Niyi Okuboyejo

Niyi Okuboyejo is a Creative Director, cultural translator, and designer who worked with Zendaya on her GQ cover and created outfits for Taraji P. Henson at the Met Gala. In 2015, he founded Post-Imperial, a global lifestyle brand rooted in African diaspora identity, which now has over 200 retail locations worldwide. With extensive experience across fashion and innovation, Niyi brings a unique perspective as a consultant operating at the intersection of cultural strategy, brand development, and creative direction. As a speaker, he shares insights on worldbuilding, soft power, and the role of African creatives in shaping global markets. He also explores how curation and infrastructure can transform creative communities into sustainable, globally influential ecosystems. A regular feature at fashion panels, global conferences, and events, Niyi is a compelling speaker for organisers seeking to explore the intersection of culture, creativity, and commerce.

In 2001, Niyi graduated from the University of Houston with a BAA in Marketing. From there, he secured a series of internships with fashion brands, including Yigak Azroel, Patrik Ervell, and Yeohlee. By 2007, he was a Textile Designer for Oscar de la Renta, where he developed colour palettes, inspiration concepts, and patterns for each collection. With a keen eye for fashion, he was nominated for Pitti Immagine x L’Uomo Vogue x GQ Italia’s Latest Fashion Buzz Showcase in 2017. From there, he had his first international retail partnership with United Arrows Japan and his first runway show at Lagos Fashion Week. With a strong foundation in fashion, Niyi later became a creative consultant, offering his expertise for a variety of brands, namely BMW Group, O.N.S Clothing, and Engineered Garments. He later won the FGI Rising Star Award and received the CFDA/Vogue Icon 360 x A Common Thread grant for his innovative work in the industry.

In 2019, Niyi joined Parsons School of Design as a Professor, where he teaches both traditional and contemporary approaches to multimedia, digital practice and technology-driven design. In 2022, he also worked as a Creative Consultant for WhatsApp, where he played a key role in developing the creative direction for their documentary with NBA Champion and MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, titled "There is No One Like Us," which reached over 2 million views across various social media platforms. He also collaborated with WhatsApp to develop key products for their +234  campaign. Alongside senior roles in fashion, Niyi is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, who has delivered fantastic talks for a range of events. In 2025, he spoke at Berkeley College, was a panellist at the Lagos Leads the Future event and led a future thinking workshop with Building African Fashion. Most recently, he contributed key insights as a panel member for the #EWAfrica Fashion Panel. 

As a speaker, Niyi Okuboyejo helps organisations navigate cultural complexity with integrity and commercial impact. He translates non-Western narratives for global audiences while preserving cultural authenticity, bridging corporate creativity with academic rigour. His frameworks also enable design teams to approach culture as a strategic advantage, demonstrating that authenticity and success are deeply interconnected. Through a decolonial lens, he challenges audiences to rethink their strategies, offering practical methodologies that reshape how organisations build, create, and connect in global markets. Ideal for fashion conferences, business events and cultural workshops, Niyi is a reliable and experienced keynote speaker. To hire him for your next event, Contact Champions Speakers today!