Samuel Akintunde

Speaking

I speak on design, innovation, and building across borders.

My talks are grounded in practice in real organisations, real markets, and real decisions. I only speak to what I have lived.

What I bring to the room

A practitioner's perspective

I am not an academic or a consultant who theorises from a distance. I build things, for the UK Government, for startups, for communities across two continents. I speak from that.

A rare vantage point

I sit at the intersection of two worlds, African and Western, public and private, design and strategy. That gives me a perspective most speakers cannot offer.

Talks that move people

I care about what people do when they leave the room. I build talks that shift how an audience sees a problem, not just what they know about it.

Sample speaking topics

Design as a Strategic Capability

How organisations can use design not just as craft, but as a lens for strategy, decision-making, and competitive advantage.

KeynotePanelWorkshop

Innovation Across Borders — The Africa-West Opportunity

The biggest opportunities in global business sit at the border between Africa and the Western world. Most businesses cross it without truly understanding what is on the other side. This talk changes that.

KeynoteFireside ChatPanel

The Future of Design in Africa

A clear-eyed look at the opportunity for design practice on the continent, the constraints, the momentum, and what is possible.

KeynotePanelFireside Chat

Discover Before You Build

Why most innovation fails, and how design thinking, used properly, helps teams ask the right questions before committing to the wrong answers.

KeynoteWorkshop

Building Community as Infrastructure

Lessons from building DigiHive Network — how to create communities that generate real value rather than just activity.

KeynoteWorkshop

These are starting points, not a fixed menu. Every event is different and I am happy to shape something around your audience and brief.

Event types

Conferences

Corporate events

Universities

Leadership retreats

Invite me to speak

Let us talk about your event

I consider every speaking opportunity carefully. Tell me about your event, your audience, and what you are hoping people will take away. I will get back to you within three business days.