Matthew Spence

In today's always-on workplace, many leaders wear busyness as a badge of honor. They skip breaks, forego recovery, and tie their identity to productivity, earning what Matthew Spence calls "no medal for mayonnaise on your keyboard." The problem? No one remembers those sacrifices, and over time they come at the expense of our health, relationships, and leadership. Drawing on lessons from completing the 29029 Everesting Challenge and more than 25 years developing leaders at Meta, Nike, Levi Strauss & Co., and Gap Inc., Matthew challenges audiences to rethink what achievement really means. Through stories from the climb, practical leadership insights, and moments of honest reflection, he helps leaders build lives that are resilient because they are well-rounded, not because they simply work harder. Audiences leave with actionable tools to redefine success, create sustainable habits of recovery, and build a life with multiple sources of purpose, energy, and meaning, making them stronger leaders, teammates, and human beings.

When the path gets steep, talent and determination alone aren't enough. The leaders who endure, and inspire others to keep going, are the ones who know exactly why they're climbing. In this deeply personal keynote, Matthew Spence shares the stories that fueled his journey through the 29029 Everesting Challenge, from recovering after a debilitating back injury to honoring the people whose lives shaped his own. Along the way, he reveals why purpose isn't something you write on a vision statement, it's the source of resilience that carries you through uncertainty, setbacks, and moments when giving up seems easier than taking the next step. Through stories from the climb and practical leadership insights, Matthew equips leaders to uncover the "lighthouses" that guide them through change, align their teams around a shared sense of purpose, and inspire commitment that lasts long after motivation fades. Audiences leave with actionable tools for connecting daily work to deeper meaning, helping themselves, their teams, and their organizations keep climbing even when the summit feels insurmountable.

Some moments change everything. A difficult conversation. A bold decision. A chance to speak up when it matters most. Great leaders don't leave these defining moments to chance, they learn to recognize them, prepare for them, and intentionally create them. Drawing on the ancient Greek concept of Kairos, the moments that shape the course of our lives, Matthew Spence challenges leaders to move beyond simply managing their calendars and begin leading with greater awareness and intention. Through stories from his 29029 Everesting Challenge and practical leadership insights, he explores how to honor Chronos time, the finite hours we all have, and create Kairos time, the defining moments that determine our future. Audiences leave with actionable tools for recognizing high-impact leadership moments before they pass, making courageous decisions when the stakes are high, and creating the kinds of conversations, experiences, and opportunities that transform themselves, their teams, and their organizations.

In a world obsessed with goals, promotions, rankings, and finish lines, it's easy to mistake achievement for fulfillment. But what if our greatest accomplishments aren't the milestones we reach, but the people we become along the way? Drawing on the final lessons from his 29029 Everesting Challenge, Matthew Spence explores the surprising realization that crossing the finish line wasn't the most meaningful part of the journey. The real transformation had already taken place through months of disciplined preparation, intentional growth, and choosing each day to become a better leader and a better human. Through stories from the climb and practical leadership insights, Matthew challenges leaders to shift their focus from external validation to lasting personal growth. Audiences leave with actionable tools for redefining success, leading with greater purpose and humanity, and creating the conditions to consistently access the best version of themselves, for their teams, their organizations, and the people they love most.