From animating Toy Story’s iconic characters to advising Fortune 500s, Matthew equips businesses with storytelling tools that boost creativity, communication, and impact
5.00 of 5
Top rated!5 of 5
Many stood up and gave Matthew a standing ovation when he was done which has not happened in our keynote sessions before! ...Matthew's presentation was a home run.
Society of Certified Senior Advisors
With a 30-year Pixar career behind Toy Story and Up, Matthew Luhn helps companies turn storytelling into a powerful business tool. His keynotes show leaders how to inspire teams, connect with customers, and communicate strategy through compelling narratives. From Fortune 500s to startups, organizations rely on Matthew to transform ideas into stories that influence, engage, and drive results.
Matthew Luhn is a master storyteller, creativity strategist, and one of the original story creators behind Pixar’s most iconic films. With a 30-year career spanning blockbuster hits and global brand consulting, Matthew brings a unique blend of Hollywood storytelling and real-world business insight to the stage.
Beginning his journey as a 19-year-old animator on The Simpsons, Matthew was soon recruited by Steve Jobs to join the early team at Pixar Animation Studios. There, he played a pivotal role in developing the stories for Toy Story, Toy Story 2, Toy Story 3, Monsters Inc., Finding Nemo, Cars, Ratatouille, and Up. From animating the beloved “Bucket o’ Soldiers” in Toy Story to leading creative development across multiple Pixar projects, Matthew helped define the emotional storytelling style that transformed the animation industry.
Today, he brings those same narrative techniques to the corporate world, helping businesses harness the power of storytelling to drive growth, engagement, and innovation. As the author of The Best Story Wins, Matthew teaches how to translate brand messages, leadership vision, and data into compelling, human-centered stories that stick.
He’s worked with top global organizations including Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, LEGO, Facebook, Procter & Gamble, and Adidas—guiding teams in leadership, marketing, HR, and innovation. His sessions are known for being highly engaging, deeply insightful, and immediately actionable.
Whether you’re launching a brand, aligning teams, or leading through change, storytelling can be your most powerful tool. Matthew Luhn delivers the proven frameworks and Hollywood-tested insights to help your message break through. Book Matthew Luhn for your event and turn your vision into a story people believe in—and act on.
5 of 5
Many stood up and gave Matthew a standing ovation when he was done which has not happened in our keynote sessions before! ...Matthew's presentation was a home run.
Society of Certified Senior Advisors
5 of 5
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 team’s storytelling skills right away.
John President, VRBO
5 of 5
We had the pleasure of having Matthew over for a two-day seminar and workshop on storytelling and he did fantastic. Sharing insights from his 20+ years experience in storytelling and translating its mechanics into everyday business life left the whole audience energized and inspired!
Alexander Director Brand Strategy, Adidas
5 of 5
Matthew was a true professional to work with. He customized his presentation to match our theme on data, and as he promised made the audience laugh, cry and learn something new about storytelling. He is a truly inspirational and inspiring speaker! I hope we can work together in the future.
Amit Head of Marketing EMEA, Quantcast
5 of 5
Matthew, you were considered a highlight by everyone at the conference - they absolutely loved you and your message of storytelling and connection. People said things like "I realized I'm doing everything wrong!" So your impact was huge! :) Thanks so much for sharing your energy, enthusiasm and wisdom. We appreciate it!
Amanda & Ellen Clorox
Watch Matthew Luhn in action
Matthew Luhn - video
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 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 30-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.
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.
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.
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.
