Mark Carter

Mark Carter's Biography

Mark Carter is a Melbourne based keynote speaker, trainer, author and coach. Mark works as an inspirational international speaker. He has over 25 years’ experience as a global learning and development professional. His TEDx talk was the movie trailer for his latest book, ‘Add Value’, published globally by Wiley.

 

Specialising in People & Behaviour Mark is the founder of a learning management system for SME’s and consults businesses around key pillars such as: leadership development, culture, onboarding, sales skills training, adaptability, and presentation skills. Mark contributes regularly across mainstream media: TV, radio, print and industry specific publications.

He is often asked about how do you go from being a leader across Europe for Contiki Holidays to a respected, sought after motivational keynote speaker? Mark’s decade of experience in Europe armed him with a wealth of knowledge around people, human behaviour, the psychology of decision-making and what makes people tick both personally and professionally. Coupled with his own insatiable hunger for continued professional development Mark has risen to become an innovative professional in his field with a rich academy of content.

So, from connecting with happy go lucky passengers in Europe, Mark now connects with people globally on a deeper, more meaningful level in their own lives. Upgrading from a charming tour guide to a wise sage and masterful storyteller, it’s no wonder he’s a sought after international keynote speaker, trainer and MC!

Mark offers a distinctive approach to subjects, delving deep into their intricacies, leveraging knowledge that easily transcends industries and channels. As soon as you engage with Mark, you will notice his service delivery aligns with three core values that surmise his approach: ‘Add Value’, ‘Be Your Word’ and provide ‘Creative, Selfless Service.’

An anonymous conference review perhaps best captures his overall essence; ‘MC should be bottled and drunk daily!’

Born in England, raised in Scotland, nurtured by Europe and matured through several round world trips, Mark Carter is a truly global citizen. He now calls Australia home where he enjoys the fruits of a sunny lifestyle. Mangoes, after all, don’t grow in Edinburgh.

As an MC having spent a former life organising tour groups across multiple countries as a historian, presenter, navigator, time keeper, financier, leader and problem solver… MCing is a stroll in a park for me (MC!).

Mark’s diligence in preparation, and ability to think swiftly on my feet ensures that your events remain on track. I will provide suitable commentary, summaries and tie-ins to stitch all components together for a cohesive conference experience.  Furthermore, my expertise and experience in virtual and hybrid environments, since 2008, adds a level of comfort to help mitigate risks.  I’ll often bundle event components such as MCing, keynotes and workshops or awards nights.

Speaking Topics Include

Mark’s uniquely bespoke approach to keynotes and presentations are tailored to your business or event, with each topic ensuring practical and measurable results.

Simultaneously, he leads and recommends specific themes and topics to get on the front foot ahead of trends. Currently, those themes include:

Son et lumière - Add Value!

In this age of the digital era and experience economy, the concept of adding value has virtually become a mantra and a daily hashtag.

The bespoke approach for this keynote utilises fresh content relating to Mark's TEDx talk and expanding on his second book Add Value. It's been adapted for businesses and conferences in an exceptionally creative and highly engaging method.

A single stream of cinematic footage

Light and sound show behind the presentation

Bespoke content elements

Credible quantitative research

Value

Based on the book ‘Add Value’, published globally by Wiley. Value is at the heart of decision-making, personal choices and determines our effectiveness and impact in the world. Delivering or adding value also underpins customer engagement and business growth. Discover the five elements of value: each brought to life with creative, personal stories and interaction. Build your value playbook with ideas that may be applied internally, enhancing employee experience, or externally for phenomenal client impact. This MC keynote is also ideal for driving values, vision, mission and a strong business ethos! Sustainability, CSR and social impact are included in the value model.

 

Key Takeaways

The 5 value elements: plus 4 underlying causations for each

A playbook for value & VAE’s: Value Added Extras

Differentiation, values and human behaviour

 

Leadership

Leadership development is not limited to those who hold official leadership positions. Contemporary theories, such as servant leadership or the belief that ‘everyone is a leader’’, are relevant to this production. This keynote presentation is constructed as an historical journey comprising three parts. In part 1 we examine the evolution of 7 primary leadership theories (spanning thousands of years) to arrive at a single common trait and skill to harness. The mid section, part 2, inspired by HG Wells ‘Time Machine’, explores 3 case studies: including MC’s personal journey developing leaders for over 25 years. Part 3 of the keynote addresses the challenges of modern day leadership in a hyper connected digital age; dealing with the elephant in the room we all have responsibility to be mindful of.

Key Takeaways

7 Primary leadership theories distilled into a single skill to harness

3 Historical case studies reveal 6 essential modern day leader traits

The dichotomy of contemporary leadership and one trait to avoid!

Culture

When considering the age-old debate between strategy and culture: achieving smart strategies are enabled through harmonious culture. Cultivating your culture can enable you to attract and retain top talent, develop award-winning capabilities, achieve high performance, foster customer loyalty and gain a distinctive competitive advantage. This culture keynote provides insights into challenges of hybrid and remote teams and how to win the battle attracting, retaining and unlocking the potential of top talent. This unique culture journey keynote (incorporating live djembe drum by MC) begins with lessons rooted in the origins of culture from ethnology. Explore and take away culture tools to create and paint your own culture canvas and tap the single magic ingredient of high performance.

Key Takeaways

4 Traditions, 4 experiences, 4 pillars and 4 killers of culture

Your culture canvas template: hiring, onboarding & nurturing talent

5 tribes of culture engagement and single, magic culture ingredient

Orator

Presentation skills are crucial for effective communication and to communicate your ideas clearly, concisely or persuasively. Presentation skills help underscore competencies, amplify expertise and spotlight leadership potential. In a world where attention spans are becoming shorter your presentation skills make you stand out and influence your ability to make a lasting impact. Based on a classic popular presentation skills training program in MC’s academy, this keynote shares ingredients to lift the quality of town halls, increase the engagement of sales pitches or improve facilitation skills. It’s also a demonstrable master class in the art of keynote, stagecraft, charisma and personal presence.

 

Key Takeaways

7 voice influences, 7 body language essentials, 7 design essentials

Audience engagement methods, storytelling and archetypal themes

Stage craft, personal ethos, authentic presence and a secret sauce

Potential

Based on MC’s first book (‘Ignite Your Potential’) this keynote targets practical personal development and team development. If you’re interested in bringing to life trending themes of supporting talent (think well being, resilience, mental health, psychological safety) content here will hit the mark. This is a highly interactive and creative keynote with a cinematic storybook backdrop. The audience are engaged throughout with creative activities, participation and stage demonstrations. There’s an additional layer of dynamic sophistication. We have a pre designed keynote presentation version or you can elect to choose your own adventure!

Key Takeaways

Actionable development tools to invest in individuals and teams

Elect version original (7 pre selected themes) or nominate 7 chapter selections of your own choosing (min admin fee)

Chapters: Self Confidence – Self Control – Attitude– Wellness – Present – Self Reflection – Tonics – Decisions – Adaptability – Goals – Productivity – Consistency – Creativity – Collaboration – Challenge – Strength – Acceptance – Gratitude – Authenticity – Candour – Kindness – Love

Calmness

This updated keynote expands MC’s original ‘Breaking Brain Drain!’ In recent years there’s been a growing emphasis on resilience, mental health, mindfulness and psychological safety. All contribute to individual wellbeing. Many triggers for stress, anxiety or distraction can be self managed effectively to bring calm to ones world whilst simultaneously increasing focus, productivity and personal fulfillment. Mark developed a program called ‘Freedom’ whilst mentoring an individual who had experienced agoraphobia. They scored A’s for university courses and landed jobs they’d previously believed beyond their capabilities. Some of the tools implemented serve as the basis for some ideas shared here.

Key Takeaways

Identifying and minimising 5 primary triggers of anxiety and stress

Proven daily habits for mindfulness to nurture mind and body

Bespoke activity and/or short guided meditation based on tailored briefs

 

Character and the layers of human behaviour

In a world full of noise and artifice, where popularity is being mistaken for credibility, real depth of character is becoming priceless. And is the only real currency. This gives guidance how to balance

Sales

Sales skills and capabilities are the lifeblood without which a business cannot survive. As competitive landscapes, customer demands and technology continue to evolve, sales methodologies and approaches have also adapted. This adaptation is necessary to accommodate the ease of access buyers have to information, options and vendors through technology.  This MC keynote will equip your teams with the essential mindset, psychology, skills and strategies to confidently go to market for growth in the digital age. Tools can be positioned for B2B, B2C or E-commerce as required. Even attendees not directly involved in sales, or carrying sales targets, will benefit enormously from the thought leadership shared and taught in the sales keynote.

Key Takeaways

Sales capability framework blending skills, strategy and technology

3 Essential sales skills, 5 sales triggers, 2 value discovery approaches

Behavioural science tools for sales success and sales resilience