and automation, his approach avoids buzzwords in favour of grounded research and real-world actions. Audiences consistently describe his presentations as catalysts for meaningful internal discussion and long-term strategic thinking, leaving them not only informed about what lies ahead but genuinely prepared to shape it.