Oliver Pickup
Thought Leader
Oliver Pickup is a distinguished London-based speaker, journalist and thought leader specialising in "human-work evolution", a term he coined, in an increasingly digital world. As the creator of the provocatively titled monthly newsletter "Go Flux Yourself", Oliver offers business leaders incisive insights into navigating workplace transformation with humanity at its core.
Biography
Oliver's journey began in sports journalism at The Observer – he has been bylined in all the English newspapers, and innumerable publications around the globe – before evolving to cover the intersection of technology, business, and culture. This diverse background has equipped him with a rare ability to translate complex technological concepts into compelling narratives that resonate with audiences across industries.
He established Pickup Media Limited in 2015, and, seven years later, Oliver co-founded Pickup_andWebb, a thought leadership consultancy developing incisive, issue-led content for ambitious clients looking to provoke stakeholder and industry debate. He is also the creator and host of "Upper Bottom", a podcast exploring sobriety culture with an ambivalent lens, demonstrating his commitment to authentic human connection in an increasingly digital world.
Oliver's speaking engagements are characterised by his distinctive CHUI values framework – Community, Health, Understanding, and Interconnectedness – which provides organisations with a compass for navigating human-work evolution. Whether discussing AI integration, remote work strategies, or the emerging "relationship economy", Oliver consistently emphasises that technology should serve humanity, not the reverse.
As an experienced moderator and keynote presenter, Oliver has appeared at prestigious events, including DTX Manchester 2025, Economist Impact's Sustainability Week 2025, and numerous industry roundtables. His sessions blend thought-provoking insights with practical guidance, cultural references, and his trademark humour.
Oliver's particular expertise lies in:
The human dimension of AI integration and the importance of "kind explorers" in technological advancement
Building trust and authentic leadership in the digital age
The future of workplace communication and collaboration
Navigating the tension between technological efficiency and human flourishing
What sets Oliver apart is his commitment to practising what he preaches. Rather than merely theorising about the future of work, he actively experiments with it – whether through launching new ventures, embracing sobriety, or challenging himself physically (including a recent charity skydive from 12,000 feet despite his fear of heights).
Oliver holds a degree from the University of St Andrews (where he picked Prince William for his Sunday League football team), and is a member of the Institute of Engineering and Technology. His insights have been featured in columns for UKTN, City AM, and WorkLife, and he regularly contributes thought leadership to leading organisations navigating digital transformation.
In an era when technology threatens to outpace our humanity, Oliver offers a refreshing perspective: by embracing our uniquely human qualities – curiosity, kindness, creativity, and connection – we can shape a future of work that enhances rather than diminishes our collective potential.
For organisations seeking to navigate the complexities of human-work evolution with both technological savvy and human wisdom, Oliver delivers presentations that inform, inspire, and ignite meaningful change.
Speaking
Campaigns
Broadcast
Topics
Oliver Pickup explores the intersection of human connection, leadership, and technology in the modern workplace. In The Relationship Economy, he shows why emotional and social capabilities are becoming the most valuable business assets and provides practical strategies for fostering meaningful connections in hybrid and remote settings. His Kind Explorers keynote introduces a leadership model rooted in curiosity and compassion, equipping leaders to embrace innovation while keeping humanity at the core. And in AI: Alien Intelligence?, Oliver reframes how we think about artificial intelligence, highlighting its distinct strengths and offering guidance on how human-AI collaboration can unlock future business success. Across his talks, Oliver blends research, storytelling, and practical frameworks to help organisations thrive in an era of rapid change.
The Relationship Economy
Discover why human connection is your greatest business asset and how to turn relationship capital into a competitive advantage.
Kind Explorers
Learn a leadership model that blends curiosity and compassion to drive human-centred innovation in the digital age.
AI: Alien Intelligence?
Reframe your view of AI as “alien intelligence” and unlock the power of human-AI collaboration for future growth.
Example Content
What do you get when you book Oliver to speak?
Oliver is most commonly asked to keynote but he is happy to chair panels or interview other speakers on stage, while he is at the event. Oliver is an experienced speaker with an audience of his own who is happy to work with you to help you promote your event.
This can include:
Pre-event video
Co-operation in pre-event PR and media interviews
Contributed articles for event blogs or programmes
Promotion on social media
Feedback
“Oliver Pickup is a fantastic moderator who brings personality and professionalism to everything he does. What sets Ollie apart is his capacity for intimately understanding a subject to dig into the nuances and elevate conversations or roundtables beyond a simple question-and-answer format. His people-first focus supports this approach, as he goes above and beyond to get to know the individuals involved in speaking and moderating opportunities to make people feel comfortable and able to express themselves truly.”
Tom Watts, Creative Director, Branded Content - Raconteur
“Oliver would be a valuable addition to any expo, conference, briefing, roundtable or networking event. Basically, any event that requires a facilitator. He did a stellar job at our IoT Tech Expo World Series at Olympia in November 2023 and he’s sure to do so at yours.”
Michael Hughes, Head of Conference -
TechEx Events
“Ollie is that rare breed of speaker and moderator who combines deep technical knowledge with genuine warmth and charisma. Having worked with him at multiple DTX events, I've witnessed firsthand how he transforms complex technical discussions into engaging, human-centred conversations that resonate with our audience. His preparation is meticulous, but what truly sets Ollie apart is his natural ability to draw out insights from speakers while keeping discussions firmly anchored in real-world applications. He has a particular talent for weaving compelling narratives around technological advancement without losing sight of the human element. Whether moderating a panel on AI integration or leading a discussion about digital transformation, Ollie brings an infectious enthusiasm and refreshing authenticity to the stage. His personable style puts speakers at ease, resulting in more candid and valuable conversations. Our delegates consistently praise Ollie’s ability to make technical content accessible without oversimplifying it. He has become integral to our DTX events, helping us deliver intellectually stimulating and engaging sessions. I recommend Ollie for any speaking or moderating role. His professionalism, insight, and genuine interest in human-centric technology make him an asset to any technology event.”
Dominie Roberts, Content Director - ImagoTechMedia
“We were incredibly impressed with Ollie's keynote, Exploring Humanity in the Digital Age, at our annual client event in September 2024. The audience was highly engaged and left feeling motivated, inspired, and well-informed. We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from our team and clients, highlighting the value of Ollie's insights. The content was informative and practical, providing tools we can immediately implement. The real-life examples shared resonated deeply with our audience and helped them understand the challenges and opportunities. Ollie was delightful to work with throughout the entire process. Incredibly professional, personable, and he even helped us choose a beautiful venue on the day. We highly recommend Ollie to any organisation seeking a dynamic, charismatic, and knowledgeable speaker.”
Virginia Okumi, Head of Business Development - Accurate Background
“I highly recommend Oliver, who has been a key part of our extended team for over a year now. Oliver has been working with us at Sanofi on several critical projects, most notably on upskilling our 3000-strong employee advocates. This includes one-on-one sessions with them to give them personalised guidance and support, and most importantly, includes being our key presenter on our monthly storytelling workshops. Oliver brings outstanding storytelling insights into the workshops, with interesting and engaging content, an easy-to-follow rhythm and pace for our international cohort, and a great and friendly attitude. The reason I do not hesitate one second to recommend Oliver is simply because he has an uncanny way of immediately understanding our needs and delivering above and beyond our expectations. He always shows exceptional professionalism and attention to detail – and has been praised by many of our advocates for his personable ways and insightful advice. He’ll absolutely be a great asset to you.”
Anne Adam, Global Employer Brand Marketing Manager - Sanofi
“Oliver Pickup brought charisma, curiosity and composure in equal measure to his role as moderator at the 10th anniversary of Sustainability Week with The Economist in March 2025. His ability to thread insightful analysis with warmth and humanity ensured that even the most technical discussions felt accessible, compelling and grounded in real-world impact. With his background in storytelling and a sharp editorial eye, Oliver navigated the agenda with ease, asking the right questions at the right moments, drawing out powerful perspectives from a diverse set of global speakers. Whether steering high-level policy conversations or highlighting grassroots innovations, his personable style kept audiences engaged and speakers at ease. He was a consummate professional throughout – thoughtful in preparation, focused on the brief, and collaborative behind the scenes. His presence helped elevate the programme and reinforced the editorial standards we strive for at The Economist. I’d gladly work with him again – and highly recommend him to anyone seeking a moderator who can balance depth with dynamism.”
Edward Glanville, Senior Programme Editor, Head of Sustainability Events - Economist Impact
