Menu
Niyi Okuboyejo is a Creative Director, cultural strategist, and founder of Post-Imperial, best known for redefining contemporary menswear through an African diasporic lens. His work sits at the intersection of fashion, identity, and global storytelling, making him a highly sought-after diversity and inclusion (D&I) speaker. Through his keynotes, Niyi explores how culture shapes perception, value, and opportunity, helping organisations understand diversity not just as representation, but as a strategic and creative advantage. His ability to translate complex cultural narratives into globally resonant ideas makes him particularly compelling for audiences seeking to build more inclusive, future-facing systems.
Niyi’s early career laid the foundation for this perspective. After earning a BAA in Marketing from the University of Houston, he began his career in fashion as a womenswear and textiles designer for Oscar de la Renta in 2009, gaining insight into traditional luxury systems. He later consulted for brands including BMW Group, O.N.S Clothing, and Engineered Garments, while launching his own label, Post-Imperial, in 2015. His first runway show at Lagos Fashion Week in 2017 and early international retail partnership with United Arrows Japan signalled his commitment to bridging African craftsmanship with global markets. These experiences navigating different cultural and commercial contexts inform his D&I work today, where he speaks on equity, access, and the importance of embedding diverse cultural perspectives into design, branding, and business strategy.
In his current career, Niyi continues to expand his influence across industries. As a Professor at Parsons School of Design since 2019, he educates the next generation on decolonial design practices and the role of culture in innovation. His work has been widely recognised, including winning the FGI Rising Star Award in 2020 and receiving the CFDA/Vogue Icon 360 x A Common Thread grant. He has collaborated with global platforms such as WhatsApp and designed for high-profile cultural moments, including creating looks for Taraji P. Henson at the Met Gala. In 2025 alone, he has spoken at institutions like Berkeley College, participated in global panels including Lagos Leads the Future and #EWAfrica, and led forward-thinking workshops with Building African Fashion. These achievements reinforce his authority as a voice on how diverse cultural narratives can drive innovation, influence markets, and reshape industries.
Across his speaking engagements, Niyi shares insights on worldbuilding, soft power, and the role of African creatives in shaping global markets. He also examines how curation and infrastructure can transform creative communities into sustainable ecosystems. As a speaker, he challenges audiences to move beyond surface-level inclusion, offering practical frameworks for integrating cultural intelligence into business and creative practice. Niyi Okuboyejo is a powerful voice for organisations looking to engage meaningfully with diversity and inclusion. Blending creative excellence with cultural insight, he equips audiences with the tools to rethink how they build, create, and connect in an increasingly global world, making him an impactful and forward-thinking speaker for today’s most important conversations. To hire Niyi for your next event, contact the Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Agency today!
“Niyi is one of the standout designers with a consistent design vision and a well-thought-out approach to branding. his silhouettes balance a classic sense of sartorial style with a relevant global perspective that pays proper homage to the myriad of tribes that influence his label.”
“Niyi approaches design with soul & craftsmanship. He evokes a new sense of authenticity and tradition by balancing ethnic materials and modern culture. We at United Arrows love his originality.”
“Niyi is one of the most brilliant creative minds of our generation. He has an extraordinary ability to make the simple feel beautiful, to translate complex ideas of identity and craft into pieces or moments that feel effortless and quietly luxurious. Through Post-Imperial, he didn’t just redefine the direction of modern menswear; he expanded its language. He understands design and craft deeply and communicates them with clarity and authenticity. It’s a true honor to call him both a dear friend and a colleague.”
“Niyi is one of the very few designers there that can at the same time tap into traditional cultural influences without being gimmicky, execute novel designs without feeling contrived, and make an honest product without turning that into a marketing highlight. There’s levity, optimism and an overall sense of relaxed tailoring that makes Post-Imperial unique to us and its fans.”
“Niyi delivered a masterclass on intentional creativity for the French Embassy in Nigeria’s ‘Lagos x Paris’ Fashion and Design Accelerator Programme, then served as judge and coach for 10 Nigerian fashion and accessories brands. His excellent judgement and pragmatic mentorship were instrumental in their development.”
“Niyi’s passion for design and culture comes through his creative practice and education, teaching students about decolonial design practices and craft knowledge. His interest in art, music, architecture, and comic books brings a broader sensibility to his work, making his taste unique across the fashion and design space.”
The Diversity and Inclusion Speakers Agency has been one of the UK’s leading bureaus for inspirational figures of different races, genders, sexualities and abilities since 2020. We supply speakers for corporate and public events across the world, and cater to both in-person occasions and online webinars. Our roster includes athletes, psychologists, celebrities and more, to ensure that audiences of all industries receive tailored, impactful advice on diversity and inclusion.
Copyright © 2026 The Diversity & Inclusion Speakers Agency. All rights reserved.
