Bring Marq to Your Stage
Some talks inform, while others inspire. But the right talk changes everything.
Marq Mervin (he/him) brings depth, humor, and paradigm-shifting presence to the stage. His Signature Experiences don’t just move audiences. They meet them exactly where they are and show them the way back to themselves.
Who This is For
Marq speaks to organizations, leadership teams, creative professionals, and academic institutions ready to invest in the whole person, not just the professional.
His audiences are high achievers, creatives, multi-gifted professionals, and leaders navigating the space between a remarkable career and a life that feels increasingly unfamiliar.
If your room is full of people who are accomplished and driven, but still wondering “Is there all there is?”—
Marq is your speaker.
Signature Keynotes
There’s a confusing place where high achievers lose themselves after years of commitment. Marq calls it The Gray, where direction is unclear, self-doubt is loud, and when you ask yourself, "Is this the rest of my life?". In this transformative talk, Marq reveals that The Gray isn't permanent...and you don't have to stay there.
Key Takeaways:
Best suited for founders, leaders, and high achievers navigating personal and professional uncertainty. Attendees will discover:
- A name for what they’ve been carrying and the relief of finally not being alone in it.
- A new understanding of why high achievers lose themselves and that they aren’t broken.
- A first, honest step back toward the Self they set aside.
Bet On Yourself Again
From emerging as a generalist in a world that wanted specialists to navigating a genre-bending squiggly career, Marq offers insights into how to craft and fine-tune a multi-gifted voice. He’ll share learned lessons, and clarifying strategies for other polymaths who are unsure of their next steps personally or professionally.
Key Takeaways:
Best suited for polymaths and the multi-gifted/renaissance person. Attendees will discover:
- The permission to stop choosing between their gifts and seeing how they’re connected.
- A clearer sense of the primary through line connecting everything they are and make.
- A way forward that feels like expansion instead of compromise.
From Threads to Through Lines
The Game Plan:
From Stuck to Start
In this energizing experience, Marq guides ambitious creatives who are ready to reset their momentum and reroute toward their next chapter. Let’s define the goal that excites you, identify the roadblock keeping you stuck, and build your customized road map. You’ll walk away with more than motivation. You’ll walk away with a plan.
Key Takeaways:
Best suited for creative professionals or creative students. Attendees will discover:
- Clarity on the one goal that actually matters right now and why they’ve been avoiding it.
- An honest look at the real roadblock(s) that go deeper than surface-level obstacles.
- A personalized road map with a clear first move they can make before they leave the room.
Signature Workshops
The fog you've been unable to escape has a name—The Gray. Marq shares a clear direction through it in this paradigm-shifting experience. Here, Marq helps you understand The Gray, illuminate a path forward, and build your unique compass to chart your way through. You might have asked yourself, "Is this the rest of my life?". He assures you: it doesn't have to be.
Key Takeaways:
Best suited for founders, leaders, and high achievers navigating personal and professional uncertainty. Attendees will leave with:
- A personal tool that defines who they are now, who they’re becoming, and the steps bridging the two.
- A grounded sense of their own ‘why’ that helps them make decisions aligned with who they want to be.
- The experience of looking honestly at themselves, perhaps for the first time in years, and finding someone worth betting on.
The North Star
In his transformative workshop, Marq guides those with "too many ideas" to discover and define the core thread that brings everything together. As The Renaissance Man and a Creative Polymath, Marq brings his multi-layered experiences and strategies to help you create the through line of your work, life, and creativity.
Key Takeaways:
Best suited for polymaths and the multi-gifted/renaissance person. Attendees will leave with:
- The relief of seeing their complexity as an asset and a clear sense of how to lead with it.
- A clear through line that connects their diverse talents into something they can own completely.
- A working approach to creating across multiple domains without burning out or shrinking themselves to fit.
Braiding Your Through Line
You've made your game plan. But what's next? In this workshop, Marq expands on The Game Plan and shows you how to successfully put your road map into motion. He’ll help you fine-tune your road map into a step-by-step playbook that builds momentum and turns your goals into your reality. You've built the play. Now, it's time to run it.
Key Takeaways:
Best suited for creative professionals or creative students. Attendees will leave with:
- A completed 90-day playbook built around specific goals that maps the way to their next chapter.
- A step-by-step process that breaks an overwhelming goal into clear, achievable milestones.
- A confident answer to “What do I do first?”, so they leave ready to move, not just inspired to.
Run The Play
Previous Engagements
Bring Marq To Your Stage
1. Inquire
Fill out the inquiry form below with your event details. Marq personally reviews every submission.
2. Connect
If there’s a strong fit, you’ll be invited to a brief alignment call to discuss your event, your audience, and what you’re hoping they walk away with.
3. Book
Once alignment is confirmed, you’ll receive a formal proposal outlining the engagement details, investment, and next steps to secure your date.
A Little About Marq
Marq Mervin (he/him) is The Renaissance Man: award-winning creator, educator, TEDx speaker, proud nerd, and founder of 23Thirty Coaching.
Formerly, he was a Professor of Design & Digital Media at the University of Florida and Florida State College at Jacksonville. Marq’s career journey informed his advocacy for accessible Art, Design, & Digital Media education.
Additionally, he is the host of the Keep Sailing podcast and author of One Day, I Hope That….When he’s not traveling for gaming tournaments or speaking engagements, he’s catching up on his favorite anime, taking on voice acting challenges, or performing at open mic nights.
You’re welcome to begin wherever feels right:
Watch some of my talks, including TEDx.
Read The Mountain Top newsletter.
Listen to the Keep Sailing podcast.
Peruse through my writing in The Wandering Sensei.
And, if you feel compelled to explore a deeper walk together, let’s begin…when you’re ready: