Global Leader & Speaking Engagement

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.

FEATURED

Sophia Bekele speaking on women and their strength
Sophia Bekele on Third International Conference on learning Cities

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 consequences.

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.

Sophia  Bekele Talks

SIGNATURE SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS & FORUMS

Global Institutions & Multilateral Forums

  • European Parliament (Strasburg, France)- Women’s Leadership Forum, 

  • United Nations (UNCTAD / CSTD) – (Geneva) Digital competencies & emerging technologies for development

  • UNESCO Learning Cities (Dublin, Ireland) – Employment, entrepreneurship & continuous learning, 

  • UN General Assembly (New York) – Digital divide, globalization & ICT development, 

  • ITU Girls in ICT Day (African Union) – Women in technology leadership, 

  • UNPAN / WSIS / ITU (Geneva) – E-government, PPPs & public-sector transformation

Sophbia Bekele Moderating New York Africa High Level Forum
New York Forum for Africa, Gabon

Sophia Moderating a panel with Mr. Robert Wolf CEO and Founder, 32 Advisors, former CEO of UBS Americas, and a three time economic advisor to President Obama and Mr. Dante Paradiso, Charge de Affair for US Embassy Gabon

Major International Summits

  • GRC International Conference  – Governance, Risk Management, Compliance, executives, auditors, policymakers, regulators, digital transformation, AI

  • EurAfrican Forum (Portugal) – Trust, coalitions, and global systems change

  • ISACA International  Conference- AI & Internet governance, systems auditors, cybersecurity, digital trust.
  • Crans Montana Forum (Belgium & Spain) – Women, youth & the digital revolution

  • GES – Global Entrepreneurship Summit (USA) – Diaspora leadership & innovation

  • Africa Leadership Forum (South Africa)– Opportunities in emerging economies

  • AITEC ICT Summits (Kenya, Nigeria) – ICT-enabled economies & digital currency visit

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 Executive 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 outcomeHigh- Level 

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 divide

  • Lincoln University – Ethics, governance & institutional leadership

SIGNATURE THEMES

  • Digital sovereignty & de-risking dependency
  • AI & nternet 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

Government & Policy Platforms

  • White House / USAID African Diaspora Summit (Washington Dc)

  • World Affairs Council – Freedom of information as a human right (SF- Bay Area)

  • Regional & national policy forums across Africa, Europe, and the U.S.(Washington)

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.

Sophia Bekele Invite Page

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