Last year at Paradigms, in Marrakesh, I had a front row seat to Nu Goteh’s talk. Nu is one of those speakers who drops so many gems that you feel a bit dizzy after the talk. He’s philosophical, funny and just really delightful to listen to.

We get into learning in public, where his fearlessness comes from (Liberia, a refugee at three, a tribe of storytellers), why sitting in discomfort is the ultimate superpower.

If you’re starting your career, navigating change, thinking about the future, or are a keynote speaker in the making and want some thinking from someone that does it on the regular, this one is for you.

Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/0GwqdrxRyE4

Meet Nu Goteh

Nu Goteh is the founder of the strategy and design studio Room for Magic and co-founder of Deem Journal, a platform for design as social practice. Born in Liberia and raised in the US after arriving as a refugee at three, he spent 15 years marketing for brands like Puma, Red Bull, and Sonos before turning to work that sits at the intersection of design, culture, and dignity. He won the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for emerging designer, and he’s one of the most magnetic keynote speakers you’ll ever see.

Hit the links to skip to the bits you fancy

02:54 — WISDOM AT PARADIGMS // Chris saw Nu give one of the most soulful talks of the whole conference and knew Kirsten would love him.

04:45 — THE PERFORMANCE // Lessons on keynote speaking. The first person you need to satisfy is yourself.

08:23 — ROOM FOR MAGIC // Meaning-making meets form-making.

12:17 — LEARNING IN PUBLIC // His talks open with vulnerability, not authority. “Come along while I figure it out.”

17:49 — WHERE IT COMES FROM // Born in Liberia, a refugee at three. What his tribe taught him about storytelling, emotion, and ‘facts’.

20:14 — “WHAT’S AN INSIGHT?” // An insight is a hidden human truth. Who does it best? Comedians.

25:25 — THE WOBBLY SPEEDBOAT // The ambiguous space is the one that’s increasing in value.

28:31 — NOBODY DOES IT ALONE // A shout out to his wife, and killing the myth of the single person doing it all.

32:48 — DISCOMFORT IS THE SUPERPOWER // Sitting in discomfort is the biggest one there is.

35:43 — SHROOMS IN THE HOT TUB // His monthly practice in accepting discomfort.

44:55 — NOBODY’S COMING TO SAVE US // So step forward. The universe tends to meet you when you do.

48:23 — QUICK FIRE // Three things every brand should do. The trend that excites and scares him. And what brands keep getting wrong.

Huge thanks to Nu for taking us on this one. Find him on Instagram, read Deem Journal, and see Room for Magic.

ABOUT

Chris and Kirsten are the founders of IN GOOD CO, a consultancy that ignites challenger brands with fearless and proactive positioning.

Chris writes a weekly newsletter for +17K subscribers that shares the best-of-the-best on culture, trends, marketing, etc. What she's dropping to friends on Slack or finding useful in meetings with brands | Follow her on Substack

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