Matthew Luhn

Storytelling is the most critical skill for leaders seeking to connect, motivate, and differentiate in a crowded marketplace. In this foundational keynote, Matthew Luhn reveals the narrative techniques Pixar used to create billion-dollar franchises—and shows how the same principles apply to business communication, brand building, and customer engagement. Drawing from his 30 years developing films including Toy Story, Finding Nemo, and Monsters Inc., Matthew demonstrates how to capture attention in eight seconds, build emotional connections at scale, and turn complex ideas into memorable messages. He provides the storytelling frameworks that help executives craft pitches, presentations, and brand narratives that resonate—bridging the gap between data and meaning, logic and emotion. Audiences leave with immediately actionable tools to sharpen their storytelling capabilities, strengthen internal and external communication, and create messaging that drives results.

Innovation requires more than talented people—it demands a culture where bold ideas can surface, fail safely, and evolve into breakthroughs. In this essential talk for leadership teams, Matthew Luhn shares the creative principles that transformed Pixar from a startup into the most successful filmmaking studio in Hollywood history. He reveals how Pixar's collaborative story development process—where candid feedback, psychological safety, and iterative thinking are cultural norms—enabled the studio to produce hit after hit. Matthew provides practical strategies to foster creativity at scale: how to encourage risk-taking, embrace failure as necessary learning, build trust through authentic communication, and empower teams to challenge conventional thinking. This keynote is ideal for organizations seeking to drive innovation, strengthen cross-functional collaboration, or navigate transformation in competitive industries.

Artificial intelligence is not replacing creativity—it's expanding the toolkit for those who understand how to use it strategically. As one of the first animators on Toy Story, the first fully computer-generated animated film, Matthew Luhn witnessed firsthand how emerging technology can transform an industry without diminishing the human craft at its center. In this forward-looking keynote, he explores how AI is being deployed as a tool, collaborator, and creative catalyst across entertainment, marketing, and business communication. Matthew shares practical insights on leveraging AI to generate ideas, refine narratives, and scale storytelling efforts—while maintaining the emotional authenticity that makes stories resonate. He addresses the fears and opportunities surrounding AI adoption, demonstrating how leaders can bridge the gap between new technology and timeless narrative principles. Audiences gain clarity on how to integrate AI into creative workflows without sacrificing the human connection that drives impact.

In an information-saturated business environment, leaders who can tell compelling stories hold a decisive advantage over those who rely on data alone. In this essential keynote for executives, Matthew Luhn reveals how to harness storytelling as a leadership tool—building trust, clarifying vision, and inspiring action across teams and organizations. Drawing from his book The Best Story Wins and consulting work with companies including Google, Adobe, Salesforce, and Charles Schwab, Matthew demonstrates how to craft narratives that give meaning to strategy, make values tangible, and create emotional connections that drive alignment. He teaches leaders how to develop their own "hero traits," communicate with greater authenticity, and leverage storytelling to navigate change, onboard talent, and reinforce culture. This keynote provides frameworks that help leaders move beyond transactional communication to build the kind of narrative clarity that motivates teams and sustains momentum.