Projects & Initiatives
From experience design to curriculum development and bespoke toolkits, Leyla has designed and developed a range of highly effective projects and interventions.
Keynotes & Talks
“Human Caffeine”: Leyla’s infectious energy and ability to whirl through complex topics with ease brings her to keynoting on stages around the world.
Workshops & Facilitation
A seasoned educator and facilitator, her workshops are dynamic and highly effective, leaving participants activated and ready for positive change.
Meet Leyla
Watch her UNEP Champion of the Earth Award Video
Leyla Acaroglu
A Leading Force for Positive Impact
Over the last two decades of her international career, Leyla Acaroglu has delivered well over 15,000 hours of keynote talks, workshops and advanced learning sessions. She has built a school with global impact, The UnSchool of Disruptive Design, collaborated with the United Nations on the Anatomy of Action, advised 120+ governments and companies worldwide and been invited to present at hundreds of conferences. She was named Champion of the Earth in 2016 by the UNEP, a LinkedIn Changemaker in 2020 and has been at the forefront of pioneering the transformation to a circular and regenerative economy by design through her creative interventions and projects.
If you are ready to unleash a positive force on your team, company, conference or community, then Leyla Acaroglu is the voice and energy you need to get things started, expand on your established sustainability initiatives or take things to the next level.
Design Leadership
As a trusted and respected leader, she is known for her wit, uncompromising passion and creativity. Design and science inform nearly all she does, mixed with humour and a fresh take on the complex problems we all face. Fact-filled, fun and fruitful, all of Leyla’s keynotes, workshops, initiatives and projects are designed to create positive impact and empower agency and activation.
Activating Positive Impact
As an entrepreneur, Leyla founded the UnSchool of Disruptive Design, Circular Futures, The CO Project Farm and Disrupt Design. She has written for major publications like Reuters and The New York Times, published books, academic articles, and contributed to the global discussions on what we need to achieve sustainability, circularity and regeneration by design. She is dynamic, passionate, creative and always looks for an opportunity in every problem.
Shifting Mindsets with Systems Thinking
Leyla helps individuals and organisations uncover hidden connections, see the bigger picture and approach challenges with a systems thinking mindset. By expanding beyond reductive linear thinking and exploring interconnections and dependencies, new insights emerge and problems are seen as opportunities. Having run thousands of hours worth of systems thinking workshops, Leyla knows how to quickly equip teams with the tools to see systems, identify points of intervention and create sustainable solutions.
“Thank you so much for being part of Design Week 2025. We’ve heard from so many people who were inspired by your energy, clarity, and openness. Your ability to challenge conventional thinking while offering creative strategies for systems change was so refreshing—and perfectly aligned with our work. You helped us all see how design can be a force for positive change in a world that really needs it. You sparked real momentum, and we’re so grateful for that. Thank you!”
– Jenny Lam, Oracle Design community
Keynotes: Powerful Storytelling x Actionable Takeaways
From sustainability sciences to systems change and advancing the circular economy, Leyla speaks truth to complexity about the reality of our planetary situation. But never a dull moment is had as she masterfully weaves in humorous anecdotes, motivational moments and tangible actions that anyone can take to get started and lead through positive change—making Leyla a highly-sought keynote speaker and facilitator.
The Mainstage TED Talk
Leyla’s first TED talk was given in 2013 in Longbeach, Califorina, after a global talent search conducted by the head curators at TED saw Leyla be one of a handful of people from around the world be invited to the mainstage.
Clients and Partnerships
Trusted by leading organisations around the globe, Leyla is highly regarded for delivering positively impactful collaborations with measurable results. She works with organisations of all sizes that are interested in sustainability, systems change and making positive change.
250+
Keynotes
Global Speaker
120+
Clients
Companies & Organizations
What Leyla’s Clients Say
Progressive thinker
“Leyla did a super engaging talk at Made in Space that the audience really loved - she is a visionary, progressive thinker that in an optimistic and constructive way can address some of the big challenges we face as a human race and still leave a room uplifted and filled with hope.”
Simon CaspersenMade in Space, Copenhagen
Owns the stage
“Leyla is able to instantly lighten up the atmosphere and own the stage with her powerful discourse. Her keynote was the perfect finale for our Design Policy Conference, full of energy and hope. Leyla is not only a Champion of the Earth: she is also a champion for design as our best ally to tackle the climate challenge.”
Kike CorrecherProgram Director, World Design Capital Valencia
Magical speaker
“Leyla was an absolutely magical speaker at the Design <3 Circular Economy event in Helsinki! She inspired and empowered the participants to start exploring circular design, disruptive design and systems thinking. Thank you, Leyla, for making change!”
Melissa KanervaDesign Forum Finland
Handbooks
Disruptive Design Method Handbook
Discover how to design and implement systems change with the Disruptive Design Method Handbook. Learn about theories of change...
Circular Systems Design Handbook
Learn how to leverage circular systems design to positively disrupt the status quo and ensure that effective outcomes are...
10 Year Compendium
Immerse yourself in the art of making change through our special edition 10 Year UnSchool of Disruptive Design Compendium!
Swivel to Sustainability Guidebook
The road map to sustainable transformation is not always clear. This guidebook demystifies the transformation process, and is available...
Design Systems Change Handbook
Learn how to design and implement systems change to positively disrupt the status quo and ensure that effective outcomes...
Make Change Handbook
This handbook covers the basics of the psychological, behavioral, social and cultural theories on change. It helps readers to...
Courses
Systems Thinking 30 Day Sprint
Take our 30 Day Systems Thinking training to advance your knowledge of systems approaches to complex problem solving, learn...
Circular Economy 6 Week Sprint
Learn all the core aspects of the Circular Economy with our 6-week sprint. Discover how to redesign from linear...
Disruptive Design Method Introduction
Discover how to activate positive social change through creative problem solving methods with this introduction to the Disruptive Design...
Book a Discovery Call
Get in touch to see how Leyla’s diverse set of skills and expertise can help your team expand your sustainability impact