Speaking

I speak about design, technology and the importance of creative practice.

I also speak extensively on how to lead high-performing creative teams, and how to effectively drive change in large, complex organizations.

I'm comfortable delivering keynotes, sitting on panels, or working directly with teams in workshops or Design Sprints.

If you'd like me to speak at your event, email speaking@samuelpayne.org

Recent events and feedback:

• 2025 | CES : How creativity advances commercial excellence
• 2024 | Wall Street Journal : Scaling creativity to 3.5 billion users
• 2024 | AI for Creatives : Transform your creative process with AI
• 2024 | Yale School of Management : Responsible AI in Global Business
• 2023 | Google UXU : AI prompts, a new tool for UXers

"...thank you again! your talk was exceptionally well-received by all participants within and beyond Yale and your panel on AI’s impact to tech an absolute highlight!"

Jack Xuhui, Yale School of Management

"it was great to hear from a creative leader like yourself. Your points on psychological safety, smart experimentation, and the power of technology to deliver at scale were just fantastic."

Fahad Ahmed, Experience Director, The CMO Program, Deloitte

"We've already had people asking if we can get you back to talk about something else!"

Director, Facebook

Very short third person

Sam is a Design Director at Google. He leads a global design team, drives complex company-wide programs, has a bias for action, and prefers tea over coffee.

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Short third person

Sam directs a high-performing global design team at Google.

He's currently redesigning the Developer ecosystem for Google Play—a 3 billion user product that's responsible for more than $45 billion in revenue.

Prior to Play, Sam led complex cross-company efforts to improve the user experience for several flagship iOS and Android products. He also spent years working with Google partners, developing award-winning experiences with emerging technologies. Notably, he led early initiatives in augmented reality, conversational interfaces, and novel applications of machine learning.

He lives in New York, reads a lot, and prefers tea over coffee.

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