Richie Santosdiaz – Keynote Speaker

Richie Santosdiaz is an economic development advisor in the management consulting realm with a focus and passion towards internationalisation (international trade and foreign direct investment (FDI)) and the digitisation and disruption of it. He is passionate around emerging markets as well as sectors such as fintech, agriculture, tourism education, creative industries (film and television) and wider tech as a whole. Richie’s work has been directly with the public sector as well as interactions with the private sector.

Having lived in seven countries with over 15 years professional experience, he was ex-PA Consulting based in London, where he had an opportunity to work with high-level government (UK, Canadian, Mayor of London) and multinational corporate clients in Europe, North America and the Middle East. From 2019 until early 2021 he was also Head of Strategy for a niche consulting firm based in Dubai, having had the privilege to lead and advise on key commercialisation projects across mainly in Saudi Arabia.

Now based in Dubai as his base, Richie Santosdiaz is currently an independent economic development advisor, as well as a sitting senior strategic advisor for Emirati-owned and founded The Corporate Group, as well as an executive economic development advisor for fintech-renowned the Fintech Power 50 as well as the leading fintech publication The Fintech Times. It was Richie who spearheaded the launch of The Fintech Times brand to the Middle East and Africa region in 2020; a key highlight was Richie authoring the first-ever Fintech Times: Middle East and Africa 2021 Report.

From 2016 – present, Richie has also been a regular commentator and contributor in economic development with a few hundred contributions/interviews/opinion eds/productions in the media (examples include guest columns on the World Economic Forum (WEF), Forbes.com, Entrepreneur, NBC News and various leading niche, regional and national outlets like The National (UAE)), Arab News (Saudi Arabia), The Financial Express (India), and The Korea Times.

Originally from the USA, Richie speaks Spanish and various levels of fluency with French, Portuguese and Arabic. He has a Masters Degree from SOAS: University of London in Globalization & Multinational Corporations and an Advanced Certification of International Trade from the Institute of Export and International Trade UK.

Richie is a mentor for both the Mayor of London’s International Business Programme, specifically for the Middle East and African region as well one from the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. Both aim to help SMEs in tech, financial services (particularly in fintech), creative industries and life sciences to internationalize.

Finally, Richie Santosdiaz has also adjunct lectured on the subject of economic development and wider internationalization. This included courses at undergraduate level in London with the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) as well as recently with the SP Jain School of Global Management at Masters level.