Mark Goffman
Award-Winning Showrunner, Writer & Executive Producer | The West Wing, The Umbrella Academy, Sleepy Hollow, The Irrational | TED Speaker, Keynote and Panelist on Creativity, Storytelling and AI
Simon Mainwaring
Brand Futurist | Founder, We First & MAIN Advisory | NYT & WSJ Bestselling Author, Lead With We | Real Leaders Top 50 Keynote Speaker | Purpose & AI Leadership Adviser
Simon Mainwaring makes the business case for purpose in terms senior leaders can act on. A former Worldwide Creative Director at Ogilvy and Wieden + Kennedy and the bestselling author of We First and Lead With We, he advises global companies on aligning purpose, culture, and growth as AI reshapes work. On stage he pairs creative storytelling with boardroom rigor, giving audiences a clear framework for earning trust and turning impact into performance.
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Simon Mainwaring biography
Speaker Simon Mainwaring is a brand futurist, bestselling author, and strategic adviser whose work rests on a simple, well-tested premise: companies that serve something larger than themselves build deeper trust, stronger cultures, and more durable growth. Born and raised in Australia, he spent fifteen years as a Worldwide Creative Director at Saatchi & Saatchi, Ogilvy, Wieden + Kennedy, and DDB, shaping campaigns for brands such as Nike, Toyota, and Motorola.
He went on to found We First, a B Corp “Best For The World” honoree, where he helped TOMS, Patagonia, Coca-Cola, SAP, Timberland, and VF Corporation turn purpose into brand strategy. Today, through MAIN Advisory, he serves global corporations, investment firms, and high-growth challengers as a strategic adviser, executive coach, and AI guide, with clients that have included Unilever and Bain Capital. His focus is aligning purpose, culture, and performance so that sustainability drives results and human judgment stays central as AI reshapes work.
Mainwaring is the author of two bestsellers. We First: How Brands and Consumers Use Social Media to Build a Better World reached the New York Times and Wall Street Journal lists and was named Best Marketing Book of the Year by strategy+business. Lead With We: The Business Revolution That Will Save Our Future became a Wall Street Journal bestseller, was ranked the #2 Best Business Book of the Year by Forbes, and won an Axiom Gold Medal for leadership.
A Trusted Voice on Purpose, Brand, and Responsible Leadership
Real Leaders has ranked him among the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World, and Thinkers360 has named him a Top 100 B2B Thought Leader. He has served on the Cannes Lions jury for the Sustainable Development Goals, is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in London, and has spoken at SXSW and the UN Global Compact. He also hosts the Lead With We podcast on responsible leadership and writes on purpose and business for Forbes.
As a speaker, Simon Mainwaring combines the instincts of a global creative director with the discipline of a boardroom adviser, which makes him one of the most credible sustainability speakers on the business case for purpose. His keynotes move senior audiences past the vocabulary of CSR and ESG toward a practical framework for building companies that earn loyalty, attract talent, and deliver lasting financial performance.
Simon Mainwaring Speaking Videos
Simon Mainwaring keynote
Simon Mainwaring - From Me First to We First
Simon Mainwaring Keynote Topics
Drawing on his Wall Street Journal bestseller Lead With We and two decades of work with global brands, Simon Mainwaring shows why the companies that will define the coming decade are the ones that build the deepest trust, rather than the ones chasing the loudest market signals. He lays out a practical framework for reshaping leadership, culture, and brand strategy around a shared purpose, with examples of how the shift from me-first to we-first thinking unlocks innovation, loyalty, and long-term enterprise value. Audiences leave with a clear structure for aligning purpose and performance across the organization.
Purpose has become one of the most reliable growth strategies available to business leaders. Using case studies from brands such as Patagonia, TOMS, Coca-Cola, Nike, P&G, and Walmart, Mainwaring explains how leading companies embed social and environmental impact into the core business model and see returns in customer acquisition, talent retention, investor confidence, and resilience. This keynote helps leaders move past CSR and ESG compliance to build purpose programs that drive measurable business results.
As AI moves into every business function, the leaders who succeed will be those who keep human judgment, trust, and culture at the center of adoption. Drawing on his advisory and coaching work with global corporations and investment firms, Mainwaring explores how to integrate intelligent systems while protecting human agency, and how to build culture when machines share the work. Senior teams gain a framework for AI adoption that accelerates performance without eroding the brand trust and social license that took years to earn.
Employees, investors, and customers now choose companies based on who they are and what they stand for, as much as on what they sell. Mainwaring, who spent fifteen years shaping iconic brand voices at the world's top agencies, shows how organizations build the kind of trust that becomes a lasting competitive advantage. He covers narrative alignment, stakeholder engagement, and authentic purpose storytelling, making the case that brand is the entire organization's most important strategic asset rather than a job for marketing alone.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Simon Mainwaring
Why Simon Mainwaring?
Simon Mainwaring brings a rare combination to the stage: fifteen years as a Worldwide Creative Director at agencies including Ogilvy, Saatchi & Saatchi, and Wieden + Kennedy, two bestselling books on purpose-led business, and current advisory work with global corporations and investment firms through MAIN Advisory. Real Leaders ranks him among the Top 50 Keynote Speakers in the World, and he has spoken at Cannes Lions, SXSW, and the UN Global Compact. His keynotes give senior leaders an evidence-based case for purpose, sustainability, and human-centered AI adoption, along with practical steps they can apply right away. To check his availability for your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
What is the Lead With We philosophy?
Lead With We is the leadership framework Simon Mainwaring set out in his book Lead With We: The Business Revolution That Will Save Our Future. Building on the ideas of his first book, We First, it argues that companies grow faster and more sustainably when they serve something larger than themselves: their employees, their communities, and the planet. In practice, it asks leaders to align purpose, culture, brand, and strategy so that social and environmental impact strengthens business performance instead of competing with it.
Why does purpose-driven leadership matter for business performance?
Purpose-driven companies tend to earn stronger customer loyalty, attract and keep top talent, and build trust with investors, all of which support long-term value. Simon Mainwaring's work with brands such as Patagonia, TOMS, and Timberland shows how embedding impact into the core business model, rather than treating it as a side program, turns purpose into a competitive advantage. His keynotes translate that evidence into concrete priorities for leadership teams.
What types of events is Simon Mainwaring a good fit for?
Simon Mainwaring speaks at leadership summits, executive off-sites, marketing and brand conferences, sustainability forums, and investor gatherings. He tailors each keynote to the audience, whether the goal is aligning a leadership team around purpose, preparing an organization for AI adoption, or rethinking brand strategy. Aurum Speakers Bureau can help shape his session around your audience and objectives, so contact our team to start the conversation.
How to book Simon Mainwaring as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Simon Mainwaring as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Simon Mainwaring's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Simon Mainwaring or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Simon Mainwaring speaking fee?
Simon Mainwaring speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Simon Mainwaring to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Simon Mainwaring.
How can I contact Simon Mainwaring?
We only work with Simon Mainwaring on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Simon Mainwaring and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Simon Mainwaring speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Simon Mainwaring for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Simon Mainwaring for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Simon Mainwaring is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Simon Mainwaring for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
