Helping Businesses get Better at Creativity, and Creatives get Better at Business
WILLIAM WARREN | ENTREPRENEUR. AUTHOR. SPEAKER. ILLUSTRATOR
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About
William C Warren
William is a creative turned entrepreneur with a simple, yet critical, mission:
Help businesses think more creatively.
Help creatives think more like business owners.
Back in 2013, he launched The Sketch Effect—a visual communications agency that partners with some of the world’s top brands to turn complex ideas into clear, actionable stories through the power of visuals.
He’s also the author of The Conquering Creative, an Amazon best-seller. This fully illustrated book is a practical, encouraging guide to help creative professionals thrive in business without losing their spark.
When he’s not running his company or writing books, you’ll find William on stage delivering high-energy, inspiring talks and workshops where he often sketches live as he speaks (because why just say something when you can draw it?).
Outside of work, William loves hanging with his family, firing up the grill for some epic BBQ, scuba diving, traveling, and cruising around Atlanta on his Onewheel.
The Conquering Creative
Check Out William’s Book:
The Conquering Creative isn’t your typical dry business book…it’s a fun, fully-illustrated guide designed just for creative people.
Let’s be real: most creatives love the craft but cringe at the “business stuff.” Spreadsheets? Contracts? Marketing plans? Not exactly why you picked up a paintbrush, camera, or learned Adobe Photoshop.
But here’s the deal…if you want to thrive in your creative career (or grow your own creative business), you need some business savvy.
That’s where this book comes in. Packed with practical tips, easy-to-use tools, and a big boost of confidence, The Conquering Creative helps you crush the business side without crushing your soul.
The book has won awards and hit top charts, including:
Finalist in the 2023 Goody Business Book Awards (Business-Career Success)
Amazon Best Seller and “Hot New Release”
#1 New Release in Entrepreneurship and Vocational Guidance
Speaking
Looking to bring in a fresh voice to your next corporate event?
William brings big ideas to every stage…no matter the size of the event.
With nearly 20 years in the world of visual communication, he blends creativity, business insights, and the power of visual thinking into talks that truly stick.
From inspiring keynotes to practical lessons on running a small business, and even hands-on workshops that get teams thinking (and drawing!) in new ways, William makes learning engaging and memorable.
Curious what he covers? Check out his signature talks below!
signature talks
Victorious Visuals
Critical charts to conquer your obstacles and grow your business.
Running a business is no small feat. There’s planning, selling, system-building…and a hundred things in between.
In this lively, practical talk, William pulls back the curtain on his own journey of launching and growing a creative business. He shares the biggest lessons he’s learned (sometimes the hard way!) and introduces visual systems to make business growth doable and fun.
Sketch Effectiveness
Combine your visual and verbal brain to think, communicate, execute, and lead.
Words alone won’t cut it. Our brains are wired to learn in many ways, but in most workplaces, we default to words and more words.
In this eye-opening session, William reveals how visuals can supercharge learning, communication, and workplace effectiveness. He’ll show how the best leaders use visual thinking to plan smarter, lead stronger, and drive real results
Persuasive Pictures
The incredible science, art, and impact of visual storytelling.
Humans are wired for stories, especially visual ones. From cave paintings to TikTok, the tools may have changed, but the power of storytelling has stayed the same.
In this talk, William takes you on a journey through the roots of visual communication and shares how to tell stories that stick. Whether you’re marketing, leading, or selling, mastering storytelling is your secret weapon for success.
Speaking Experience
Chick-fil-A, Inc.
Oracle
Savannah College of Art and Design
Plywood Presents
Entrepeneurs’ Organization
The Serious Business Conference
Startup Mountain Summit
The Graphic Artists Guild
UPS
Midwest Digital Marketing Conference
Atlanta Convention and Visitor’s Bureau
Speaking Experience
Download Chapter 1 for Free
Subscribe now to get this free resource right away. You’ll also get William’s latest blog posts, helpful tools for creatives, and other exclusive content.
Testimonials
“Visionaries must articulate a picture of the future that produces passion in others. William, in his creative communication style, helps bridge the gap between business and creativity. Across both Chick-fil-A and at Trilith, William has come alongside us as we unpack some of our most complex business challenges in a fun and creative way that keeps us pursuing our future goals and aspirations.”
Dan Cathy Chairman, Chick-fil-A, Inc. | Founder & Chief Visionary, Trilith
“William Warren was an outstanding speaker at our 2024 Startup Mountain Summit! He was incredibly professional and easy to work with from start to finish. His talk on the power of visual storytelling was engaging, well-prepared, and interactive, delivering valuable insights in a way that truly resonated with our audience. He has a unique ability to make drawing feel approachable and less intimidating, encouraging everyone to leverage visual communication in their businesses. I highly recommend William for any event looking for an informative and dynamic speaker who knows how to captivate a room!”
Adriana Dew Program Director at Founders Forge
“We had William speak at our department's Development Day in 2024 and he was a fan favorite! He was a pleasure from preparation to delivery of content and we would recommend his content on visual communication and visual thinking to any size group in any industry. He is dynamic and professional and his content is instantly applicable.”
Savannah Leigh White Chick-fil-A Financial Services
William C Warren’s Reel
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