Matt Poepsel, PhD is a passionate advocate for human-centered leadership, a seasoned executive, and a transformative thinker helping organizations redefine how work gets done. As Vice President and Godfather of Talent Optimization at The Predictive Index, he’s at the forefront of aligning people strategy with business strategy to unlock performance, engagement, and meaning in the modern workplace.

Matt is the author of Expand the Circle: Enlightened Leadership for Our New World of Work, a compelling call to evolve leadership beyond outdated models toward more inclusive, purpose-driven practices. Drawing on his 25-plus years of experience in military service, corporate leadership, coaching, and consulting, his work integrates timeless wisdom with practical frameworks leaders can apply immediately.

He hosts the Lead the People podcast, where he explores real-world leadership challenges and breakthroughs with guests, helping executives, HR professionals, and aspiring leaders elevate their influence and impact.

In addition to his corporate leadership roles, Matt serves as a part-time faculty member at Boston College, where he teaches graduate courses in leadership, human resources, and business spirituality, bringing heart and insight into how leaders create cultures of resilience and belonging.

Matt holds a PhD in Psychology, an MBA, and a Harvard Business School Certificate of Management Excellence. His leadership journey - from Marine Corps Reconnaissance to Ironman finisher to organizational advisor - gives his talks, workshops, and keynotes a blend of discipline, depth, and real-life resonance that audiences rave about.

Leadership Summit, Emergency Care Partners (Healthcare)
Leadership Summit, ECG Management Consultants (Healthcare)
Valley Made Manufacturing Summit, San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance (Manufacturing)
WorkJam Days, WorkJam (Software)

"Dr. Poepsel brought exactly what our fast-paced consulting environment needed. His session on balancing high performance with people-centered leadership really resonated with our team of 100+ consultants. What stood out was how practical it was—he didn’t just talk about empathy and purpose, he gave us frameworks we could actually use to lead with accountability and build stronger relationships. Our leaders walked away with tools they can apply immediately, both in how they lead and how they show up for clients—without compromising results. Two years later, our leaders still quote him and the lessons he shared!"
—Nibal Petro Henderson, ECG Management Consultants, Director of Talent Development

"I had the pleasure of working with Matt Poepsel as our emcee for the 2025 Maine HR Convention, and he was an absolute dream. He ticked all the boxes: effortless to work with, engaging onstage, and endlessly adaptable behind the scenes. Matt brought just the right blend of humor, heart, and HR expertise to our audience - instantly building rapport and keeping the energy high all week long. On top of emceeing, Matt also presented a breakout session and moderated a panel - bringing insight and curiosity to every role he took on. A true pro who did it all and elevated the entire experience. I'd work with him again in a heartbeat."
—Katie Jones, CEO, Nimble Group

"We selected Dr. Matt Poepsel as our WorkJam Days 2025 keynote speaker for his engaging presentation style as well as a scholarly approach to purpose-driven business which many motivational speakers lack. His willingness to deeply customize his content for our audience demonstrated his commitment to our event's success. The interactive elements he incorporated energized our attendees and effectively framed the core themes of both our event and our market-leading software platform. Our continuous collaboration with Matt translated into a keynote that delivered both substance and inspiration."
—Joshus Ostrega, Chief Customer Officer, WorkJam

"Dr. Matt Poepsel delivered an outstanding keynote at our Valley Made Manufacturing Summit that perfectly balanced substance with inspiration. During his presentation, my phone was buzzing with texts from audience members raving about how powerfully his message was landing. Matt has a rare talent for weaving in the unique dynamics of the local region, making his insights tailor-made for the audience. His unique insights gave our 800+ industry leaders practical tools they could implement immediately. Matt's ability to integrate economic development and human development made this one of our most impactful conference sessions yet."
—Genelle Taylor Kumpe, CEO, San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance