Founder of Matthew Syed Consulting & Journalist of the Year

Matthew Syed is a globally respected voice on high performance, mindset and continuous improvement. Once England’s number one table tennis player, he has since built a reputation as an award-winning journalist, bestselling author and trusted adviser to some of the world’s most successful organisations. Founder of Matthew Syed Consulting, he helps businesses unlock potential through growth mindsets and cognitive diversity. Widely admired for his engaging style, Matthew is now one of the most in-demand keynote speakers, blending elite sporting insights with strategies that empower individuals and teams to excel.

Credentials and Impact

Matthew’s early career saw him dominate English table tennis for almost a decade, representing Team GB at two Olympic Games and winning gold at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. By 1998, he had climbed into the world’s top 25, cementing his reputation as one of Britain’s finest players. His transition from athlete to writer proved equally successful. Joining The Times in 1999, he became one of the paper’s most respected columnists, later contributing to The Guardian, The Independent and The Sunday Times. His journalism earned him multiple accolades, including twice being named Sports Journalist of the Year at the British Press Awards.

Building on his competitive and analytical background, Matthew founded Matthew Syed Consulting in 2013, focusing on applying high-performance principles to the corporate world. His clients include global businesses, public sector organisations and sports bodies. Beyond consultancy, he has served as a member of the FA’s High Performance Committee and as Co-Founder of the charity Greenhouse Sports, which supports young people through sport. Named one of HR’s Top 30 Most Influential Thinkers, Matthew has become a leading authority on creating cultures of innovation, resilience and growth.

Publications and Media

Matthew is the bestselling author of ‘Rebel Ideas’, his most recent release, and the highly regarded ‘Bounce’, one of his most influential works on the science of success. Both books have been praised for translating complex ideas into accessible lessons on high performance and innovation. Alongside his writing, Matthew is a longstanding columnist for The Times and has contributed to outlets such as The Guardian and The Independent.

His broadcasting work includes presenting the BBC Radio 4 series ‘Sideways’ and co-hosting the podcast ‘Flintoff, Savage and The Ping Pong Guy’. He has also appeared on Steven Bartlett’s ‘The Diary of a CEO’. Through these platforms, Matthew continues to shape conversations on mindset, performance and resilience, making him an influential voice across media and publishing.

Why Hire Matthew Syed?

Audiences turn to Matthew for his rare ability to connect elite sporting experience with cutting-edge insights into mindset and performance. As a former Olympian and Commonwealth Games gold medallist, he speaks with credibility about discipline, resilience and striving for excellence. His corporate work through Matthew Syed Consulting has given him first-hand experience of helping organisations embed cultures of continuous improvement and innovation.

Matthew’s reputation as a bestselling author and award-winning journalist further enhances his authority, while his TEDx talk “Why You Should Have Your Own Black Box” showcases his skill in making complex ideas engaging and accessible. Recognised as one of HR Magazine’s Top 30 Most Influential Thinkers, he is valued for showing leaders and teams how to harness growth mindsets and cognitive diversity to thrive in fast-changing environments. Whether addressing global businesses, educational institutions or public sector audiences, Matthew inspires lasting change and empowers people to unlock their true potential.

To book Matthew to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.