I was lucky enough to adapt my book, The Bright Continent, into a short film titled Kanju, in collaboration with Harbers Studios. Enjoy!
A Warm Intro
Hi! I'm Dayo, a creative executive and IP lawyer based in London. I've earned my expertise and network by operating at the frontiers of technology and media. I specialize in creative intelligence, live community building, and high-polish execution of non-obvious strategies.
I operate with versatility at global scale.
Brand Renovation
Mozilla Foundation
With Pentagram, I rebuilt a heritage Internet brand -- delivering a new visual and verbal identity, and driving staff adoption with a custom AI agent. I created and launched Nothing Personal, a celebrated in house magazine combining product reviews, long form essays, and humor column with The Onion, to extend reach beyond Mozilla's activist core and position the organisation for mainstream relevance.
Go to Market Strategy
YouTube Music
As a country manager at YouTube, I had to translate global products into tailored launch strategies and messaging that would deliver regional adoption. For YouTube Premium, it was critical to focus on data-saving features rather than library access. I informed marketing and pricing discussions, and closed critical partnerships to amplify, recruiting telecoms and celebrities alike.
Product Development
The New York Times
I joined the New Digital Products team at a time of great dynamism at a legendary newspaper. I specifically worked on NYT Now, the first subscription app targeting millennials. I led growth and supported the design of product features -- summary bullets, audio storytelling, offline access -- that are key features of today's New York Times app.
Content Acquisition
Amazon Prime Video
I bought or commissioned more than a dozen film and TV titles as a Principal for Prime Video acquisitions. I was responsible for negotiating, reviewing and drafting multi-territory commercial terms, for scripted and unscripted projects, covering AVOD/SVOD/TVOD, option and licence agreements, co-production and output deals, and whatever else the environment required.
Fundraising Guidance
Osun Group
When a successful commercial and television production studio wanted to elevate its ambitions and invest in more global dealmaking, I stepped in to develop and market a rigorous, investible business plan and fundraising strategy targeting both grant and private capital, successfully closing a six figure investment that allowed for senior hiring and expanded production budgets.
Talent Development
Open Television
As board chair, I do everything in my power to promote the mission of inclusive ownership in film and television. A signature initiative I brought to OTV is its Table Read Club, an interactive activation to cast, perform and critique new, intersectional screenwriting in a live format. TRC has supported dozens of artists and performers, and expanded to 4 cities.
Public Advocacy
Link NYC
In the immediate aftermath of the "Muslim Ban" on entry to the United States, I built a coalition between the New York City Mayor's Office, producer Leslie Martinez and designer Shimeah Davis to develop a citywide campaign promoting immigrants' rights and free legal services. The campaign ran citywide in 11 languages, across a network of Link NYC digital kiosks.
Game and Story Design
Interior Night
When independent game studio INTERIOR/NIGHT reached a crucial inflection point in the development of their latest Xbox video game, they called me. I served as a script and story supervisor for the 9-episode narrative, delivering edits to promote continuity and cultural sensitivity. The original interactive crime drama known as As Dusk Falls was nominated for a BAFTA.
Live Experiences
Today Tix
Running business affairs and content acquisition for a experiential pioneer, I made Secret Cinema's business legally and creatively possible--pitching studios for new IP, setting royalties, managing talent and sponsor relationships, and shaping creative development, while building the commercial architecture and audience insights to make new productions sustainable.
I help leaders and organisations get better fast.
Thought Partnership
Offering 1:1 and 1:many training sessions for individuals and organizations in the culture sector. My counsel focuses on essential skills for success in storytelling, including often-overlooked business realities.
Creation and Production
I am a seasoned producer with firsthand knowledge of the new distribution landscape. I help clients create audience-forward, compelling content for platforms from television to online media.
Rights Management
Rights are critical to the creative business. I guide clients on protecting their intellectual property and maximizing its value. I provide strategic advice on copyright, trademarks, and licensing frameworks.
I support anyone in need of a high skills, high energy champion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are you from?
What a loaded question! I was born in Chicago, and have lived and worked across the US as well as in France, Kenya, and the UK. I am 100% and proudly Nigerian.
Will you speak at my thing?
Maybe! I’ve given lectures and workshops on Africa, on media, on technology and design, you name it—at diverse venues, including the Boston Book Festival, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Columbia SIPA, Harvard Business School, Georgetown, The Godrej Group, The Mastercard Foundation, and by Skype chat to a classroom of 5th graders.
I am not always available to speak. But you can email my agent to see.
What services do you offer?
I provide a range of legal services including contract negotiation, intellectual property rights management, and media law consultancy tailored for clients in the music, television, tech, and film industries. What sets me apart is a unique blend of legal expertise and hands-on experience in the media industry. This backgound allows me to provide informed, practical advice that considers both legal, business, and creative perspectives.
Do you work with startups?
Yes, I have been a passionate and enthusiastic advisor to a variety of startups -- Andela, Callo, Cancer IQ, Safara. Aside from my angel / godmother work, I offer tailored consultations for startups, providing guidance on legal matters, business strategies, and any industry insights I can offer.
Should I go to law school?
This is a true FAQ! At the beginning my interest in the law was not practical -- I applied to law school as a naive next step. But having since attended and passed the bar, I must say that law is a powerful tool that only gets more useful with time. Experienced lawyers are badass and dangerous.
But remember that there are many different jobs one can do based on legal training. Law students are often unaware that a vast number of business leaders are trained JDs. Representing clients or the state is sometimes noble and sometimes not. You'll have to decide.
Just be sure you are ready for the opportunity cost—three years, plus lots of testing, plus lots of money, plus participation in a system that is intense and sometimes grossly unfair.
Should I go to business school?
Many people are going to be able to succeed in business endeavors without an MBA. The most successful can push beyond current knowledge, and achieve an earnings dividend by taking on new responsibilities, strategically changing roles or firms, being sensitive to management up and down the org chart, taking a class or two, maybe a licensing exam.
Others, like me, need business school to structure that shift. I attended business school almost by accident. I spent the first half of law school focused on the intersection of law and business. As I went deeper into corporate law, antitrust, and business transactions, I decided to add an MBA to confidently wield data, to speak the language of macroeconomics, marketing, accounting, and operations. Let’s be clear: I needed business school to get comfortable with Excel.
That said: if business school is a combination of signaling, networking, and actual educational content, my $0.02 is that the latter factor is the least relevant.