“If you never ever go, you’ll never ever know” – Reading the room is key in media and events.
By Richard Askam | Director of Media & Events Digital INK
đź“Ť Location: UK ( and all airports )
🎧 Currently Listening to: The Forest Is the Path, Snow Patrol.
Lights, Camera Action, Ladies and Gentlemen…
Richard is an experienced speaker, having worked all over the world in the last 10 years for multiple organisations, including HP , Xerox Dscoop, Fujifilm Print , FESPA and even TED Talks. I have worked in personalised gifting for 20 years. Still, since becoming a full-time speaker, I have been fortunate to stand on many stages worldwide and try my best to weave stories and tell tales that inform, amuse, question, provoke and engage the audiences. After all, I spent 30 years in the storytelling industry, otherwise known as the Wine Trade, you can’t possibly sell a bottle of wine to someone without telling them the story of where the grapes are grown, who picked them, who pressed them, who bottled them and who labelled them.
The wine business gave way to the gift business as I started the personalisation trend in 2007 and created personalised alcohol gifts for most major online retailers across Europe. Ultimately, this got me noticed…
So why did I become a speaker? I guess my claim to fame was creating the online “ShareACoke “ campaign in 2014, one of the most successful marketing campaigns ever! I stood up at a Dscoop event in Windsor to tell the story of that campaign and haven’t sat down since!
A Day in My Life at Digital INK
No day, or even hour, is the same at Digital Ink, and that’s why I love it!
My role involves:
“So why did I become a speaker? I guess my claim to fame was having created the online “ShareACoke “ campaign in 2014, one of the most successful marketing campaigns ever! I stood up at a Dscoop event in Windsor to tell the story of that campaign and haven’t sat down since!”
Richard on stage, hosting the conference at FESPA Middle East 2025.
My Superpower: Read the room đź‘€
My superpower is that I know how to read the room, an invaluable skill for any public speaker or presenter. Understanding the mood, energy, and unspoken cues of an audience allows me to adapt on the fly, adjust my messaging, and deliver a talk that genuinely resonates. I slow down and provide additional context when I sense the listeners need more clarity. If the room feels energised, I lean into that momentum with tremendous enthusiasm. This level of awareness not only keeps people engaged but also fosters a genuine connection, transforming a standard presentation into an experience that leaves a lasting impact.
Lessons from the Journey
One of the most valuable life lessons I’ve learned is the importance of genuine conversation. In our fast-moving digital world, the art of simply talking, really sharing ideas and listening to one another can often get lost among notifications and sound bites. Yet, there’s something irreplaceable about sitting down and having an honest, unhurried chat. It fosters understanding, empathy, and connection, allowing us to learn from others’ perspectives while offering our own. No matter how convenient technology becomes, nothing replaces the warmth and depth of meaningful, face-to-face communication.
Richard delivers a Ted Talk.
Beyond Work: A Few Fun Facts About Me
🍽 Favorite Food: Italian…anything Italian.
🏆 Biggest Achievement: Creating You Are The Star books, a personalised children’s book business designed to encourage literacy and participation (and get them off their phones!)
⚽ Hobbies: Sport but mainly golf & music – I sang in a band for 20 years….
🧠What I Can’t Live Without: My family
🌍 Dream Destination: Alps or Maldives
🏔 Beach or Mountains? See dream holiday location – I can’t decide
