Founder, CEO, Author, Speaker + Recovering Politician.
Seyi Akiwowo (She/her) is the founder and CEO of Glitch, an award-winning charity working to prevent online abuse, gender-based violence and hate speech. She is also the author of How to Stay Safe Online (Penguin, 2022), a comprehensive guide to spotting red flags, responding to, and proactively defending yourself in online spaces, and how to use the internet as a force for good.
Seyi’s journey to making the world a safer place began with her election as a Councillor in East London at 23, where she became the youngest Black woman to ever hold the position. Galvanised by her own experiences with online abuse, Seyi established and grew Glitch into Europe’s leading not-for-profit tackling the issue of online safety for marginalised people.
Throughout the journey of growing Glitch from a campaign to a medium-sized charity, Seyi has been recognised for her trail-blazing leadership, values driven change-making and passion for the future of inclusive leadership.
Alongside being appointed to TikTok and Twitter’s European Trust and Safety Council, Seyi was voted Digital Leader of The Year in 2019, has featured as one of WIRED’s Global Changemakers and sits on the Board of Multitudes Foundation to support changemakers across Europe to reimagine who holds political power. In 2019 she was appointed on to Yoti’s Guardian Council, the Ethical Board of the world-leading age verification app. Three years later Seyi was offered an MBE as recognition of her work but made the decision not to accept.
Photo: Nesta
Previous Speaking Clients
Jigsaw Google, New York; OECD, Paris, Manchester Metropolitan University, Nesta in London, Botswana’s Parliament and the European Parliament in Brussels. Seyi has lectured at London School of Economics and University Arts London, and Mozilla Festival, Amersterdam
How to Stay Safe Online.
Increasingly we are told that more and more of modern life will be taking place online, from working remotely to living virtually on Web 3.0, yet navigating these spaces seems more overwhelming than ever. This upbeat and hopeful keynote brings together the threads of global technology, racism, gender, and personal well-being to ensure we are moving towards a humane and egalitarian internet.
High Compassion & Impact: Values-Driven Leadership.
Seyi has navigated through the ebbs and flows of creating, leading and sustaining a healthy, equitable, diverse, and impactful work culture at Glitch. By dealing with challenges of overcoming burnout, negotiating the growing pains of leading a young organisation and reimagining modern leadership, Seyi has developed a framework to energise leaders to embrace compassion and find true inclusivity both online and offline.
Lessons from a Recovering Politician.
From activist to politician, leader of voluntary campaign group to multi-awarding Founder and Chief Executive, the first 15 years of Seyi’s career have been a masterclass in making the most of life’s opportunities. This is a highly inspirational speech on navigating challenges, taking risks, stepping out of your comfort zone, daring to dream and her own intrepid journey of learning to go with the flow.
“Seyi is an informative and engaging speaker who’s able to dig into data in a way that is accessible to everyone, bringing to life the roles gender and ethics play in tech.”
-Chasidy Ochalek, Marketing and Communications Manager, Frasers Property UK (2023)
“We received a lot of positive feedback on Seyi’s speech. Her messaging and materials encouraged our team to take a closer look at digital rights and online self-defence.”
- Katherin Feenan, Public Policy Forum
“Working with Seyi is incredibly rewarding and each time she has deftly tailored her approach, tackling issues in an accessible and inspiring way.”
- Lydia Parker , Amnesty International
“Anyone who cares about tackling online abuse, being a better ally or digital safety needs Seyi in their life!"
-Dr Charlotte Webb, UAL 2023
“Seyi opened the evening and delivered an engaging talk – loaded with acerbic wit and fierce intelligence.
If you're organising an event or conference exploring the intersections of feminism and technology: look no further.”
Silenced Museum