Book a call

About Sydney

I help leadersbuild what’s next.

Sydney Scott Sam dedicates his life’s work to the development of well-rounded entrepreneurial leaders as catalysts for sustainable change in the world. He is a marketing leader, entrepreneur and global speaker with over a decade building ventures and developing leaders across three continents. Sydney brings a deep understanding of business and the empathy required for developing the founders behind them.

Sydney Scott Sam in a black turtleneck, smiling

My story

  1. I started my first business at 19. Moonlight Cafe, a live music venue in Ghana.

  2. It gave early stages to some of the world’s biggest stars, like Mr Eazi and KiDi.

  3. Moonlight Cafe failed. But that gave me what I needed to start the next thing.

  4. At 22, I built Workspaceglobal.com. I’ve grown it past $500K in revenue.

  5. I made the Forbes 30u30 list. But that great moment brought pressure I didn’t expect.

  6. I then explored senior roles at global organisations. To understand scale in different contexts.

  7. Corporate really expanded my perspective. But it wasn’t the plan.

  8. I moved on. Back to building. Back to becoming who I was meant to be.

  9. Now I coach leaders building ventures and careers that buy a life they truly enjoy, as I hike, travel with family, host Openspaces and speak globally. Teaching others from a life I deeply love.

I’d love to build this next chapter with you.Let’s stop performing and work on becoming.

My ventures

The ventures behindthe advice.

Sydney at the Workspace Global stand at Web Summit

Workspace Global

A design workforce for growing brands and marketing teams, connecting them to Africa’s top creative talent. Trusted by 700+ brands across 20+ countries.

workspaceglobal.comVisit site
Sydney hosting an OPENSPACE conversation

OPENSPACE Global

Honest conversations, programmes and community for mindset transformation in African professionals. 5,000+ people reached across Africa and the UK.

openspaceglobal.orgVisit site

Along the way

Fifteen years ofbuilding and leading.

  1. 2011Moonlight CafeFirst business, at 19. A live music venue that gave early stages to stars like Mr Eazi and KiDi.
  2. 2015Workspace GlobalFounded and still leading a design workforce for growing brands and marketing teams.
  3. 2017The Zoom TeamProduction house creating content for brands including Barclays, the World Bank and UNFAO.
  4. 2018OPENSPACE GlobalA social enterprise for mindset transformation in African professionals, reaching 5,000+ people.
  5. 2021ALX AfricaDirector of Marketing Communications. Campaigns that delivered 100,000+ applications.
  6. 2022D&AD Impact Council · The ROOMJoined the D&AD Impact Council. Led growth marketing for The ROOM across Africa.
  7. 2023The FutureList · iXperienceBuilt community across Africa, then led US business development and university partnerships.
  8. TodayCoaching, speaking, LaunchroomWorking with leaders, founders and the organisations that grow them.

In the room

The peoplealong the way.

Sydney with Kobby Koomson and Kofi Kyei, his Moonlight Cafe co-founders
Moonlight CafeWith co-founders Kobby Koomson and Kofi Kyei
Sydney with the Workspace Global team
Workspace GlobalThe team, five years in
Sydney in conversation at his growth hacking session, Social Enterprise Week Ghana
Workspace GlobalGrowth hacking session at Social Enterprise Week Ghana
Sydney marking four years of The Zoom Team
The Zoom TeamFour years of The Zoom Team
Sydney at an OPENSPACE event with a guest from MEST Africa
OPENSPACE GlobalWelcoming MEST Africa to the community
Sydney with the panellists at TRIBVL x OPENSPACE
OPENSPACE GlobalTRIBVL x OPENSPACE panel
Sydney with students at Achimota School after a mentoring session
MentoringCareers and entrepreneurship at Achimota School
Sydney on the CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa set
Forbes 30 Under 30On set with CNBC Africa
Sydney with broadcaster Francis Abban at Starr FM
Forbes 30 Under 30Telling the story with Francis Abban
Sydney with fellows of the UNFPA Fellowship Programme
SpeakingUNFPA Fellowship Programme
Sydney with colleagues from ALX Africa
ALX AfricaWith the ALX Africa team
Sydney with Izzy Obeng at the celebration of her MBE
TodayCelebrating Izzy Obeng’s MBE
Sydney with the Accelerate cohort after a team-building workshop
TodayBuilding teams with the Accelerate cohort
Sydney speaking during a fireside conversation
TodayFireside conversation
Sydney speaking to a room of leaders
TodayIn the room with leaders
Sydney with Greg Cooke in a recording studio
TodayIn the studio with Greg Cooke of Rafiki

Recognition & education

  • Forbes 30 Under 30
  • D&AD Impact Council
  • Hult Prize judge
  • Featured by CNN and CNBC Africa
  • MIT Sloan School of Management, Implementing Enterprise-wide Transformation
  • Yale School of Management, Executive Education
  • University of Ghana, Executive MBA, Entrepreneurial Management

Stop performing. Start becoming.

Better begins today.

Let's explore how I can help accelerate your work.

Book a callSend a brief
Sydney Scott Sam in a black turtleneck and glasses, smiling