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Matt Garman knows what it’s like to bet everything on a business and not be sure it’s going to work.
He’s built and sold two companies with the second to a PE-backed acquirer. Along the way he’s made most of the mistakes in the book. He’s hired the wrong people, lost an industrial tribunal, and once ended up collapsed on a pavement in Brighton from stress. He doesn’t hide any of it, because he thinks that’s where the real leadership lessons live.
He’s also rowed 3,000 miles across the Atlantic in a three-person crew, swum the English Channel, and completed multiple Ironman triathlons, experiences that taught him as much about focus, decision-making and trusting the people around you as anything he learned in a boardroom.
Today Matt works with entrepreneurs and business leaders on the stuff that determines whether a business thrives or stalls: leadership capability, team development, and building something that doesn’t fall apart when the founder steps back. His mindset and methodology give business owners a practical, structured way to move from vision through to execution, not through theory, but through the kind of honest, sometimes uncomfortable conversations that create real change.
Matt’s sessions 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 they’re heading and what’s been getting in the way. He is the author of three books: An Unconventional Journey Into Leadership, Learning the Ropes, and Why So Many Sales Hires Fail.
A map you can’t fully read, aย crew you haven’t tested yetย or anย island that might not even have treasure on it. And you’re the one whoย has toย get everyone there alive. Sound familiar?ย
That’sย the feeling nearlyย everyย entrepreneur or business leader hasย on day one. The difference is,ย once we get stuck into the daily grind,ย most businessย leadersย forget they’re on an adventure. The map gets buried under spreadsheets, board packs and the relentless noise of running a company. The crew starts pulling in different directionsย andย one day theย leaderย looks up and realises they have no idea where they’re heading anymore.ย
In this keynote, Matt takes the audience on a voyage through the world of Treasure Island,ย and their own leadership journey. Finding the map, choosing who gets on the boat and addressing the potentialย mutinyย thatย nobody saw coming. The storm that changes everything, as well as the moment you finally sight land andย mustย question –ย was the treasure what you thought it was?ย
Every stage is brought to life through Matt’s own story,ย building and selling two businesses, rowing 3,000 miles across the Atlantic, and the brutally honest moments of doubt, failure and discovery in between. It’s funny, it’s personal, and it lands.ย
Audiences will leave with:ย
Available as a keynote or a 3-hour interactive workshopย (with delegate workbook and map).ย
Thereโsย an uncomfortableย and often ignoredย truthย –ย the mostย valuableย leadership lessonsย you’llย ever learnย won’tย happen in a training room.ย They’llย happen at 3am when youย can’tย sleep becauseย you’veย just bet your house on aย business,ย you’reย not sure will survive. Or in the middle of an ocean when a Boxing Day storm is trying to capsize your boat. Orย maybe evenย on a pavement in Brighton when your body finally tells you what your brain refused to accept.ย
Mattย Garmanย has hadย to addressย all three.ย He’sย convinced that these raw, unscripted,ย and oftenย terrifying moments teach more about leadership than any curriculum, case study or MBA module ever willย do.ย
This sessionย challengesย conventional leadership developmentย headย on.ย Instead of starting with theory and hoping it survivesย when challenged, Matt starts withย someย reality –ย the mistakes, the gambles, the moments of genuine vulnerability, as heย pulls out the lessons thatย stick.ย It’sย oftenย not comfortable,ย itsย not always corporate, butย it’sย brutallyย honest, experience-driven learning that changes how leaders think and act long after they leave the room.ย
Audiences will leave with:ย
Available as a keynote or a 3-hour interactive workshop (with delegate workbook and map).ย
Matt was so 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 I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Matt if you are considering him to speak at your event
After listening to Matt speak at an event, I knew we wanted him to speak at our annual summer lunch. 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
