On 17 November at 7:30 am GMT, we will be hosting Mauro Porcini, Chief Design Officer at Samsung, for a 90-minute conversation about the Chief Design Officer role, the business value of creativity, and leading design at three of the world's best-known companies.

Apply to get invited

This is an invite-only session. Apply to attend the event live and ask your questions directly.

Mauro has been the first-ever Chief Design Officer at three global multibillion-dollar companies: 3M, PepsiCo and Samsung. After 13 years at PepsiCo leading design for brands such as Pepsi, Lay’s, Gatorade and Doritos, he joined Samsung Electronics in April 2025 as its inaugural President and Chief Design Officer. He now leads 1,500 designers across the company’s mobile, TV and display, and home appliance businesses.

In this practical, 90-minute conversation, Ekaterina Solomeina will discuss with Mauro what his role as a Chief Design Officer really involves, how he has made the case for design in three very different global companies, and why he believes innovation should always start with people.

Apply to get invited

What we'll talk about

• What does it take to be the first Chief Design Officer at a global company?
• How do you prove the value of creativity to a boardroom that thinks in numbers?
• How does the Chief Design Officer role change from 3M to PepsiCo to Samsung?
• How can more designers find their way into the boardroom?

What happens in the Live Circle?

The Live Circle is a small, invite-only group of senior design leaders who will join the interview live on Zoom on 17 November, 7:30–9:00 am GMT.

We keep the live group small and bring together leaders at a similar stage, so the conversation goes deeper. Better questions for Mauro, and a chat full of peers who understand your challenges.

• Ask your questions to Mauro directly
• Chat in real time with Heads of Design, Creative Directors and Founders with 15+ years of experience from all over the world
• Hear how peers in other countries and industries tackle the same problems

Want to be part of the conversation?

Apply now, and we'll let you know within 72 hours whether you've been invited.

Apply to get invited