NOVEMBER 18-19, 2025 | TORONTO, CANADA
NOVEMBER 18-19, 2025 | TORONTO, CANADA
Apply to Speak
Apply to Speak
Share your expertise, inspire a global audience of design leaders, and shape the future of design leadership.
Talk Session
Workshops
Panel Discussion
Call for Speakers
Call for Speakers
Apply to Speak
Choose the Format That
Fits Your Idea
We’re inviting proposals for three session types. Pick the format that best suits your topic and delivery style.
Talk (20-min talk + 10-min Q&A)
Perfect for thought leadership, case studies, and inspiring stories.
Workshop (Minimum 2 hours, hands-on, interactive)
Great for skills, activities, and playbooks teams can use tomorrow.
Panel Discussion (45–60 min moderated discussion)
Great for multiple perspectives on an urgent topic.
Choose the Format That
Fits Your Idea
We’re inviting proposals for three session types. Pick the format that best suits your topic and delivery style.
Talk (20-min talk + 10-min Q&A)
Perfect for thought leadership, case studies, and inspiring stories.
Workshop (Minimum 2 hours, hands-on, interactive)
Great for skills, activities, and playbooks teams can use tomorrow.
Panel Discussion (45–60 min moderated discussion)
Great for multiple perspectives on an urgent topic.
Choose the Format That
Fits Your Idea
We’re inviting proposals for three session types. Pick the format that best suits your topic and delivery style.
Talk (20-min talk + 10-min Q&A)
Perfect for thought leadership, case studies, and inspiring stories.
Workshop (Minimum 2 hours, hands-on, interactive)
Great for skills, activities, and playbooks teams can use tomorrow.
Panel Discussion (45–60 min moderated discussion)
Great for multiple perspectives on an urgent topic.
Why
Speak at DLS
The Design Leadership Summit brings together hundreds of senior designers, managers, and executives from across the globe. Speaking here means you’ll:
📢 Share your expertise with a highly engaged, influential audience
Connect with senior design leaders, managers, and executives who are eager to learn from real-world experiences and fresh perspectives.
✨ Be featured in event promotions and social media spotlights
Get your profile and session showcased across our website, newsletters, and social channels to a global design audience.
🎥 Gain a professional video recording of your session
Receive a high-quality recording you can share with your network or include in your professional portfolio.
🤝 Join an inspiring community of design leaders
Build lasting relationships with peers who are shaping the future of design across industries and geographies.
Why
Speak at DLS
The Design Leadership Summit brings together hundreds of senior designers, managers, and executives from across the globe. Speaking here means you’ll:
📢 Share your expertise with a highly engaged, influential audience
Connect with senior design leaders, managers, and executives who are eager to learn from real-world experiences and fresh perspectives.
✨ Be featured in event promotions and social media spotlights
Get your profile and session showcased across our website, newsletters, and social channels to a global design audience.
🎥 Gain a professional video recording of your session
Receive a high-quality recording you can share with your network or include in your professional portfolio.
🤝 Join an inspiring community of design leaders
Build lasting relationships with peers who are shaping the future of design across industries and geographies.
Why
Speak at DLS
The Design Leadership Summit brings together hundreds of senior designers, managers, and executives from across the globe. Speaking here means you’ll:
📢 Share your expertise with a highly engaged, influential audience
Connect with senior design leaders, managers, and executives who are eager to learn from real-world experiences and fresh perspectives.
✨ Be featured in event promotions and social media spotlights
Get your profile and session showcased across our website, newsletters, and social channels to a global design audience.
🎥 Gain a professional video recording of your session
Receive a high-quality recording you can share with your network or include in your professional portfolio.
🤝 Join an inspiring community of design leaders
Build lasting relationships with peers who are shaping the future of design across industries and geographies.
What We’re We
What We’re We
Looking For
Looking For
The Design Leadership Summit brings together hundreds of senior designers, managers, and executives from across the globe. Speaking here means you’ll:
Process
Scaling design
Design operations
Building, managing remote teams
Direction
Design ethics
Measuring value & impact of design
Shaping vision
People
Talent & Structuring teams
Building alliances
Managing upwards
See What Inspires
See What Inspires
Our Audience
Our Audience
Get inspired by some of the standout sessions from past summits. From practical frameworks to visionary talks, our speakers have sparked conversations that carry on well beyond the event.
What’s In It
For Me
The effort and time required for speakers to present an incredibly engaging and valuable talk at a conference is a tough task. Our team will work closely with you to ensure your personal and professional goals from the speaking engagement are met.
Economy airfare to/from Toronto
We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.
2 hotel nights at a partner hotel
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
VIP speaker dinner (2 invites)
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
Session recording + attendee feedback
Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.
What’s In It
For Me
The effort and time required for speakers to present an incredibly engaging and valuable talk at a conference is a tough task. Our team will work closely with you to ensure your personal and professional goals from the speaking engagement are met.
Economy airfare to/from Toronto
We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.
2 hotel nights at a partner hotel
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
VIP speaker dinner (2 invites)
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
Session recording + attendee feedback
Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.
What’s In It
For Me
The effort and time required for speakers to present an incredibly engaging and valuable talk at a conference is a tough task. Our team will work closely with you to ensure your personal and professional goals from the speaking engagement are met.
Economy airfare to/from Toronto
We’ll cover your round-trip flight so you can focus on your talk.
2 hotel nights at a partner hotel
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
VIP speaker dinner (2 invites)
Stay close to the venue in comfort, with accommodation arranged by us.
Session recording + attendee feedback
Receive a professional video of your session along with real audience insights.
How to Make Your
How to Make Your
Proposal Stand Out
Proposal Stand Out
We’re looking for sessions that are relevant, actionable, and engaging.
Keep these in mind when crafting your submission:
We’re looking for sessions that are relevant, actionable, and engaging. Keep these in mind when crafting your submission:
Relevance
Tie your topic to the current challenges and opportunities in design leadership.
Clarity
Clearly outline your audience’s takeaways — what will they leave knowing or able to do?
Engagement
Use stories, visuals, and interaction to keep your audience leaning in.
Talk Session
Workshops
Panel Discussion
Call for Speakers
Call for Speakers
Apply to Speak
Submit Your
Submit Your
Proposal
Proposal
Complete the form below to apply for a Talk, Workshop, or Panel at Design Leadership Summit 2026. Our team will review submissions on a rolling basis and notify applicants via email.
Want To Be In The Audience And
Want To Be In The Audience And
Experience It Live?
Experience It Live?
Just want to be an attendee? Join fellow designers in the same room for inspiring talks, engaging roundtables, and more.
Limited to 250 seats total. Once they’re gone, they’re gone.
Frequently Asked
Frequently Asked
Questions
Questions
Everything you need to know about speaking at the next Design Leadership Summit.
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from experienced design leaders, hands-on practitioners, and industry experts who have valuable insights to share. Whether your expertise lies in leadership, process, people, or emerging trends, we’re looking for sessions that deliver real value to our audience of design leaders.
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from experienced design leaders, hands-on practitioners, and industry experts who have valuable insights to share. Whether your expertise lies in leadership, process, people, or emerging trends, we’re looking for sessions that deliver real value to our audience of design leaders.
Who should apply?
We welcome applications from experienced design leaders, hands-on practitioners, and industry experts who have valuable insights to share. Whether your expertise lies in leadership, process, people, or emerging trends, we’re looking for sessions that deliver real value to our audience of design leaders.
Can I submit more than one proposal?
Can I submit more than one proposal?
Can I submit more than one proposal?
What if I’m a first-time speaker?
What if I’m a first-time speaker?
What if I’m a first-time speaker?
Travel & accommodation details
Travel & accommodation details
Travel & accommodation details
Accessibility & recording consent
Accessibility & recording consent
Accessibility & recording consent