Matthew Luhn

One of the most essential resources for any business to stay competitive is new ideas that spark innovation. As one of the original story creators at Pixar Animation Studios, Matthew Luhn participated in building and sustaining the creative culture at Pixar from startup to the most successful filmmaking group in the history of Hollywood. Matthew’s engaging and action-oriented talk will provide strategies on how to create a culture that encourages and nurtures new ideas and embraces fear and failure as a necessary part of the creative process. He demonstrates how to empower relationships and build trust through authentic communication.

When your company’s product or service appears similar to your competitor’s offerings, how can you differentiate and get consumers to notice? In this enlightening and entertaining talk, Matthew Luhn, accomplished writer and Pixar story artist on the Toy Story films, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, UP, and Ratatouille, will share his methods and experiences working with Disney/Pixar and advising other Fortune 500 companies. Audiences will learn how to innovate, differentiate, and stay relevant in today’s business world, creating more value and winning customer loyalty.

According to a notable Harvard Business Review article, “In our information-saturated age, business leaders won’t be heard unless they’re telling stories–facts and figures and all the rational things that we think are important in the business world don’t stick in our minds at all. That means leaders who can create and share good stories have a powerful advantage over others.” Nobody knows this better than Matthew Luhn, Disney/Pixar veteran (Toy Story 1,2,3, Finding Nemo, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Ratatouille, and more) and Fortune 500 storytelling consultant. In this essential talk for leaders, Matthew shows you how to sharpen your storytelling skills and develop your hero/leadership traits to gain an advantage in business and beyond. Providing key insights from his authoritative book, The Best Story Wins: How to Leverage Hollywood Storytelling in Business and Beyond, and hands-on experience consulting with companies ranging from Adidas to Charles Schwab, Matthew reveals how to leverage the power of storytelling to capture attention, give meaning to your message, make more powerful connections, and become a more effective leader.

In this uplifting and empowering talk, master storyteller Matthew Luhn shares how AI is being used as a tool, copilot, and muse to create new ideas and stories for entertainment, business, and beyond.  As one of the first animators on Toy Story, the first computer-generated animated film released by Pixar, Matthew is well versed in how new technology can transform an industry and create memorable stories.  Matthew’s story credits include Toy Story 1, 2, and 3, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, UP, and Ratatouille. Like CG (computer) animation, AI is another tool in our storytelling toolkit—enhancing, not replacing creativity and innovation. Matthew will share his tips on how to use AI to bridge the gap between new technology and great storytelling.

Storytelling is the #1 business skill necessary to connect, motivate, and lead people in today’s world. Stories compel us to engage in experiences, learn lessons, and define our values and ourselves within our organization. Matthew Luhn, a 20-year Pixar story veteran, brings his experience creating and developing 10 blockbuster films at Pixar and provides practical strategies that teach and inspire people and teams to connect more effectively with audiences on an emotional level. Matthew uses the power of storytelling to bridge the gap between business and heart, driving your story toward one unforgettable selling point.