Viola De Girolami keynote speaker

Viola De Girolami is a keynote speaker, founder, and former marketing executive at Warner Bros., McDonald’s and Carphone Warehouse, bringing over 15 years of corporate experience driving large-scale transformation. Her work focuses on helping leaders and organisations navigate complex transitions, and understand the human and organisational dynamics that determine whether change succeeds or fails.

At Warner Bros., Viola served as Executive Director of Digital Marketing & Data, building the studio’s digital and data capability from the ground up and leading one of its most significant transformations. Her work reshaped how global cultural phenomena, such as Dunkirk, Joker, and Barbie, were brought to audiences while advising the leadership team on major strategic initiatives.

Earlier in her career at McDonald’s, she worked during a defining period of brand reinvention following the reputational crisis triggered by the documentary Super Size Me. She experienced first-hand how one of the world’s most iconic brands pivoted under pressure and rebuilt relevance in a rapidly changing market. At Carphone Warehouse, she was also involved in large-scale digital and customer transformation during a period of industry shift.

Having lived transformation from the inside - across strategy, leadership, culture, and execution - Viola observed recurring patterns in why change efforts succeed or fail. She later deepened this understanding through formal training in Positive Psychology, integrating behavioural science and human performance into her work with leaders and teams.

Today, Viola is the founder of ‘What Clients Really Want’ which supports marketing/digital agencies to improve their retention and upsell rates. She also works as an advisor to organisations and senior leadership teams navigating change and strategic transition.

Alongside her advisory work, she is a regular keynote speaker at corporate events, company away days and conferences, sharing practical insights drawn from her experience inside global brands and her work with decision-makers across sectors.

Viola is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish and is comfortable delivering keynotes in all three languages.