Speaker • Moderator • Strategic Convenor

Sophia Bekele is a global speaker and Digital Sovereignty Architect whose work examines how power, governance, and economic agency are reshaped in the age of AI, data, and decentralized technologies. She is known for bringing strategic clarity to complex questions at the intersection of technology, policy, human development, and institutional trust.

She has delivered keynotes, chaired high-level dialogues, and engaged decision-makers at parliaments, multilateral institutions, global summits, universities, and executive forums across five continents. Her perspective bridges governance and innovation with lived operational experience—making her a trusted voice for leaders navigating digital transformation with long-term consequence.

Bekele’s speaking engagements are grounded in systems thinking, policy realism, and future-oriented leadership—focused not on trends, but on the architectures required to sustain autonomy, resilience, and inclusive growth in an interdependent world.

FEATURED

Sophia Bekele Talks

SIGNATURE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & FORUMS

Global Institutions & Multilateral Forums

United Nations (UNCTAD / CSTD) – Digital competencies & emerging technologies for development
UNESCO Learning Cities – Employment, entrepreneurship & continuous learning
UN General Assembly – Digital divide, globalization & ICT development
ITU Girls in ICT Day – Women in technology leadership
UNPAN / WSIS / ITU Geneva – E-government, PPPs & public-sector transformation

Major International Summits

EurAfrican Forum (Portugal) – Trust, coalitions, and global systems change
Crans Montana Forum (Belgium & Spain) – Women, youth & the digital revolution
GES – Global Entrepreneurship Summit (USA) – Diaspora leadership & innovation
Africa Leadership Forum – Opportunities in emerging economies
AITEC ICT Summits (Kenya, Nigeria) – ICT-enabled economies & digital currency vision

Universities & Academic Leadership

Stanford University (SWIB) – Women changing the face of technology
UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business – Featured keynote
Yale University – Autonomy, identity & technological transformation
Golden Gate University – Internet governance & policy divides
Lincoln University – Ethics, governance & institutional leadership

Universities & Academic Leadership

Stanford University (SWIB) – Women changing the face of technology
UC Berkeley, Haas School of Business – Featured keynote
Yale University – Autonomy, identity & technological transformation
New York University – Leadership, Entrepreneurship
Golden Gate University – Internet governance & policy divides
Lincoln University – Ethics, governance & institutional leadership

Government & Policy Platforms

White House / USAID African Diaspora Summit
World Affairs Council – Freedom of information as a human right
Regional & national policy forums across Africa, Europe, and the U.S.

Moderator & Forum Chair Roles

Strategic Convenor & Moderator — Chairs and moderates high-level, cross-sector dialogues with heads of state, ministers, global executives, and institutional leaders on economic transformation, digital futures, governance, and Africa’s role in global systems (including international leadership forums such as the New York Forum Africa)
DCA WebForum — Founder, curator, and regular host of a global executive and leadership forum convening policymakers, technologists, academics, entrepreneurs, and civil-society leaders to deliberate on urgent issues in digital governance, innovation, leadership, and inclusive development
Executive & Policy Dialogues — Facilitates multi-stakeholder conversations designed to move beyond commentary toward strategic clarity, alignment, and actionable outcome

SIGNATURE THEMES

Digital sovereignty & de-risking dependency

AI governance, regulation & responsible systems

Cyber resilience & critical infrastructure

Women’s leadership, inclusion & innovation in tech

Future of work, skills and Web 3.0 economies

Ethical digital ecosystems for emerging markets

Building Resilient Digital Systems for Nations & Enterprises

Technology Ethics, Corporate Governance & Accountability

Leadership, Systems Thinking & Human Development

SPEAKING STYLE & IMPACT

Bekele is known for her incisive clarity, grounded authority, and ability to translate complex geopolitical and technological systems into actionable strategic insight.
Her presence is equal parts analytical, lyrical, and visionary — blending governance, innovation, and human impact into a uniquely compelling voice.

FULL SPEAKING ARCHIVE

→ View Full Speaking Archive here

BOOKING & ENGAGEMENT

Available For
Keynotes • High-level panels • Fireside chats • Boardroom briefings • Executive retreats appearances, panel moderation, or special leadership sessions: 👉 Click Here
“Book Sophia” or “Request Speaking Engagement