MEET OUR Speakers
Farai Madzima
Design leader (Canada)
he/him
15-MINUTE TALK
How to say the thing (even when it feels risky)
Hey, you know the thing you need to say to your manager? The thing about your workload, your stress levels, that project that's going sideways, or, ugh, when your boss is the thing?
You, and 40 percent of working people, have a work issue they can’t discuss with their manager. And it's not because they don't care. It’s because they don't know what to say, or they’re worried about what happens after they say it. So they hold back.
And things you hold back? They hold you back.
That promotion you deserved? Someone else got it. That pay rise? Still waiting. That flexible schedule you need? Never happened. Meanwhile, you’re losing trust in your manager, burning out, and wondering why your career feels stuck.
This talk is about how to stop sabotaging your career by staying silent.
You'll learn why those 1:1 conversations feel so risky (spoiler: it's not just you), how to prepare for difficult conversations so you’re not spiraling the night before, and what to actually say when the moment comes.
No corporate platitudes. No “just be brave” nonsense. Just practical tactics for building the trust and communication skills you need to say the thing, and get what you need to succeed.
This talk is short. But you know what? A well-structured 15-minute conversation can get you exactly what you want.
MORE About thIS SPEAKER
Farai almost became a doctor but didn’t get the grades. So he decided to help heal 1:1 communication gaps instead.
Today, as a coach, speaker, and design leader, Farai supports managers and teams who struggle to have effective 1:1 meetings and conversations. With evidence-based, doable strategies, humor, and empathy, he teaches people how to tackle the critical conversations—to “Say the Thing”—and unlock career progress and happier work lives.
Over the last 20 years, Farai led design teams across the UK, South Africa, and Canada, solving unique design problems along the way—like creating banking apps for users who've never used a desktop computer—and purchased data by the megabyte.
His insightful and engaging talks have resonated with audiences globally, from IXDA Interaction and Mind the Product to IA Summit.
Farai still loves words in every language, nerdy hip-hop, township jazz, and has a weird fondness for the number 127.