17 November, 7:30–9:00 AM GMT

Free

Invite-only

How to become Chief Design Officer at Samsung

On 17 November at 7:30 am GMT, we will be hosting Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer at Samsung, for a 90-minute conversation about the Chief Design Officer role, the business value of creativity, and leading design at three of the world's best-known companies.

This is an invite-only session. Apply to attend the event live and ask your questions directly.

Apply to get invited

Mauro has been the first Chief Design Officer twice: at 3M in 2010, and at PepsiCo in 2012, where he spent 13 years leading design for brands such as Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade and Doritos. In 2025, he joined Samsung Electronics as President and Chief Design Officer, leading design across the phones, TVs and home appliances people use every day.

In this practical, 90-minute conversation, Ekaterina Solomeina will discuss with Mauro what his role as a Chief Design Officer really involves, how he has made the case for design in three very different global companies, and why he believes innovation should always start with people.

Apply to get invited

Speaker:

Issa Breibish

Chief Design Officer at Bentley Systems

Hosted by:

Ekaterina Solomeina

Co-Founder of Future London Academy

What we'll talk about

What does it take to be the first Chief Design Officer at a global company?

How do you prove the value of creativity to a boardroom that thinks in numbers?

How does the Chief Design Officer role change from 3M to PepsiCo to Samsung?

How can more designers find their way into the boardroom?

What happens in the Live Circle?

The Live Circle is a small, invite-only group of senior design leaders who will join the interview live on Zoom on 17 November, 7:30–9:00 am GMT.

We keep the live group small and bring together leaders at a similar stage, so the conversation goes deeper. Better questions for Mauro, and a chat full of peers who understand your challenges.

Ask your questions to Mauro directly

Chat in real time with Heads of Design, Creative Directors and Founders with 15+ years of experience from all over the world.

Hear how peers in other countries and industries tackle the same problems

Want to be part of the conversation?

Apply now, and we'll let you know within 72 hours whether you've been invited.

Attendees of our events work at the world's leading companies including:

About the speakers:

Mauro Porcini

President and Chief Design Officer at Samsung Electronics

At Samsung Electronics Mauro leads design across mobile, TV and home appliances. He joined Samsung in 2025 after 13 years as PepsiCo's first Chief Design Officer, leading design teams in more than 16 cities worldwide for brands such as Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade and Doritos. Before that, he became the first Chief Design Officer at 3M.

Mauro is the author of The Human Side of Innovation and the host of the podcast In Your Shoes with Mauro Porcini, where he talks to creative leaders from around the world. Fast Company has named him one of the 50 Most Influential Designers in America.

Ekaterina Solomeina

Co-Founder of Future London Academy, Executive School for Creatives

Ekaterina has interviewed some of the world's most influential design leaders, from Google's Ivy Ross to IDEO Partner Michelle Lee, as host of Future London Academy’s Creative Capes podcast.

She co-founded Future London Academy in 2013, after more than 20 years as a creative director in branding, advertising and digital product design, working with Microsoft, Nike and Samsung and collaborating with product leaders at Uber and Amazon. Today, Future London Academy is an executive school for creatives, with C-level faculty including the co-founders of AKQA and Wolff Olins.

From Live Circle to Global Circle

Imagine making the move to C-level yourself in a few years. Our Executive Programme is made for creative and design leaders with 15+ years of experience. It combines a rigorous MBA curriculum taught by C-level faculty with leadership coaching, mentorship and a global network of peers who will push you to the next level.

Discover the Executive Programme

FAQ

Is it free?

Yes, completely free, invitation-only. Register your interest to be selected.

How do I get a seat in the Live Circle?

Register and tell us a little about your role. We invite a small group of senior leaders at a similar stage in their careers, so the conversation is relevant for everyone in it.

When will I know if I’m in?

Within 72 hours of registering. If you don't see our email, check your spam folder. Email filters can be a little overprotective.

What if I'm not invited to the Live Circle?

You will receive practical insights from the conversation directly into your inbox within 2 weeks after the event. We keep each Live Circle small, so we can't include everyone live. You'll still get practical insights from the conversation, sent to your inbox within two weeks of the interview, so you can put Issa's lessons to work.