Matt Garman was the talent most people looked past. With just a single qualification in a family of academics, he was written off by all the conventional measures, that is, until someone gave him a 'Second Look'. He went on to grow 2 technology companies of his own, one to a Private Equity exit, row 3,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean and swim the English Channel. Matt's stories are examples of the potential that can be unlocked when such people are given a 'Second Look'.
Most businesses are sitting on unlocked potential because they fail to look beyond the 'First Look' of CVs, universities and past senior roles. His audiences leave with a simple yet practical tool: The Second Look, a simple framework that uncovers the enthusiasm, trust, resilience and leadership potential that often remains hidden in plain sight. Leadership can use it for succession planning, managers can use it for their teams, and every person in the room will be secretly applying it to themselves. By growing people from within, you not only create more leaders, but you strengthen their sense of belonging, retain more top talent, and attract more of it. As AI continues to shape our roles, growing human potential becomes the differentiator.
The Second Look is a framework that gives organisations a practical, structured way to see their own people differently — not through theory, but through the kind of honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations that create real change.
Matt's sessions are personal, practical and deliberately vulnerable. He tells stories that people recognise from their own experience, and he leaves audiences not just motivated but genuinely
clearer on where their leadership is hiding and what's been getting in the way. He is a regular podcast guest and is the author of three books: An Unconventional Journey Into Leadership, Learning the Ropes, and Why So Many Sales Hires Fail.
Books
Why So Many Sales Hires Fail - Thinking Differently About Sales People
Learning the Ropes: Achieving Sustainable Sales Performance Regardless of Changes in Personnel
An Unconventional Journey Into Leadership
Matt Garman's official speaking topics are listed below:
The Second Look: Unlocking the leadership potential hidden in plain sight
(for Leadership Events and Leadership Groups)
- Everyone has leadership credentials that go far beyond their job title and formal qualifications. What they've actually done with their lives, the real pressure they've navigated, the unconventional learning they've picked up along the way - this is where the real capability sits. Most organisations look only at the formal side and they miss this critical connection with their people.
- Matt's keynote walks audiences through the simple but powerful framework of The Second Look — how to notice the leadership potential already inside your organisation, name it clearly, and back it so it can grow. Matt shows that the most valuable leaders often come from the places organisations aren't looking. By the end, audiences have a clear framework they can apply immediately to their own teams and the conversation shifts: who in your organisation do you risk losing because you haven't given them a Second Look?
Available as: 45-minute keynote and an optional 3-hour interactive workshop
The colleague you haven't met yet: The value of a Second Look in developing more engaged teams
(for Internal Company Conferences)
- Most organisations say their people are their greatest asset. Then they go shopping for strangers. The new external hire becomes an internal announcement that says "We looked beyond you." People stop offering ideas, then their engagement starts draining away. This is the cost of overlooking the leadership that's already inside.
- This keynote challenges organisations to see their existing people through a Second Look — to recognise the leadership they've already forged through real decisions, real pressure, real stakes. Matt shows how giving people this recognition transforms engagement, develops stronger internal leaders, and builds the kind of loyalty that external hires can't buy. Teams leave understanding that the colleague they haven't properly looked at yet might be the leader who keeps the organisation thriving.
Available as: 45-minute keynote and an optional 3-hour interactive workshop
Don't Lose the Map: Why some businesses never make it to Treasure Island
(for Entrepreneur and Business Founder Groups)
- Maybe it's a map you can’t fully read, a team member you have not tested yet or a destination you’re not sure about - sound familiar? That's the feeling every entrepreneur and founder has on day one. The difference is, most business leaders forget they're on an adventure. The map gets buried under spreadsheets and the relentless noise of running a company.
- Matt takes audiences on a quest to find Treasure Island. Identifying the map, choosing the crew, addressing a potential mutiny. Finally, you sight land and ask whether the treasure was what you thought it was. Every stage is brought to life through unconventional leadership lessons from building and selling two businesses and rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic. But the power of this talk is that your audience starts mapping their own journey alongside it. They see where they have drifted, where the crew needs attention, and what the treasure actually looks like for them.
Available as: 45-minute keynote
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"Matt recently kicked off a conference with his keynote address, and I was truly impressed by the energy he generated in the room and his ability to connect with the audience. His professionalism shone through as he carefully considered the brief and dedicated time before the event to ensure his presentation was focused, engaging, and packed with actionable takeaways. I wholeheartedly recommend Matt for future events and we’re really looking forward to collaborating with him on upcoming projects." - Mike, Director, MJP Media & Events
"I met Matt in my role as the host and MC of a business leaders speakers' conference. Matt was a pleasure to work with. He happily engaged with me the previous week when I invited him to a briefing call to talk me through his presentation. On the day, he arrived in plenty of time - so I could double check my introduction, and he could check his slides, and the overall format of the day. Matt kept to time and worked brilliantly to the brief. His talk was well received, authentically delivered with meaningful 'takeaways' for an audience wanting to be inspired and 're-energised', as per the theme of the day. Matt stayed for lunch, fully engaging with me, the other speakers and all our guests. If you want a 'safe pair of hands' speaker with an impressive story, I heartily recommend Matt." - John, MC & Former BBC Journalist
"Matt's a terrific speaker - he's got a great story to tell, delivers it brilliantly and draws out pertinent business and personal messages that really connect with an audience. I saw him deliver his keynote to a room of over 100 business leaders and you could have heard a pin drop as he told his extraordinary story - he really did have the audience in the palm of his hand. His content is focused and relevant and I could see him bringing huge value to a wide range of audiences. Highly recommended." - Steve, MC & Speaker Coach
"After meeting Matt at an event, I knew I wanted to book him for our summer lunch with Rolex. Matt personalised his fascinating talk about rowing the Atlantic, with Rolex taglines that fit seamlessly. Delivered in his unique and engaging style, he hit the spot perfectly with our guests. We all felt like we were in the boat with him, as he described the extraordinary highs and lows as huge as the Atlantic waves he had rowed through. His Q&A section was the perfect wrap up, with many asking questions, because they all wanted to hear more of this amazing adventures." - Ashley, Managing Director, Bruford's/Rolex
"We were delighted when Matt agreed to be our Keynote speaker at our 3rd annual Diamond Alumni VIP Lunch. Matt was fun and easy to talk to in the lead up to the event and then captivating from the very start of his presentation, with everyone listening intently and completely engaged. He blew us all away with his recap of "The Toughest Row in the World". It was inspiring to hear the highs, lows and lessons learnt from his challenging 49-day row across the Atlantic Ocean where his team raised over £100,000 for charity - incredible! I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Matt if you are considering him to speak at your event!" - Sally, Managing Director, Gatwick Diamond Business
"Wow, having only just Matt when presenting to our Manufacturing Association on Leadership and Sustainable Sales I can honestly say what an inspirational guy. Matt took a session taking a group through using practical tools and techniques on how to ensure that your sales team delivers constantly. The session promoted self-reflection, challenged current methods and targeted areas of opportunities to create change. Thanks Matt, that will stay with me throughout the rest of my career, and I will ensure that it gets passed on." - Jason, Managing Director, HSM Manufacturing
- 2026 – International Keynote Speaker
- 2025 – Cycled America (raised £7,200 for charity)
- 2024 – Published ‘An Unconventional Journey into Leadership’
- 2023 – Rowed Across the Atlantic Ocean (raised £120,000 for charity)
- 2023 – Keynote and Workshop Speaker
- 2020 – Published ‘Why So Many Sales Hires Fail – Thinking Differently About Sales’
- 2018 – Published ‘Learning the Ropes’
- 2017 – Swam across the English Channel (raised £5,600 for charity)
- 2012 – Exited Technology business in Private Equity sale
How to hire Matt Garman
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Matt Garman for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do NOT accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
