Derrick N. Ashong

Broadcaster, Musician & Social Entrepreneur

Derrick N. Ashong

Broadcaster, Musician & Social Entrepreneur

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Biography

Derrick N. Ashong, is the founder and CEO of TBTM, a Media Fintech that uses content to onboard global audiences to inclusive financial solutions, with partners like Mastercard. His international upbringing in Ghana, Brooklyn, Saudi Arabia and Qatar informed his company’s vision for Turning Culture into Currency for creators and fans worldwide.

While still a student at Harvard, Derrick played a supporting role in Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, and went on to top charts with his band, winning a Billboard Songwriting Award. As a host and producer, he pioneered multi-platform interactive content with Oprah Winfrey, and major media platforms including ABC-Disney & Univision, earning three Emmy nods and a Royal Television Society Award. His original Take Back the Mic TV series has won 7 major international awards and achieved 1.1 Billion media impressions worldwide.

Derrick has delivered electrifying speeches on issues of Youth Culture & Tech for UK Parliament, the United Nations, and the world’s most elite Business Schools, including Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Wharton, Cambridge & London School of Economics. He has interviewed celebrities and global luminaries ranging from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Kofi Annan, to Zoe Saldaña, Kevin Hart and Steven Wozniak, among others. Most recently, he has delivered keynote speeches for Mastercard, Mobile World Congress in Barcelona and Kigali, as well as SuperReturn Africa, the continent’s top investment forum.

Speaker Videos

The Voice of a New Generation

Being a Master Communicator

Take Back the Mic: The World Cup of Hip Hop (Trailer)

Take Back the Mic: The World Cup of Hip Hop (Season 2 Trailer)

Agent of Inspiration (Audio)

Michigan Keynote on Immigration

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Speech Topics

AI: The Human Element

AI is evolving at light-speed, but humanity has been slow to grasp the implications. While technology has improved many aspects of human life, it has also brought deep challenges, from the rise of disinformation to an epidemic of loneliness. How do we as a society plan in advance, for the potential challenges of the most powerful technology in human history, and build into it a set of core values that safeguard the future of humanity?

The Digital South: Reaching the Next Billion

There are seismic shifts taking place in the global population. Societies around the world are aging, except in Africa, the only continent whose population is both young (average age 19) and growing. Even as developed countries face imminent population decline, the youth in their communities are more connected to global culture than ever before. How do we speak to the first truly global generation, in every corner of the world, in ways that resonate and help them build a better future?

A New Kind of Leadership: Beyond the Politics of the Past

We live in a world where people are losing faith in institutions we used to rely upon - from the Press, to Religion, to Governments, Banks and Academia. At the same time a new generation of voices has risen up to share their own value systems, leveraging new technologies to reach massive audiences. It’s time to revisit what leadership looks like in the modern world, and explore how to train, identify and learn from the next generation of global leaders.

Age of Intimacy: Finding Connection in a Disconnected World

Technology has given us access to the entire world and made us lonelier than ever in the process. At a time when young people struggle to meet, date and form families, conversations on masculinity, femininity and the rules of intimacy have been hijacked by extreme ideas that threaten to further separate us. How can we reimagine our identities, communities and ideals in order to build deeper, more meaningful experiences that help bridge the new, gendered face of the digital divide?

Testimonials

"Derrick Ashong was the keynote speaker for our closing banquet. Everyone absolutely LOVED his speech. Most people said it was the "icing on the cake." He captured the audience’s attention. The president of Texas A&M University also attended and it seemed like he really enjoyed himself. I want to personally thank you for recommending Derrick Ashong as a keynote speaker."

- Texas A&M University

"Derrick Ashong received a standing ovation at our Annual Student Leadership Day in which he motivated, inspired and educated over 450 student leaders! A MUST HAVE Speaker!"

- SUNY Jefferson

"Not only was Derrick an inspiring speaker who set the tone for our whole meeting, he was also a pleasure to work with at every instance. He was incredibly well-prepared and thoughtful about the issues at hand, and pushed our colleagues to think about the essential role of culture in society as a way of framing our work in arts education. He was also unfailingly generous with his time and willingness to speak with everyone who had a question for him."

- Senior Associate for Communications and Partnerships, Arts Education Partnership

"Ashong was an absolute success at Keene State College. It was a great turnout and people loved him. He was amazing. Thank you for such a great experience."

- Keene State College

"He is a very dynamic speaker who has spoken across the nation and in West Africa and the Caribbean."

- Midwestern State University

"Derrick is amazing. One of the best education conference keynoters I've ever seen -- over 30+ years."

- Arts Education Partnership National Forum Attendee

"Mr. Ashong was the best opening plenary presenter I have seen at AEP - or anywhere else for that matter. A perfect opening. Thank you."

- Arts Education Partnership National Forum Attendee

"Definitely one of the highlights of this forum - outstanding, inspiring and thought-provoking! Fresh perspective, great energy, very engaging speaker."

- Arts Education Partnership National Forum Attendee

"It was a fantastic, inspirational, and deeply unifying discussion that everyone could benefit from hearing."

- Director of the Distinguished Lecture Series, University of Wisconsin-Madison