Matthew Luhn Keynote Speaker

Disney/Pixar Veteran behind Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo and more
Fortune 500 Storytelling Consultant, Award-Winning Writer & Director
Author of 'The Best Story Wins'

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Matthew Luhn's Biography

You may not recognize Matthew Luhn’s name, but you definitely know his work: The Simpsons, Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Monsters University, Finding Nemo, Cars, Up, and Ratatouille. After a stellar 20+ year career at Disney/Pixar, he turned his focus to helping the corporate world leverage the art and science of storytelling for business success, authoring The Best Story Wins and consulting to companies such as Charles Schwab and Adidas. A top speaker on storytelling, creativity and innovation, he has delighted a range of Fortune 1000 audiences including Apple, Capital One, Clorox, Facebook, Gartner, Google, Microsoft, PayPal, Procter & Gamble, Sony, Target, and Vrbo. His keynotes and workshops have been featured at BNY Mellon, BMW, Walt Disney Imagineering, Walt Disney Family Museum, Lego, Prudential Insurance, Salesforce, Volkswagen, Wells Fargo, and many more.

More About Matthew Luhn

What if the son of a third-generation toy store owner went on to become a creative force behind the Toy Story trilogy of movies? Or, as a talented 19-year-old animator, was lured into leaving art school to work on The Simpsons? And then was pitched by Steve Jobs to join a startup called Pixar? If this is a story that you want to hear, it’s because one of Matthew Luhn’s top storytelling tips has succeeded: Capture your audience in eight seconds or less. Luhn’s own inspiring life story—and how he tells it—is an integral part of his highly engaging talks and workshops. It begins when he was three-years-old, scribbling a rough child’s drawing that convinced his father that Matthew was the heir to his dad’s unfulfilled dream of becoming a Disney animator. That moment spurred Matthew’s destiny: A childhood spent drawing with his dad and going to the movies. Being accepted into the prestigious CalArts animation program founded by Walt Disney. Having a student film catch the attention of The Simpsons. And then, getting a call from a startup called Pixar Animation Studios, where he was pitched by Steve Jobs himself to work on an animated film that, remarkably, didn’t include princesses or show tunes. Thus began Matthew Luhn’s dazzling stint at Disney/Pixar, working on a steady stream of blockbusters: Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, Up, and Ratatouille. His career progressed from animating Toy Story’s “Bucket o’ Soldiers” (a challenge because their feet were attached to bases), to becoming a player in Pixar’s highly creative and collaborative story development process, to eventually, leading it.

Two decades later, he found himself being sought after once again—this time, by businesses that needed help telling their own brand story and developing their teams’ storytelling skills. Matthew literally wrote the book on the subject, The Best Story Wins: How to Leverage Hollywood Storytelling in Business and Beyond, and began his highly successful second act as a storytelling consultant to businesses. He still remains active in the world of film, recently writing and directing the multi-award-winning animated short, Sprite Fright.

Matthew Luhn’s highly entertaining talks have earned glowing reviews, lauding his talent as a teacher and passion for providing any audience with the tools to immediately activate storytelling skills for business success. As the president of one host company wrote, “Matthew Luhn has an incredible ability to captivate an audience through the art of storytelling. Unveiling some of the most insightful techniques used in Pixar films, he can effortlessly simplify complex ideas into concise messages—a valued skill in business. Matthew highlighted actionable tactics that sharpened my own team’s storytelling skills right away.”

AI and Storytelling

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 for Business

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.

Inspiring Creativity in the Workplace

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 failing as a necessary part of the creative process. He demonstrates how to empower relationships and build trust through authentic communication.

To Innovation and Beyond

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.

Storytelling for Leaders: Creating Memorable and Emotional Connections to Inspire and Motivate your Team

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.

Comments & Testimonials

Your presence on stage is absolutely electrifying. The Conference was a real success, some participants even called it our best edition ever yet. And the reason for the success was mostly due to you and your stage performance.

IAA Conference Director