Christian Tooley's biography
- Strategic advisor specialising in systems change, impact investing, and innovation through tech
- Founder of the UK's largest LGBTQ+ founder and funder network, i³ investing
- World Economic Forum Global Shaper recognised for inclusive innovation
Christian Tooley is a strategic advisor, impact investor, and keynote speaker who transforms how organisations approach systems change through practical innovation and inclusive capital deployment.
As Entrepreneur-in-Residence at the London School of Economics and founder of i³ investing (the UK's largest LGBTQ+ founder/funder network), Christian brings valuable perspective from their previous role as Bain's Venture Lead for EMEA and their work as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. Their speaking engagements span prestigious platforms including SXSW, Web Summit, and Google.
Christian helps organisations navigate complexity by identifying strategic leverage points where capital and innovation can drive systemic transformation. He specialises in guiding Fortune 500 companies, investment funds, and startups through the contradictions inherent in building sustainable impact while achieving scale. Their cross-sector expertise bridges traditional business models with emerging paradigms in climate tech, health innovation, and inclusive finance.
Audiences leave Christian's presentations with actionable frameworks for implementing systems thinking in their organisations, practical strategies for deploying capital toward meaningful impact, and renewed clarity about navigating complexity in an increasingly chaotic business landscape.
Book Christian when you need a speaker who combines strategic clarity with authentic storytelling to inspire genuine organisational transformation.
Christian's showreel and videos
Topics, sessions and talks
Building For Systems Change And Collective Impact
In this thought-provoking talk, Christian Tooley examines how embracing complexity and paradox can enhance leadership. He argues that the contradictions within individuals, teams, and systems can drive insight and innovation. By leaning into tension instead of shying away from it, organisations can reveal new truths and foster sustainable change. Attendees will learn to view paradox as a creative catalyst, discover leadership tools for navigating complexity, and understand how contradictions can enhance organisational impact and innovation.
A Systems Thinking Workshop For Leaders
In this practical, high-impact workshop for leaders, Christian Tooley explores new ways of approaching complexity and innovation. Drawing on over 15 years of strategic frameworks and global experience, Christian teaches attendees how to apply a systems thinking approach to drive innovation, enhance strategy, and effectively manage new ventures.
LGBTQ+ Queerness For Innovation And Liberation
Christian Tooley presents queerness as a transformative lens for creative disruption. He explores how queer thought has historically challenged dominant systems across art and activism, offering insights into its application in leadership, design, and culture. Attendees will discover queerness as a powerful tool for innovation, learn how non-linear thinking drives industry disruption, and gain strategies for integrating queer-informed leadership into their organisational culture, fostering inclusivity and future readiness.
A Strategic Map For Artificial General Intelligence
In this interactive keynote, Christian Tooley, a strategic advisor and founder of i³ investing, offers a creative approach to navigating the rapid evolution of AI. With over a decade of experience in AI transformation and innovation, he shares insights on investing in AI opportunities and building capabilities for compounding value. Attendees will learn to distinguish hype from impact, assess risk and return, and future-proof their strategies, empowering them to make bold AI decisions while maintaining a human edge.
Thriving In Systems Not Built For You
In this keynote, Christian Tooley emphasises the importance of systems change across generations, drawing from their experiences as a queer person of colour and first-generation university graduate. He provides a guide for marginalised professionals, offering tools to thrive in exclusionary systems while challenging organisations to create fairer environments. Attendees will learn to empower diverse talent through mindset shifts, recognise systemic barriers, and begin the process of dismantling them, including fostering inner transformation.
Why we recommend booking Christian
Christian Tooley transforms how organisations approach systems change through practical innovation and inclusive capital deployment. He brings unique insights from his roles at the London School of Economics, i³ investing, and as a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. Book Christian when you need a speaker who combines strategic clarity with authentic storytelling to inspire genuine organisational transformation.
Christian delivered an outstanding company-wide keynote that was both thought-provoking and energising. He took us on a journey that was insightful, challenging, and deeply engaging. A rare blend of strategic clarity and systems thinking, Christian is a distinctive storyteller who explores systems change through practical insight - and makes bold ideas resonate.
Excellent insights on AI and the Future of Work, very candid and empathetic. We can't wait to hear more from Christian in the future.
British Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong, British Chamber of Commerce Hong Kong
