Futurist · Author · Keynote Speaker
The Future is Unscripted
SVP at Ipsos and founding editor of What the Future. 100+ keynotes and speaking engagements for organizations including Google, Amazon, Microsoft, and Ford. Matt turns proprietary global research into compelling, custom-built talks on consumer trends, AI, demographics, and the future of your industry.
100+ engagements — keynotes · C-suite briefings · virtual town halls
Northwestern Mutual
Chase
Google
Ford
Celsius
Molson Coors
HIRI
NAFEM
SXSW
Amazon
MICROSOFT
// Why book Matt
Most futurist speakers cite published reports. Matt creates them. As SVP at Ipsos — the world's third-largest research firm — he has direct access to original consumer, AI, and demographic data that no other keynote speaker can offer.
No canned keynotes. Matt tailors every talk to your industry, audience, and goals — mixing and matching from 7+ active topics and 50+ issues of What the Future.
As a lead author of Ipsos Global Trends (50 markets, 50,000 interviews), Matt brings a truly global lens — then makes it actionable for your specific market.
Matt co-founded Foresight Improv — a live, audience-driven format that blends futures thinking with professional improv. Featured at SXSW, it's a speaking experience no other futurists offes.
Before becoming a futurist, Matt was an editor at Advertising Age and Crain's Chicago Business. That journalism background means every talk is built around narrative and clarity, not jargon or speculation.
As a concert photographer and visual storyteller, Matt understands how to hold attention and create moments that resonate beyond the stage.
// How Matt Works
Unlike speakers who repeat a fixed keynote, Matt uses a repeatable foresight framework to build every talk from original data. The result is a presentation that feels tailor-made — because it is.
Step 01
Data
Proprietary Ipsos research — global surveys, trackers, AI monitor
Step 02
Signals
Emerging patterns across markets, generations, and behaviors
Step 03
Human Tensions
The contradictions and trade-offs people are actually navigating
Step 04
Future Scenarios
Plausible futures built around your audience's specific context
Step 05
Strategic Choices
Concrete decisions your audience can act on — starting tomorrow
Matt Carmichael's keynotes combine Ipsos global research, signal scanning, demographic analysis, consumer values data, journalism, and foresight frameworks — to help leaders understand what people will want, trust, resist, and pay for next.
// About
Matt Carmichael is a futurist, author, and consumer trends expert who delivers insights at scale for Ipsos and its clients. As SVP of Consumer Trends Thought Leadership, he leads the most impactful public trends and foresight projects of any major research firm.
He is the founding editor of What the Future, Ipsos' award-winning foresight magazine. Each issue explores the future of a different topic — from Food, Wellness and AI to Trust and Family — through exclusive expert interviews and custom consumer research.
Matt is a lead author of Ipsos Global Trends, the most comprehensive study of its kind, spanning 50 markets and 50,000 interviews. He also oversees the Ipsos U.S. Consumer Tracker and the Global AI Monitor.
As an engaging international keynote speaker, Matt presents to global clients and industry events on "Future of…" and demographic topics — bringing complex trends and statistics to life with narrative, humor, and easy-to-understand data stories.
He is the co-founder of Foresight Improv, featured at SXSW, which fuses futures thinking with improvisational performance. He is also a concert photographer whose work appears at rocknroll.net.
Previously, he was an editor at Advertising Age, Crain's Chicago Business, and Livability.com, covering interactive marketing, demographics, urban planning, and consumer trends.
// 2026 Speaking Topics
Every talk layers in data from across Ipsos with actionable insights and brand stories — custom-tailored to your audience, whether it's a small leadership team or a packed ballroom.
01
How Americans are prioritizing their spending, making trade-offs, and the extent the affluent play by their own rules.
02
This enduring concept is evolving, expressed differently by different generations and ethnic groups — with a central tension key to understanding America at 250.
03
Young men are a key demographic perplexing marketers and sociologists. Using data and ethnography, we explore why many are failing to thrive — and how to reach them.
04
AI must fulfill a human need and earn trust to truly succeed. We'll talk through how to build that trust and why the U.S. is such a global outlier in its skepticism.
05
With 50+ issues covering Family, Attention, Indulgence, Wellness, Food, Pets and more, Matt can create a custom "future of…" talk tailored to your audience.
06
Two new life stages have emerged that most marketers are missing. We'll unpack both and explain why they represent unique, underserved opportunities.
Custom Built for You
Matt will craft a keynote tailored to your audience — combining deep knowledge of consumer trends in the U.S. and globally, demographic shifts, and foresight frameworks for what's next. The result is a talk that takes broad signals and applies them directly to your sector, your strategic question, or the specific thing your audience is trying to figure out.
Bring the challenge. Matt will build the story around it. →
// Engagement Formats
30–60 minute main-stage presentations for audiences of any size
Focused deep-dives on a single topic with room for Q&A
High-energy virtual presentations and webinars, globally accessible
Expert moderation that draws out real insights from your panelists
Interactive sessions combining foresight, improv, and group exercises
Audience-powered futures improv — as seen at SXSW
// Media & Press
Matt on stage — from keynotes and panels to Foresight Improv and C-suite briefings at events around the world.
// Speaker Press Kit
Bios in three lengths, high-resolution headshots ready to drop into your program, and a full one-sheet for your team.
01 · Bios
Matt is a futurist at Ipsos where he edits What the Future and is a lead author of Ipsos Global Trends. He's an engaging speaker and commentator, presenting to global clients and events on "Future of…" and demographic topics. Matt previously was an editor at Advertising Age, Crain's Chicago Business, and author of Buyographics.
Matt is a futurist and trend expert at Ipsos. He is the founding editor of the award-winning What the Future magazine. He is a lead author for Ipsos Global Trends, the Global AI Monitor and the U.S. Consumer Tracker.
He is an engaging international keynote speaker and media commentator, presenting to global clients and industry events on a wide range of "Future of…" and demographic topics.
Matt previously was an editor at Advertising Age and Crain's Chicago Business, and is the author of Buyographics.
He graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School and the University of Houston's Foresight program.
Matt is a futurist, author and researcher. He's a consumer trends expert who delivers insights at scale for Ipsos and its clients. He leads or co-leads the most impactful public trends and foresight projects: What the Future magazine; the fortnightly U.S. Consumer Tracker; the Global AI Monitor; and Ipsos Global Trends, the most comprehensive study of its kind.
Matt combines foresight with insights as the founding editor of What the Future, Ipsos' award-winning magazine. Each issue covers the future of a different topic — from Food, to Wellness, to AI, to Trust — through exclusive expert interviews and custom consumer research. What the Future drives client engagement and Ipsos business.
Matt is a lead author of the annual Ipsos Global Trends, the most comprehensive study of its kind, where he also leads the cross-market activation.
In addition, he oversees the Ipsos U.S. Consumer Tracker, a twice-monthly survey of American attitudes and behaviors, and sends his analysis and commentary to internal leaders and external partners.
He is an engaging speaker and media commentator, presenting to global clients and industry events and SXSW on a wide range of "future of…" and demographic topics. Matt brings complex trends and stats to life with narrative, humor and easy-to-understand data stories.
He is the author of Buyographics, a book combining big data and ethnography to tell the complex story of today's American consumer.
Previously, Matt was an editor at trade and consumer publications including Advertising Age, Crain's Chicago Business and Livability.com. He has covered interactive marketing as well as demographics, urban planning and consumer trends.
He is a graduate of Northwestern University's Medill School and was awarded a certificate of achievement from the University of Houston's Foresight program.
He is a member of the Association of Professional Futurists and the Global Futures Society.
02 · Headshots
Hi-res · right-click save or use the download button
// What People Say
Matt Carmichael was an outstanding futurist keynote speaker for our Summit, where he addressed our audience of nearly 200 executives. Matt thoughtfully customized the talk, grounding evolving consumer values and behaviors in highly relevant, industry-specific insights. His talk was engaging and deeply actionable. Attendees left with a clear framework for understanding today’s increasingly self-directed consumer. The presentation sparked real conversations and continued to influence well beyond the session itself.
Home Improvement Research Institute
Futurist Matt Carmichael couldn’t have summed it up better when he noted that part of foresight is trying to figure out things we take for granted today that will seem absurd tomorrow. Our Executive Summit attendees benefited from his analysis on the future of food and key ingredients to understanding how to respond to an ever-evolving customer base. He shared an entertaining and honest assessment that’s both practical and thought-provoking.
Deirdre Flynn, EVP, North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers
Foresight Improv was the SXSW session I didn't know I needed.
— 2026 Foresight Improv attendee
The Improv was so surprising and inspiring. A unique exercise in Futures-Thinking.
— Faith Popcorn
// Frequently Asked Questions
Matt speaks on consumer trends, AI adoption and trust, generational demographics, the evolving American Dream, global macro trends, and the future of specific industries. All talks draw from proprietary Ipsos research — including the Global Trends study (50 markets, 50,000 interviews), the U.S. Consumer Tracker, and the Global AI Monitor.
Keynote addresses (30–60 minutes), breakout sessions, virtual presentations, panel moderation, interactive workshops, and Foresight Improv — a live, audience-driven futures thinking format co-founded by Matt and featured at SXSW. In-person and virtual, worldwide.
Everything from intimate C-suite briefings and executive retreats to annual conferences with over 2,500 attendees. Matt has delivered 100+ engagements across this full range.
Three things no other futurist speaker can claim: direct access to original Ipsos research (the world's third-largest research firm), an exclusive Foresight Improv format featured at SXSW, and a journalism background (Advertising Age, Crain's Chicago Business) that prioritizes narrative and clarity over speculation.
Every engagement is custom-built. Matt collaborates with event organizers before each talk to tailor content — drawing from 7+ active topics and 50+ issues of What the Future — to the audience's industry, challenges, and strategic goals.
Reach out to speaking@mattcarmichael.com or use the booking form below. Matt typically begins with a pre-event call to understand your audience and objectives so the content is fully tailored before he takes the stage.
// Published Works
How Demographic and Economic Changes Will Reinvent the Way Marketers Reach Consumers
Matt tracks the top ten trends reshaping the consumer landscape, following ten families in ten representative counties to show how America is aging, diversifying, and polarizing economically — and what it means for marketers.
Visit buyographics.com →
Life Lessons from Icons, Creatives, and Everyday Legends
A humorous, heartfelt, photo-filled memoir sharing 75+ unforgettable encounters — from David Bowie and Robin Williams to local legends, teachers, and neighbors who shaped Matt's life just as much as the celebrities did.
Visit meetingmyheroes.com →// Is Matt Right for Your Event?
// Book a Futurist Keynote Speaker
Matt speaks at conferences, corporate events, strategy retreats, and industry summits around the world. Every engagement is custom-tailored to your audience and objectives.
Questions? Email: speaking@mattcarmichael.com
