Mark Mathews

Through a deeply personal story of injury and recovery, Mark explores the measurable physical and psychological effects of cultivating gratitude as a daily emotional state. Audiences hear how gratitude reduces stress, strengthens immune function, deepens relationships, and underpins the resilience he has needed to survive his own career. He closes with concrete practices teams can adopt.

In big wave surfing, conditions shift in seconds and the cost of a wrong call is severe. Mark walks audiences through the agility frameworks he and his support team use to keep reassessing the environment, adjusting goals, and committing to action under uncertainty. The session translates directly to leaders navigating market volatility, crisis response, and operational risk.

Becoming a professional big wave surfer demands more than nerve. It demands the ability to take calculated risks and to extract yourself from a hazardous situation when the calculation turns. Mark breaks down the meticulous preparation, communication protocols, and focus rituals that separate sustainable risk-taking from reckless bravado, with direct applications for executives and high-stakes teams.

Facing waves capable of killing him, Mark's mind runs scenarios faster than he can swim. If he cannot govern his own internal dialogue, he arrives at the lineup already exhausted. In this keynote he reveals the practical techniques he uses to manage rumination, regulate anxiety, and protect himself from burnout, methods now adopted by sales teams, traders, surgeons, and operators where the stakes are highest.

The Other Side of Fear is a Red Bull documentary that chronicles Mark Mathews's career as one of the world's leading big wave surfers and the catastrophic injuries that nearly ended it. After a wipeout at Jaws in Hawaii and a later accident in New South Wales that severed an artery in his leg, doctors told Mathews he would never surf again. The film documents his recovery and his transition into a professional keynote speaker, narrated using the same fear-management framework he now delivers from the stage.

Mark Mathews has won the Oakley Big Wave Award three times in consecutive years, the only surfer to achieve back-to-back-to-back wins in the category. The award is given for the most significant performances in big wave surfing globally and is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious recognitions in the sport. Mathews has also been featured by Red Bull, Surfline, and Surfer Magazine for his pioneering work at extreme wave locations across the Pacific.

Fortune 500 audiences book Mark Mathews when they need a credible, research-backed perspective on fear, resilience, and high-stakes decision-making. His keynotes pair first-person stories from 50-foot waves with concrete methods for emotional regulation, risk assessment, and team performance under pressure. Clients including Google, SAP, Sony, Intel, and MasterCard have brought him in to address leadership offsites, sales kickoffs, and resilience programs. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Mark Mathews to your next event.

Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Mark Mathews as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Mark Mathews's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Mark Mathews or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.

Mark Mathews speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Mark Mathews to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Mark Mathews.

We only work with Mark Mathews on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Mark Mathews and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Mark Mathews speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Mark Mathews for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.

Yes, Mark Mathews is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Mark Mathews for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.