William HighamSpecialist in Future Business Strategy and Consumer Trends

William Higham is a leading specialist in future-focused business strategy, known for his ability to predict the evolving needs of tomorrow’s customers and workforce. For two decades, he has headed the consultancy Next Big Thing, assisting global organisations such as Amazon, Walt Disney, HSBC, and MTV in navigating shifting landscapes. His foresight has been vital in identifying major shifts including the rise of the wellbeing consumer and the emergence of the New Sobriety trend within the beverage sector. Additionally, he was instrumental in championing the hit programme Strictly Come Dancing to the BBC. His career began in the music industry, where he managed marketing communications for Sony, Virgin, and Universal, representing icons like Michael Jackson and The Rolling Stones. This experience sparked an interest in consumer behaviour that led him to consult for brands such as BT and Levi’s, and later serve as managing director of the research firm OnePoll. A respected author, he wrote The Next Big Thing: Forecasting Consumer Trends For Profit, the definitive UK handbook for trend strategists. He is also a familiar face in the media, appearing in the Netflix series The Future Of and providing expert commentary for the BBC, Bloomberg TV, and The Economist. William brings clarity to complex emerging technologies, including the Metaverse, Web3, and generative AI, explaining their practical impact on modern commerce. He is frequently booked for his ability to provide clear, strategic frameworks that help corporate audiences prepare for future disruption with confidence and authority. On stage, William Higham is best known for talks on Future Business Strategy, Consumer Trends, Ethical Consumerism, Metaverse, Web3 and Generative AI. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Business & Consulting, Entertainment, Marketing & Brand and Technology, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. William Higham is regularly booked for Business Speaker and Presenter & Awards Host, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, William Higham travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how William Higham would approach your audience.