Chris Clews

Meet Chris Clews

Keynote Speaker Chris Clews has found an unexpected source of wisdom for the modern workplace: ’80s pop culture. The movies, music and larger-than-life characters of the decade may be entertaining, but in Chris’ hands they also become memorable ways to explore leadership, workplace culture, teamwork, communication, resilience and life.

Growing up in the ’80s and later spending more than 20 years in corporate marketing and leadership, Chris developed expertise in three areas he knew exceptionally well: ’80s pop culture, business and the wonderfully unpredictable experience of life itself. He eventually left his corporate marketing career and brought those worlds together as an author and keynote speaker.

Today, Chris combines more than two decades of corporate experience across different industries, global brands and ad agencies with his unmatched passion for all things ’80s. The result is a keynote style that is fun, informative, relatable, interactive and refreshingly different.

Chris Clews has spoken for a diverse range of organizations and institutions, including VISA, DHL, Penn Medicine, Duke Health, the University of Florida and the Association of Golf Merchandisers. His presentations can be customized around an organization’s needs, audience or event theme, including selecting movies and lessons that connect specifically with a workplace, business or classroom.

Lessons audiences remember

Chris believes some of the best lessons for work and life come from the most unexpected people and places. His presentations show audiences how familiar moments from ’80s movies, music and pop culture can reveal surprisingly relevant ideas for today’s organizations.

His topics and lessons can include:

• Workplace culture: Jeff Spicoli from Fast Times at Ridgemont High illustrates why saying “I don’t know” can matter and how organizations can avoid a “bogus” workplace culture. Ferris Bueller offers a different perspective on work-life balance, while Mr. Miyagi from The Karate Kid provides a memorable starting point for managing workplace stress. The Ghostbusters demonstrate the value of embracing risk, while E.T. provides lessons in social responsibility.

• Leadership: Johnny Cade and Ponyboy from The Outsiders offer lessons about maintaining a moral and ethical leadership compass. Prince Akeem from Coming to America helps illustrate the difference between earned and unearned leadership, while Prince provides a perspective on the distinction between ruling and leading. Axel Foley from Beverly Hills Cop demonstrates the importance of protecting your team.

• Life and legacy: Billy Ray Valentine from Trading Places helps audiences explore the difference between confidence and arrogance. John Keating from Dead Poets Society demonstrates the difference between words and action and encourages people to change their perspective. The Breakfast Club celebrates individuality, John McClane from Die Hard offers lessons about facing challenges, and Field of Dreams encourages audiences to embrace their illogical side. Chris also draws on the legacy of an iconic musician who loved the color purple to explore encouragement and sharing the stage.

• Marketing, communications and sales: Clark Griswold from National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation demonstrates the importance of knowing your audience. Inigo Montoya from The Princess Bride becomes a lesson in message and brand consistency. Del Griffith from Planes, Trains and Automobiles shows why every great company needs a great salesperson, while Lloyd Dobler from Say Anything provides inspiration for creating a unique and memorable brand.

• Inclusion and teamwork: Chunk and Sloth from The Goonies demonstrate the importance of inclusion. The Frog Brothers from The Lost Boys show that problem solvers do not come in a one-size-fits-all package. A certain goofy greenskeeper from Caddyshack provides a lesson in expanding the workplace circle of trust, while the five students in The Breakfast Club show what can happen when people learn to appreciate, embrace and value their differences.

These recognizable stories make complex workplace ideas easier to discuss and, crucially, easier to remember after the event is over.

From corporate leadership to the keynote stage

Chris brings more than enthusiasm for the decade to his presentations. His ideas are grounded in over 20 years of experience in corporate marketing, including senior marketing roles and work across a variety of industries, global brands and advertising agencies. That background gives him firsthand insight into the realities of organizations, teams, leadership and workplace dynamics.

When audiences hear Chris Clews speak, they get entertainment with a clear business purpose. Participants learn, laugh and discover ideas they can take back to their teams and organizations. His approach makes familiar business subjects feel fresh by connecting them with stories audiences may have known for decades but never considered through the lens of work and leadership.

Chris is also the author of The Ultimate Series on Essential Work & Life Lessons from ’80s Pop Culture, a popular series comprising three volumes. Through the books, he continues his exploration of the practical lessons hidden within the decade’s movies, characters and cultural moments.

His perspective has attracted widespread media attention. Chris has been interviewed or featured by FOX, NBC, CBS, USA Today, Newsweek, Esquire UK and Entrepreneur.com. He has also moderated numerous ’80s pop culture panels, including reunion panels featuring The Goonies cast and the original MTV VJs.

A keynote built around your audience

One of the strengths of a Chris Clews keynote is its flexibility. His extensive collection of stories and lessons allows presentations to be shaped around an organization, event theme or particular workplace challenge.

A company focusing on leadership can explore earned leadership, ethical decision-making and protecting teams. An organization working to strengthen culture can focus on stress, risk, responsibility and creating a healthier workplace environment. Teams interested in inclusion can explore individuality, different approaches to problem-solving and the importance of valuing people’s differences. Marketing, communications and sales audiences can dive into knowing their audience, maintaining brand consistency and creating a memorable identity.

Whatever the focus, Chris uses the familiarity and fun of ’80s pop culture to make the subject approachable. Instead of leaving audiences with abstract theories alone, he gives them characters, scenes and stories they can associate with the ideas discussed on stage.

That combination of nostalgia, corporate experience and practical insight makes his presentations particularly suited to organizations looking for a keynote that can energize a room while still providing meaningful takeaways.

Book Chris Clews for your event

Book Chris Clews for your event when you want audiences to see leadership, teamwork and workplace culture from an entirely different perspective. His keynotes connect the business challenges of today with the unforgettable pop culture of the ’80s, creating an experience designed to be entertaining, interactive and useful.

Beyond his professional work, animal rescue is an important part of Chris’ life. His dog Bodhi was rescued by Wonder Paws Rescue in South Florida when he was three months old. Chris volunteers his time and donates a portion of the proceeds from his book sales and speaking engagements to animal rescue, including Wonder Paws Rescue.

His outlook on life is fittingly captured by one of the decade’s most recognizable characters, Ferris Bueller: life moves quickly, and sometimes you need to stop and look around.

For Chris Clews, that same spirit runs through his work. Look at familiar things differently, stay curious about where valuable lessons can come from, and never underestimate what an ’80s movie can teach you about the workplace.