Matthew Syed

Matthew Syed is a prolific author and multi-award-winning journalist for The Times and The Sunday Times. Over his career, he has published seven best-selling titles, including Bounce, Black Box Thinking, and Rebel Ideas, alongside a successful series of children's books such as You Are Awesome. Beyond his writing, he reaches a wide audience as the presenter of the BBC Radio 4 series, Sideways. Before his consultancy and media career, he spent nearly ten years as the top-ranked table tennis player in England. As the co-founder of Matthew Syed Consulting, he works with global brands and public sector bodies to implement digital learning tools and development programmes that foster cognitive diversity. His research into workplace culture focuses on the human need for meaning and the power of collaborative problem-solving. His work has influenced significant institutional changes, including the establishment of the Healthcare Safety Investigation Branch within the NHS. Furthermore, he supports the education sector through his involvement with the PiXL Educational Foundation and as a founding member of Greenhouse Sports. Matthew is frequently booked for his ability to translate complex psychological concepts into practical strategies for individual and collective improvement. His expertise in building resilient, high-performing cultures make him a primary choice for organisations looking to adapt and thrive in a fast-paced global landscape. On stage, Matthew Syed is best known for talks on High Performance, Growth Mindset, Cognitive Diversity, Team Building and Culture Change. Audiences leave with a clear, practical view of the subject rather than a generic overview — every keynote is shaped around the brief and the room. Their work resonates with leaders across Business & Consulting, Education, Healthcare and Sport, where the themes translate directly into team decisions, customer experience and growth strategy. Matthew Syed is regularly booked for Business Speaker and Motivational Speaker, adapting tone, length and format to suit the event — from a 20-minute opener to a full conference keynote with Q&A. Based in UK, Matthew Syed travels internationally for engagements. To check availability or request a tailored brief for your event, send an enquiry and we'll come back with fees, dates and a short summary of how Matthew Syed would approach your audience.