Ken Segall

Creative design guru Ken Segall worked for over a decade as the Creative Director to revolutionary entrepreneur and Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs. A pioneering figure of defining characteristics of the illustrious brand, Ken is credited with naming the iMac and launching their renowned campaign titled Think Different. Describing himself to have an “obsession with technology”, Ken has worked as the Creative Director of countless industry-leading organisations, such as NeXT, Intel, Dell and IBM to name a few. As the Creative Director of Apple, Ken was pivotal in the relaunching of the brand back in the 1990s. A period for which Apple had not been profitable for a prolonged period of time and was teetering on the edge of bankruptcy, Ken worked his creative genius to bring the brand back from the brink of extinction.

Working with Steve’s vision of simplicity, Ken and his team formulated the idea of the Think Different campaign. Ken designed the campaign with the ultimate goal of redefining what Apple stood for; reigniting their employee’s passion and establishing the foundations that astounding future technology could be made from. Immensely successful, the campaign brought the company back from the brink of bankruptcy, propelling them to become one of the most valuable companies in the world. Ken was also the innovator of the iconic “i” seen at the front of most Apple products. Initially unimpressed by the name, Steve was ultimately convinced by Ken and his team to name his C1 computer the iMac. Little did they know that the “i” would go on to become an iconic feature of the brand, used across their product range today.

An adept published author, Ken has written two books, titled Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success and Think Simple: How Great Leaders Defeat Complexity. Insanely Simple: The Obsession That Drives Apple’s Success discusses the illustrious brand’s journey to the top and how Ken used simplicity as his own form of creative weapon, revolutionising the market where other brands were not. In Think Simple: How Great Leaders Defeat Complexity, Ken explores how Apple innovated the market through simplicity, a core value that Ken brings forward into his proficiency as a public speaker. Ken now dedicates his career to public speaking, delivering erudite keynotes across the globe. A keen believer that all organisations on Earth can be improved through simplicity, Ken delivers keynotes on how simplicity can help to motivate employees, increase profits and cultivate loyal customers.

Ken also covers various aspects of working with Steve Jobs, telling tales of how a great business leader found the power of simplicity. A seasoned speaker, Ken has been sought by high-profile businesses to deliver his wisdom. Previous clients include the likes of Warner Home Entertainment, Deloitte, Dell, Accenture, Intel, Ikea and Nationwide Insurance. Having spoken at over 100 events, including Champions' very own Networking Breakfast at The Gherkin, Ken has honed his skills to engage and captivate audience members of various industries and demographics, focusing on the subjects of management, innovation and marketing. Ken has previously delivered keynotes at the World Intelligent Manufacturing Summit, Nordic Business Forum and the World Business Forum. Inspiring, influential and personable Ken motivates audiences to harness Steve Jobs legacy of simplicity to tap into their own business potential.

In November of 2020, we sat down with Ken to discuss all things simplicity, virtual events and the impact that COVID has had on marketing. Read our interview with Ken Segall today.