A Warm Intro
Hi! I'm Dayo ("die-oh"), a creative executive and media lawyer based in London. I've earned my expertise and network by operating at the frontiers of technology, film and television, news, sports and music. I specialize in the business of storytelling and am here to help you navigate the international landscape.
I craft stories that inform and connect.
You can read my reporting and essays for The American Prospect, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, Democracy Journal, Foreign Policy, The Guardian, The New Republic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Wired.
You can subscribe to my occasional newsletter, "Two Nouns", here.
And you can get a copy of my book, The Bright Continent, here.
I operate with versatility at global scale.
Go to Market Strategy
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
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.
Entertainment Deals
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.
Public Advocacy
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.
Talent Development
As a board member, I do everything in my power to promote the mission of inclusive leadership 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. The project has supported a dozen artists and performers, has traveled to 4 cities, and is expanding quarterly.
Game and Story Design
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.
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.
Bonus: The Bright Continent
I was lucky enough to adapt my book into a short film titled Kanju, in collaboration with Harbers Studios. Enjoy!