James Poulter
PROFILE
James Poulter is a leading keynote speaker and expert in artificial intelligence, innovation, and digital transformation. As the Head of AI and Innovation at House 337 and former CEO & Founder of voice technology company Vixen Labs (acquired 2023), James brings over 15 years of experience in helping organizations navigate technological change.
Previously serving as the Head of Emerging Platforms & Social Media Innovation at The LEGO Group, James has been at the forefront of digital transformation and innovation in major global brands. He currently advises various organizations including CV Global, The Church of England, and Bible.ai on AI strategy and implementation.
Background
James was previously the Head of Social Media for LEGO’s social network for Kids, LEGO Life – which launched globally in 2017 and has since grown to over 2m active users regularly posting their content to the world’s first global and safe social network for kids.
As well as devising and developing social features such as LEGO Life’s emoji keyboard, custom characters and moderation systems, James oversaw the launch of LEGO’s global partnership with GIPHY leading the LEGO channel to accrue over 1 Billion GIF views in its first year.
Prior to joining LEGO, James worked for a number of the world’s leading marketing, advertising and public relations firms including Edelman and Ogilvy leading digital marketing, mobile and social campaigns both in EMEA and globally as well as new business efforts for clients such as Diageo, Unilever, Bose, PayPal, HP and Adobe.
James founded Vixen Labs one of Europe’s leading strategy consultancy and app development studio for voice assistants and conversational ai.
As the CEO and Co-Founder of Vixen Labs, James was instrumental in establishing the company as Europe’s leading full-service Voice Agency. Vixen Labs specializes in voice consultancy and design, assisting brands in leveraging voice-first technology and conversational interfaces for effective communication and promotion.
Starting with a team of two people, in the space of three years, even during a pandemic, the team has now grown into over 20 staff and continues to grow from strength to strength and in December 2023 Vixen Labs was acquired by House 337.
Outside of work James is an advisor to the Church of England’s digital board as well as well as a number of other charities, entrepreneurs and start-ups.
James is also the author of the upcoming book “Talking Gods – work, worship and wonder in a world of AI” (IVP, October 2025), which explores the intersection of technology, faith, and society.
SPEAKING TOPICS
The Robots Are Coming
In this groundbreaking talk, JP Poulter guides organizations through the process of rewiring their teams for the AI age. Using his custom-developed “AI Nervous System” framework, JP provides a clear roadmap for integrating AI into your organization’s DNA, ensuring you’re not just ready for the future – you’re actively shaping it.
Key Themes
- Understanding and implementing the AI Nervous System framework
- Customizing Large Language Models (LLMs) to support team functions
- Navigating the ethical considerations of AI deployment
- Leveraging AI to enhance connections with customers and employees
CTL – ALT- DEL
In this transformative talk, JP Poulter introduces a powerful framework for cultivating innovation within organisations. Using the familiar computer command “Ctrl, Alt, Delete” as a metaphor, JP guides leaders and teams through the process of reinventing their approach to innovation. This talk doesn’t just theorize about innovation—it provides a practical roadmap for embedding creativity and forward-thinking into your organization’s DNA.
Ctrl: Gaining Control
- Developing active listening skills across all levels of the organisation
- Implementing feedback loops to capture insights from employees and customers
- Creating a system for idea capture and evaluation
- Establishing innovation metrics and KPIs to track progress
Alt: Creating Alternatives
- Techniques for breaking out of conventional thinking patterns
- Cross-pollination of ideas from different industries and disciplines
- Scenario planning and future-casting exercises
- Embracing diversity and inclusion as catalysts for innovative thinking
Delete: Unlearning and Renewal
- Identifying and challenging outdated assumptions and processes
- Techniques for overcoming resistance to change
- Creating a ‘fail fast, learn quickly’ culture
- Implementing systems for continuous learning and adaptation
Turn It Off And On Again: Rebooting Your Customer Experience for the AI Age
In this cutting-edge presentation, JP Poulter guides organizations through the process of reimagining and revitalizing their customer experience strategies for the AI-driven era. Using the familiar IT troubleshooting advice “Turn it off and on again” as a metaphor, JP demonstrates how to reset, reconfigure, and reboot customer interactions to harness the full potential of AI technologies
Key Topics Covered:
- Turning Off: Assessing and Retiring Outdated Approaches
- Reconfiguration: Integrating AI into the CX Stack
- Turning On: Activating Your AI-Powered CX Strategy
- Continuous Improvement: Ensuring Your CX Stays Cutting-Edge
2026 – Autonomous Connected & Enabled
In this presentation James takes you into the not too distant future to look at the real impact of new and advancing existing technologies and how they will impact individuals lives in a 24 hour period and what long term benefits they will bring.
New for 2025 - Understanding the Innovator’s Mindset: A Guide for Business Leaders
In this talk, James Poulter—serial entrepreneur, agency owner, founder, advisor, and former LEGO employee—will take business leaders on a journey into the mind of the innovator. This session is designed to help leaders understand and support the entrepreneurs and creative thinkers within their organisations. By uncovering the unique traits, risk tolerances, and expectations of innovators, James will provide actionable strategies to cultivate an environment where these individuals can thrive and drive value for the organisation.
Key Themes:
The Innovator’s DNA
- Who are the innovators in your organisation?
- Core characteristics of innovators: Creativity, problem-solving, and a desire to challenge the status quo.
- Why they approach risk differently: Seeing opportunities where others see obstacles.
The Innovator’s Journey: Expectations and Challenges
- Understanding how innovators think: Ideation, experimentation, and iteration.
- The balancing act of ambition and self-doubt: What leaders need to know about the emotional side of innovation.
- Why innovators often push boundaries—and why that’s a good thing.
Leadership Strategies for Supporting Innovators
- Speaking the innovator’s language: Tips for effective communication and collaboration.
- Providing psychological safety: How to encourage risk-taking without fear of failure.
- Balancing autonomy and structure: Giving innovators the freedom to create while aligning their work with organisational goals.
Creating an Innovation Culture
- Identifying and leveraging innovators in your organisation.
- Fostering a growth mindset across teams.
- Building pathways for ideas to move from concept to execution.