Demographics & Generations Keynote Speaker

The Life Stages and Cohorts Most Marketers Are Missing

The Demographic Forces
Reshaping Every Market

Matt Carmichael is a demographics futurist and keynote speaker on generational change. He reveals the new life stages, shifting values, and demographic fault lines that most organizations haven't yet built into their strategy — backed by original Ipsos research and his groundbreaking book Buyographics.

Matt Carmichael speaking on demographics and generational change

Generational Change Is
Three Different Stories

Each of these can stand alone as a keynote or be woven into a custom "future of demographics" talk for your specific audience.

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Talkin' 'Bout Generations

Two new life stages have emerged that most marketers are completely missing. Matt unpacks both — explaining who they are, what they want, and why they represent unique, underserved opportunities for brands willing to pay attention.

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The American Dream

This enduring concept is evolving — expressed differently by different generations and ethnic groups, with a central tension that's key to understanding America at 250. A talk about values, aspiration, and the gap between perception and reality.

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All the Young Dudes

Young men are a key demographic perplexing marketers and sociologists alike. Using data and ethnography, Matt explores why many are failing to thrive — and offers a clear-eyed framework for how brands can meaningfully reach them.

What Your Audience
Leaves With

01

The two emerging life stages most brands ignore

Who they are, how they make decisions, and why the traditional generational lens misses them entirely

02

What the American Dream means today — by generation

How Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z define success differently — and the central tension that cuts across all of them

03

The young male inflection point

Data on why young men are diverging from the rest of the demographic picture — and what it means for brands, employers, and policymakers

04

Ethnic and cultural diversity in consumer values

How the American Dream is expressed differently across ethnic communities — and what brands must understand to stay relevant

05

Demographic opportunity mapping

A framework for identifying which underserved demographic segments represent the most meaningful growth opportunity for your category

06

The long demographic arc

Where these trends are heading — not just where they are now — so your organization can plan ahead rather than react

Buyographics by Matt Carmichael

Author's Credential

Buyographics

Matt's book Buyographics combined big data and ethnography to map the changing American consumer — tracking ten families in ten representative counties to show how America is aging, diversifying, and polarizing economically. The demographic rigor behind the book underpins every Matt Carmichael keynote on generational change.

Ideal Audiences for
the Demographics Keynote

This talk resonates most with:

  • Financial services and insurance organizations planning for generational wealth transfer
  • Consumer brands and retailers navigating generational shifts in purchase priorities
  • HR and workforce leaders managing multi-generational teams
  • Media, advertising, and agency audiences understanding audience fragmentation
  • Healthcare, education, and non-profit organizations addressing changing community demographics

What sets this talk apart:

  • Goes beyond the tired Boomer/Millennial frame to identify truly new life stages
  • Draws from Ipsos Global Trends for a genuinely international generational perspective
  • Uses ethnography alongside survey data — numbers and stories, not just charts
  • Matt literally wrote the book on this — Buyographics is the intellectual foundation

Other Keynote Topics

Book the Demographics Keynote Your Audience Needs

The generational landscape has changed in ways most organizations haven't absorbed yet. Matt shows you what it looks like — and what it means for your strategy.

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