Author of The Story Code and host of The CMO Show — journalist-turned-facilitator with 30 years of experience and a personal story of burnout and recovery.
Mark Jones brings three decades of journalism and broadcasting experience to a body of work that spans media, business storytelling, and leadership communication. He is the author of The Story Code, an Amazon bestseller, and has hosted The CMO Show podcast for a decade — interviewing and advising founders, executives, and changemakers on what purposeful leadership and effective communication actually look like in practice. He draws on his own lived experience of burnout and recovery in his work on workplace wellbeing, and has more than fifteen years of experience facilitating conferences, summits, gala dinners, and executive events.
Jones works at the intersection of communication, leadership, and wellbeing — and what makes him distinctive is that he brings all three together from a journalism background rather than a consulting one. He has spent decades asking people about their work, which has given him an unusual clarity about the gap between what leaders say and what they do, and an editorial instinct for the story that actually matters in the room.
He is well suited to corporate conferences, leadership summits, and wellbeing events, both as a keynote speaker and as an MC or facilitator. Particularly strong for events where the quality of conversation is as important as the content — where the audience needs someone who can hold the room, draw out what is genuinely interesting, and connect the themes in a way that makes the day feel coherent.
Mark Jones is a keynote speaker and MC based in New South Wales who speaks on business strategy, leadership and media & journalism. Book through Executive Speakers Australia.
Fired up or burnt out?
Rewriting the stories we tell ourselves to build resilience and confidence in the age of uncertainty.
The workplace is exhausted - and traditional leadership isn’t helping.
Lurking beneath the burnout, anxiety and disengagement is a driver few leaders acknowledge – the negative inner stories people tell themselves every day.
In this high-energy and inspiring talk, Mark Jones shows leaders how to decode those hidden scripts, rewrite the stories holding them back, and create cultures where clarity, confidence and resilience become contagious.
Audiences leave with:
• A practical method to rewrite their internal narratives for clarity, conviction and calm under pressure.
• A new lens for understanding and recovering from burnout, self-doubt and feeling disengaged.
• Practical 4-step Story CODE to rewriting your inner story that leaders can use straight away for themselves and teams.
Human skills for the age of AI
Rewriting your leadership story to survive the AI revolution
In the age of AI, the leaders who thrive won’t be the most technical – they’ll be the most human.
Emotional intelligence, clarity, resilience, curiosity and critical thinking are now the competitive edge in a rapidly transforming workplace.
Mark Jones reveals the human skills AI can’t replace and shows leaders how to communicate and tell stories that help teams navigate unprecedented change with confidence and purpose.
Audiences leave with:
• Insights and inspiration necessary to transform their AI strategies.
• A rare ability to understand the connection between their inner and external narratives.
• Confidence in the ability to face unknown AI-driven challenges.
The confidence game
Rewrite your leadership story to change the game for good
Most leaders are stuck playing the confidence game – projecting strength on the outside while second-guessing themselves on the inside.
Fake it till you make it only fuels anxiety and burnout. Real confidence comes from alignment, when your inner story finally matches the one you show the world.
In this compelling keynote, Mark Jones reveals how to rewrite that inner script and unlock clarity, resilience and genuine influence that lasts.
Audiences leave with:
• Insights from the world’s most confident, inspiring leaders.
• Practical tools from Mark’s Amazon bestseller, The Story Code, to help leaders shift from faking it to grounded confidence under pressure.
• Confidence and energy to step towards aligning internal and external leadership scripts.
Mark Jones is a trusted, experienced and versatile event host with more than 15 years of facilitating hundreds of conferences, summits, gala dinners and executive events.
Whether it’s a gala dinner, national conference, leadership offsite or industry summit, Mark knows how to set the tone, hold the room and create an atmosphere people remember. He prepares deeply, presents with warmth and humour, and keeps events flowing seamlessly.
Executive lunch, customer roundtable or team workshop - Mark brings a powerful mix of journalism, podcasting and business acumen. He draws out meaningful insights, asks the questions people are thinking, and creates conversations that feel natural, intelligent and engaging.
Panels are where Mark shines. He turns conversations into must-listen moments, creating surprise, clarity and genuine “ah-ha” insights. No topic is off limits: business, leadership, technology, marketing, innovation – Mark’s curiosity and fast thinking keep discussions lively and valuable for every audience. It’s a skill he’s honed on stages around the world and on his podcast, The CMO Show, for 10 years in the studio and at live events.
I've known Mark Jones for a long time and have always respected his thoughtful and respectful approach to understanding the impact of technology change and engaging people.Former Managing Director, Microsoft Australia and NZ
Mark has a way of making you see the stories you tell yourself and how they shape the world.Global Managing Director, PROI Worldwide
Mark is one of the finest brand storytellers and gifted communicators in the marketing profession. Mark emceed our National Awards Gala Dinner for the last 2 years. Mark professionally and skillfully managed awarding 30 Awards and 500 guests celebrating Marketing Excellence. We value Mark's contribution.Former CEO, Australian Marketing Institute
Tell us about your event and our consultants will return a curated shortlist within one business day.
