FEATURE MATT AS A KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Matt Symes doesn’t do surface-level inspiration — he delivers clarity that sticks.
Whether he’s opening a conference or energizing an executive team, Matt brings a commanding presence, a straight-talking style, and the rare ability to make complexity feel manageable.
His keynotes are fast-paced, grounded in real experience, and packed with high-leverage tools leaders can use immediately. Matt has a gift for cutting through noise and exposing the real constraint keeping a team stuck in the cycle of over-functioning, over-complicating, and under-performing.
Matt meets audiences where they are, then pushes them to think bigger, act smarter, and move with purpose. With a blend of strategy, systems thinking, and just the right amount of irreverence, he leaves people not just fired up, but fundamentally clearer on what to do next.
If you want someone who can walk into a room and shift the way an audience or team thinks forever, Matt Symes is the speaker to book.
KEYNOTE TOPICS
AI FOR BUSINESS: TRANSFORMING PROCESSES, NOT JUST ADOPTING TOOLS
AI is already transforming how we work, yet nearly 9 out of 10 Canadian businesses haven’t figured out where to start. In this results-driven session, Matt Symes shows professionals how to integrate AI fractionally across marketing, sales, operations, HR, and leadership to save time, sharpen decisions, and stay competitive. With hands-on demos, real-world tools, and a simple framework, you’ll leave with practical use cases and the confidence to put AI to work immediately.
NAVIGATING ECONOMIC VOLATILITY: PRACTICAL STRATEGIES FOR BUSINESS LEADERS
Tariffs and counter-tariffs are creating fresh uncertainty for businesses tied to U.S. customers and supply chains. In this session, Matt Symes shares an updated version of the Chaos Playbook—a tested framework used in the 2008 financial crisis and 2019 pandemic—now enhanced with AI. It was created to help leaders stabilize, adapt, and future-proof their business models. You’ll learn how to diversify customers, strengthen procurement, and forge resilient partnerships so your business can navigate volatility with confidence.
FUTURE-PROFFING ASSOCIATIONS: LEADERSHIP, ADAPTABILITY & IMPACT IN A CHANGING WORLD
Member expectations are shifting fast, attention is fragmented, and AI is reshaping how associations deliver value. In this keynote, Matt Symes shows association leaders how to move beyond reacting to change and instead lead their industries with data-driven strategy, AI-powered tools, and bold leadership. You’ll leave with a practical playbook for boosting engagement, staying relevant, and positioning your association as a voice that shapes the future.
DO YOU REALLY KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER?
Too many organisations chase the loudest customers instead of the right ones—and it costs them growth. In this session, Matt Symes shows leaders how to identify and prioritize their most valuable clients, refine the customer journey, and confidently say no to the wrong fits. You’ll leave with a practical roadmap to build stronger relationships, increase loyalty, and align every client decision with long-term success.