Soli Özel holds a BA in Economics from Bennington College (1981) and an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) (1983). Özel is currently a fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, where he was a “Europe’s Futures” fellow in... Read more
Soli Özel holds a BA in Economics from Bennington College (1981) and an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) (1983).
Özel is currently a fellow at the Institute for Human Sciences (IWM) in Vienna, where he was a “Europe’s Futures” fellow in 2021–2022. During the COVID pandemic, he taught courses at the American University in Central Asia (AUCA) and at the Menton campus of Sciences Po. During that time, he also hosted two webinar series for Institut Montaigne on the 2020 American elections and the changing geopolitics of the Middle East. He was a Bernstein Fellow at the Schell Center for Human Rights at Yale Law School and a visiting lecturer in the Political Science Department at Yale. He has been a columnist at Nokta magazine and GazetePazar, as well as for Yeni Binyıl, Sabah, and Habertürk newspapers. He currently writes for the Institut Montaigne blog and Aposto, and provides weekly commentary on world affairs for Medyascope TV. His articles have been published in numerous international publications.
He held fellowships at Oxford University and the EU Institute of Strategic Studies. He was a Keyman Fellow at Northwestern University and a Fisher Family Fellow of the “Future of Diplomacy Program” at the Belfer Center at the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University. He has taught at UC Santa Cruz, SAIS, University of Washington, Northwestern University, Hebrew University, Sciences Po – PSIA, AUCA, and Yale. In Turkey, he taught at Boğaziçi Üniversitesi, Bilgi Üniversitesi, and Kadir Has Üniversitesi. He was a Richard von Weizsäcker Fellow at the Robert Bosch Academy in Berlin (2015–2017), and a visiting fellow at Institut Montaigne in Paris in 2018, where he is now a non-resident senior fellow.
His co-authored book with Michael T. Rock, Elite Origins of Development and Democracy, was published by Routledge in December 2023.
He is a member of the European Council on Foreign Relations. Soli Özel is a permanent fellow at Institut Montaigne, where he writes for their blog. He also teaches the inaugural day geopolitics classes for incoming MBA students at École Supérieure des Affaires in Beirut.
You can book Soli Ozel through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Soli's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.
Soli Ozel's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Soli tailored to your event.
Soli Ozel speaks on Geopolitics, Global Trends, Government & Politics, Strategy. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Soli to align the content with your delegates and goals.
London Speaker Bureau can book Soli Ozel for events worldwide, subject to Soli's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.
Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Soli Ozel is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).
Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Soli can accommodate.
London Speaker Bureau will brief Soli Ozel on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Soli can offer.
Soli Ozel delivers keynotes in English. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.
Soli Ozel's areas of expertise include Geopolitics, Global Trends, Government & Politics, Strategy. To get a clear sense of Soli's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.
Soli Ozel can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Geopolitics, Global Trends, Government & Politics, Strategy is relevant. Details of Soli's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.
Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Soli Ozel is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.
We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Soli Ozel, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Soli's current availability for your dates.