Joe Tankersley is a writer, futurist, and former Walt Disney Imagineer. He combines his broad experience as a storyteller with a deep knowledge of strategic foresight to help organizations create compelling visions for better tomorrows.
During his 20 years at Walt Disney Imagineering, Joe led creative teams on projects for Epcot, Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and the Disneyland Resort in California. Much of his work involved creating “serious fun;” using entertainment to enlighten, empower and inspire guests from around the world. These experiences taught him the importance of transforming complex information into narratives that can be easily accessed by diverse audiences. His projects have been recognized nationally and internationally, including receiving the prestigious THEA award for his work on Millennium Village at Epcot.
As part of Walt Disney Imagineering’s elite Blue Sky Studio, Joe helped establish the group’s first Strategic Foresight Program. In that role, he created a series of innovative projects designed to explore possible futures for The Walt Disney Studios, Disney Parks and Resorts, The Disney Company’s Corporate Citizenship Group, and Walt Disney World Operations. He continues to support those groups today as an outside consultant.
Since the fall of 2014, Joe has applied the knowledge and skills gained by his years working for the world’s most successful entertainment company to help others “Imagineer better tomorrows.” His clients include multinational corporations, major foundations, and community-based organizations. Recent projects have explored the future of the workforce, retail, sustainability, public health, creativity, and aging.
Joe is an active contributor to the professional foresight community. He served on the board of directors for the Association of Professional Futurists from 2010-2015 and organized international foresight gatherings in 2013 and 2015. He is a frequent keynote speaker at major conferences where he delivers his message about the power of narrative to create future opportunities.
Joe is also actively involved in efforts to create better tomorrows for his local community. He is a member of Conscious Capitalism Florida and has served as an advisor to numerous local nonprofits. He currently serves on the creative advisory board to the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes.
The ultimate goal of all his work is to show others how to use foresight and narrative to create , sustainable, equitable, and abundant futures.