More than
a talk
Book Matt as your inspirational speaker to bring clarity to chaos - and action to ideas.
See For yourSelf
“Having seen Matt Elliott's work, I can confidently say his insights on the Power of & are exactly what leaders need today. His upcoming book and keynote are essential for anyone looking to thrive in our complex, high-pressure world.”
Sandy Pierce, Corporate Board Director and Former Chair, Huntington Bank Michigan
Matt is trusted by:
MSU |
SXSW |
Research Universities for Michigan |
Detroit Economic Club |
Business Leaders for Michigan |
MSU | SXSW | Research Universities for Michigan | Detroit Economic Club | Business Leaders for Michigan |
Melink Solar |
RA Jones |
City of Detroit |
ClimaTech |
Greenplaces |
Melink Solar | RA Jones | City of Detroit | ClimaTech | Greenplaces |
Detroit Regional Chamber |
MichAuto |
Mackinac Policy Conference |
European American Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati |
Detroit Regional Chamber | MichAuto | Mackinac Policy Conference | European American Chamber of Commerce of Cincinnati |
University of Michigan Ross School of Business |
Boston Consulting Group |
McKinsey & Company |
University of Michigan Ross School of Business | Boston Consulting Group | McKinsey & Company |
This isn’t just a talk- it’s a return on attention.
Every keynote I give is designed to honor your audience’s time by delivering a unique perspective, inspiration, and practical tools they can immediately apply. I don’t do theory for theory’s sake. I speak to spark change, reframe thinking, and help leaders lead through chaos with clarity and confidence.
Event organizers often tell me they’re tired of “safe” talks that say little and land flat. I get it. I’ve been in your seat - and I know how hard it is to find a speaker who not only delivers high-impact content, but also shows up as a true partner.
That’s why I bring more than a message. I bring a mindset. I stay for the conversations that happen after the stage. I collaborate with your team. I adapt in real time. And I give 110% because if your audience is willing to show up and listen, I’m going to meet that moment fully.
If you're looking for a keynote that moves people and moves your event forward, I’d love to talk.
—
Matt Elliott
Transformation Expert | Board Director | Speaker
WHY Book Matt
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As a former banking president with P&L responsibility and hands-on crisis leadership experience, Matt has lived and led through chaos himself.
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Candid and charismatic, Matt blends sharp leadership insight with a powerful personal journey from burnout to breakthrough, leaving even the most seasoned executives feeling understood, empowered, and equipped to lead through complexity.
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Matt delivers actionable tools audiences can immediately apply to their biggest challenges. The Taming Chaos framework has helped teams tame chaos without losing clarity, and deliver results without losing themselves.
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Track record of helping teams and organizations shift from surviving chaos to thriving through change.
Matts Signature talks
Taming Chaos through The Power of &
How to navigate change with clarity, connection and courage.
Today’s leaders and their teams face nonstop complexity and increasing chaos: accelerating change, polarized environments, and pressure to deliver short-term results while building long-term value.
The natural response?
Speed up. Simplify. Choose sides.
But that either/or mindset doesn’t solve complexity—it amplifies it.
In this powerful and personal keynote, Matt Elliott introduces The Power of &, a leadership mindset and practical framework for taming chaos. Drawing on three decades of executive experience, including as President of Bank of America Michigan and a nationally recognized sustainability leader—Matt shares how leaders can pause despite the noise, reframe false choices, and lead with clarity, courage and confidence, even when the path isn’t clear.
Whether you're leading a company, a team, a family or yourself, this session will help you trade burnout for breakthrough and move from surviving to thriving.
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Learn why either/or thinking fails in complex, high-stakes environments
Discover The Power of &—a practical, mindset-shifting tool for modern leadership
Gain a repeatable 3-part framework to pause, reframe, and act with purpose
Build trust and alignment in polarized or fast-moving teams
Leave with real tools to lead through uncertainty—without losing yourself in the process
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A mindset shift to reframe chaos into opportunity
Tools to lead through complex, high-stakes decisions and polarization
A repeatable 3-step framework for creating shared wins across stakeholders
Permission and strategy to lead with both performance and purpose
“Matt's insights were incredibly valuable and resonated deeply with our team. His ability to distill complex concepts into clear, digestible points was truly impressive. Matt's engaging delivery and profound understanding of these critical topics left a lasting positive impact on our team.”
-Raymond Solomon II, Chief Of Staff To Mike Duggan, Mayor Of The City Of Detroit
The & of Sustainability
Most organizations view sustainability as a costly either/or choice: profits or planet, growth or green, shareholders or stakeholders. This false dichotomy keeps businesses trapped in zero-sum thinking that limits both financial returns and environmental impact.
Drawing from his experience deploying $35B+ in sustainable capital and engaging 25,000+ companies as Bank of America's sustainability executive, Matt Elliott reveals how leading organizations are rewriting the rules. Through the proven Taming Chaos framework, he shows how sustainability becomes a powerful & - driving innovation, reducing costs, attracting talent, and winning market share simultaneously.
Using real-world case studies from companies like Costco, Patagonia, and Berkshire Hathaway, Matt demonstrates how & thinking transforms sustainability from a compliance burden into a competitive advantage that creates lasting value for all stakeholders.
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Reframe the sustainability paradox: Learn why "profit & purpose" drives better results than choosing between them
Apply the Taming Chaos framework: Use the three-step process (Pause & Reflect, Find the &, Test & Learn) to identify sustainability opportunities in your organization
Build the business case: Discover how sustainability initiatives reduce costs, improve employee retention, and accelerate revenue growth
Escape false choices: Identify where either/or thinking is limiting your sustainability impact and financial performance
Create shared wins: Develop sustainability strategies that align stakeholders around profitable growth rather than costly trade-offs
Scale through storytelling: Communicate sustainability wins in ways that build momentum and drive leadership buy-in
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A mindset shift to reframe chaos into opportunity
Tools to lead through complex, high-stakes decisions and polarization
A repeatable 3-step framework for creating shared wins across stakeholders
Permission and strategy to lead with both performance and purpose
“As the steward of one of the nation’s premier bi-partisan policy conferences, Matt Ellott’s theme of “The Power of &” resonated far more than any other prior theme. Matt’s compelling and confident stage delivery was a pleasure to not only hear – but to see in the positive reaction from the leaders in the audience.”
-Sandy Baruah, CEO, Detroit Regional Chamber
The Power of &
and Everyday Leadership
Today’s pace of change has shattered traditional ideas of leadership. It’s no longer about titles — it’s about your ability to create impact wherever you are.
In the face of accelerating chaos, we default to either/or thinking: move fast or play it safe; deliver results or protect relationships. But this mindset traps potential, stifles collaboration, and slows innovation when we need it most.
In this energizing session, Matt Elliott — nationally recognized leader in finance, sustainability, and growth strategy — introduces The Power of & and the Taming Chaos framework: a breakthrough philosophy and framework for leading from any seat. In a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty and division, the session redefines leadership as the ability to unite people, navigate complexity, and drive meaningful change from any seat at the table. It’s a call to action for young professionals to stop waiting and start leading — right now.
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Lead without a title: Use the Power of & to unite teams and move ideas forward.
Turn chaos into clarity: Shift from fighting fires to creating breakthrough solutions.
Model the future of leadership: Build trust, foster innovation, and spark sustainable growth.
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You’ll leave with a practical playbook to tame chaos, inspire action, and lead with confidence — starting now.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside—and speaking publicly with—Matt Elliott. Matt deeply understands the role that small businesses and critical supply chains play in keeping our economy strong. He also gets that leadership and sustainability aren’t just buzzwords—they’re central to building long-term economic resilience. Matt is a values-driven leader, and I’m grateful for his partnership and insights.”
-Kerry C. Duggan, CEO, Energy Security Partners
