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Matt Abrahams

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  • Professor, Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business
  • Host, 'Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast'
  • Author, 'Think Faster, Talk Smarter' & 'Speaking Up without Freaking Out'

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Matt Abrahams is one of today’s most influential voices on communication, equipping leaders and teams to perform at their best when the stakes are highest. A Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer in Organizational Behavior, he teaches top-ranked courses on strategic communication and effective presenting, earning the GSB Alumni Teaching Award for his global impact on students.

Beyond the classroom, Abrahams is a trusted advisor to world leaders and executives, coaching speakers for IPO road shows, Nobel Prize talks, TED stages, and the World Economic Forum. He also advises the United Nations’ Secretary General’s Strategic Planning and Communication Office.

Abrahams hosts the award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart, which has surpassed 70 million downloads and remains one of the most popular shows in its category worldwide. His Stanford talk on speaking spontaneously is approaching 50 million views on YouTube, and his bestselling book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot earned him a Thinkers50 Radar Award, which recognizes thinkers whose ideas will most likely shape the future. His first book Speaking Up without Freaking Out has become a trusted guide for thousands managing public speaking anxiety. He is also a regular contributor to Fast Company, where his articles challenge conventional wisdom and equip leaders with practical strategies for navigating communication in complex environments.

As a speaker, Abrahams blends research-backed strategies with dynamic delivery, helping audiences master clarity, confidence, and presence in the moments that matter most.

 


Matt Abrahams headshot
Past Hosts Include:
  • The United Nations
  • Toastmasters
  • McKinsey
  • Apple
  • Accenture
  • Google
Think Fast, Talk Smart: Communication Techniques | Stanford Graduate School of Business - Get Sharable Link
Talks & Conversations with Matt Abrahams
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Author Talk: 'Think Faster, Talk Smarter'

Stanford lecturer, orator, and communication consultant MATT ABRAHAMS provides an engaging, interactive workshop for refining extemporaneous public speaking skills, as covered in his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter. Abrahams shares strategies for improving thinking on your feet, such as active liste ...

Stanford lecturer, orator, and communication consultant MATT ABRAHAMS provides an engaging, interactive workshop for refining extemporaneous public speaking skills, as covered in his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter. Abrahams shares strategies for improving thinking on your feet, such as active listening, mindfulness, and preparation.

Information regarding book buys and signings is available upon request.

Speaking Up without Freaking Out

Acknowledging the common fear of public speaking and its impact on personal and professional growth, MATT ABRAHAMS provides techniques for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing, visualization, and reframing negative thoughts. Abrahams empowers listeners to overcome their fears and confidently exp ...

Acknowledging the common fear of public speaking and its impact on personal and professional growth, MATT ABRAHAMS provides techniques for managing anxiety, such as deep breathing, visualization, and reframing negative thoughts. Abrahams empowers listeners to overcome their fears and confidently express themselves in any situation.

Minimally Viable Communication

Communications consultant MATT ABRAHAMS, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, helps improve communication effectiveness and reduce stress by applying principles from minimally viable product design. Exploring strategies for conveying information concisely an ...

Communications consultant MATT ABRAHAMS, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, helps improve communication effectiveness and reduce stress by applying principles from minimally viable product design. Exploring strategies for conveying information concisely and effectively, such as using clear language, avoiding jargon, and focusing on the most important points, Abrahams explains the benefits of simplicity in communication and its benefits in today's fast-paced world.

Making Communication Memorable

Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer MATT ABRAHAMS gives practical tips on tricks on how to make public presentations memorable, and how to get into the right mindset to be a successful communicator. ...

Stanford Graduate School of Business lecturer MATT ABRAHAMS gives practical tips on tricks on how to make public presentations memorable, and how to get into the right mindset to be a successful communicator.

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Speaker News

Matt Abrahams’ Fast Company contributions highlight his leadership in communication

Stanford GSB lecturer and communication strategist MATT ABRAHAMS has been a contributing writer for Fast Company since 2018, where his articles explore everything from leadership communication and presentation skills to resilience, influence, and navigating complexity. Through this work, along with his acclaimed books and lectures, Abrahams has become a go-to authority on communication, distilling decades of research into actionable takeaways for leaders facing today’s toughest conversations.

These contributions reflect the same clarity and practical wisdom Abrahams brings to live audiences. His work reinforces why he is one of today’s most in-demand voices on communication and leadership, equipping audiences with the tools to speak more clearly, confidently, and effectively in every setting.

Matt Abrahams fuels career advancement

Communications consultant MATT ABRAHAMS, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, helps listeners advance their careers by developing and honing their communication through the podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart. An incredible tool for orators, Think Fast, Talk Smart is routinely ranked as the #1 Careers podcast and has won both a Signal and Webby Awards. The subsequent book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter, is a #1 bestseller in Running Meetings & Presentations. 

Abrahams provides the tools, techniques, and best practices to help you communicate more effectively. Charles Duhigg, bestselling author of The Power of Habit, Smarter Faster Better, and Supercommunicators, said Abrahams' work is "A roadmap to mastering the art of thinking quickly and speaking confidently."

Watch Matt Abrahams' TED Talk >>

Watch Matt Abrahams' keynote at the Stanford Graduate School of Business >>

Stanford’s Matt Abrahams shares 3 simple ways to become more influential at work on CNBC Make It

Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business MATT ABRAHAMS was invited on CNBC’s Make It to share three emotional intelligent techniques which can help you show your peers and bosses that you have strong ideas, form meaningful connections across your workplace, improve your job-related skills, and maybe even land you a promotion. In his live engagements, Abrahams shares this framework for career success along with action items tailored specifically to your organization or industry.

“There’s nothing more powerful,” Abrahams tells CNBC Make It. “You really are forging your own way and need to get others to at least support, if not follow, the things you’re trying to do.”

Watch Matt Abrahams' TED Talk >>

Watch Matt Abrahams' keynote at the Stanford Graduate School of Business >>

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Books by Matt Abrahams
Think Faster, Talk Smarter

Think Faster, Talk Smarter

Speaking Up Without Freaking Out

Speaking Up Without Freaking Out

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Press & Media
Thinkers50 Radar Awards - Thinkers50
When ambiguity is a better strategy than clarity - Fast Company
Author Talks: How to speak confidently when you’re put on the spot - McKinsey
Think Fast, Talk Smart [video] - WGN TV
How to Shine When You’re Put on the Spot - Harvard Business Review
Speak Confidently in Any Room With Matt Abrahams - Her Money
How to respond when you get laid off, fired, or promoted at work - Business Insider
Matt Abrahams on Being Put on the Spot - Literary Hub
Strive for Connection, Not Perfection Says Expert Communicator Matt Abrahams - Newsweek
How to “Think Faster and Talk Smarter”: a Masterclass with Matt Abrahams - Stanford University
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Ideas for the Meeting Planner
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Biography

Matt Abrahams is a leading expert in communication with decades of experience as an educator, author, podcast host, and coach. As a Lecturer in Organizational Behavior at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business, he teaches popular classes in strategic communication and effective virtual presenting. He received Stanford GSB’s Alumni Teaching Award in recognition of his teaching students around the world. Outside of the classroom, Matt is a sought-after keynote speaker and communication consultant. He has helped countless presenters improve and hone their communication, including some who have delivered IPO road shows as well as Nobel Prize, TED, and World Economic Forum presentations. He also consults for the United Nations’ Secretary General’s Strategic Planning and Communication Office. His online talks garner massive attention, with one gaining nearly 50 million views. Beyond public speaking prowess, he hosts the popular, award-winning podcast Think Fast, Talk Smart: The Podcast, which recently reached 70 million downloads. Earning him a Thinkers50 award, his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot provides tangible, actionable skills to help even the most anxious of speakers succeed when speaking spontaneously, such as navigating Q&A sessions, shining in job interviews, providing effective feedback, making small talk, fixing faux pas, persuading others.  His previous book Speaking Up without Freaking Out: 50 Techniques for Confident and Compelling Presenting has helped thousands of people manage speaking anxiety and present more confidently and authentically. He continues to shape the conversation on communication and leadership through thought leadership, including his widely read Fast Company piece on using ambiguity strategically.

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