Retail & CPG Keynotes
The retail and CPG industry has permanently changed. The question isn't whether your organization needs to transform. It's whether the identity running your leadership is built for AI, Innovation and what's next.
Sterling Hawkins didn't just study retail. He grew up in it.
As a fifth-generation retailer, Sterling understands the industry from the inside — the family business dynamics, the margin pressures, the constant tension between legacy and disruption. He co-founded a tech startup that became part of a multi-billion dollar valuation. Then watched it collapse.
What he learned from that collapse — about identity, about defaulting to who you've been when the pressure is highest, about the difference between leaders who survive disruption and ones who lead through it — became the No Matter What philosophy.
He has since brought that work to retail and CPG organizations including HyVee, Samsung, Kraft Heinz, Energizer, Topps, and Mitsubishi — helping their leaders and teams cross the threshold that strategy alone can't move.
Retail and CPG organizations face a convergence of pressures that isn't slowing down — volatile supply chains, AI technological disruption, evolving consumer expectations, and the relentless pressure to perform while transforming simultaneously.
Most organizations respond by changing strategy, restructuring teams, or investing in new technology. All necessary. None sufficient.
Because the real constraint isn't the plan. It's the identity running the plan. The version of the leadership team — and the culture — that was built for a previous version of the market, defaulting to familiar patterns when the moment requires something genuinely new.
Sterling works at that level. And retail and CPG is where his roots are deepest.
WHY RETAIL & CPG ORGANIZATIONS CHOOSE STERLING:
Born Into the Industry Sterling is the only keynote speaker working at the identity level with the firsthand retail background to back it up. Fifth-generation retailer. Multi-billion dollar startup founder. The collapse and the comeback. This isn't a speaker applying generic leadership frameworks to your industry — it's someone who understands your world from the inside.
Identity-Level Transformation Supply chain issues, labor shortages, and shifting consumer demands are real. But the organizations that navigate them best aren't the ones with the best tactical response. They're the ones whose leaders have done the identity work that makes bold decisions sustainable — not just in a keynote, but under pressure, over time.
Proven Retail & CPG Results Having worked with organizations across the retail and CPG spectrum — from major food and beverage brands to consumer electronics to specialty retail — Sterling brings specific, credible experience to your audience. Not theory. Results.
Customized for Your Moment Every retail and CPG organization is navigating a different threshold. Sterling's discovery process ensures the keynote is built around your specific culture, challenges, and audience — not a generic talk delivered to your room.
90 Days of Impact 97% of organizations report measurable culture change following a Sterling Hawkins keynote. The No Matter What Experience extends that impact with up to 12 weeks of customized tools, content, and support.
As an author, entrepreneur and globally recognized keynote speaker, Sterling has guided countless individuals and companies to remarkable growth.
He believes we only discover our greatest purpose and realize our potential when we learn to move beyond the security of our comfort zone.
Fortune 500 companies invite him to speak to help leaders and teams cultivate trust-powered cultures to overcome adversity and reach exciting goals. Perhaps you’ve seen his TED Talk, his bestseller Hunting Discomfort, or him or his work featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fast Company and Inc. — unveiling his proven growth roadmap drawn from his own journey back from rock bottom. You’re in the right place if you’re ready to improve your relationship with possibility (also known as uncertainty) and grow.
Meet Sterling
1+ Million
People impacted by the No Matter What Movement
Thousands
Of organizations transformed
No. 1
Best Selling Author
JOIN OUR CLIENTS CREATING GROWTH CULTURES
KEYNOTES:
No Matter What: The Identity Behind Your Leadership
For retail and CPG leaders ready to confront the identity that got them here — and build the one that gets them where the market is going.
The Threshold: Leading Through Uncertainty and Change
For organizations navigating disruption — market shifts, supply chain volatility, digital transformation — and need their leaders to show up differently, not just cope better.
No Matter What: The Identity Behind High Performance Sales
For commercial teams, sales organizations, and retail account management teams ready to close the gap between potential and results.
For retail and CPG organizations where innovation keeps getting mandated — and keeps not happening
The Innovation Identity: Building Cultures That Don't Settle
RAVE REVIEWS
RESPONSIVENESS AND SPEED
Sterling’s responsiveness and speed were exceptional in working with our short timelines and high-profile event. His tailored content and innovative approach captivated and inspired the audience, leaving a significant impact within our industry.
LINDSEY NADEAU | SENIOR DIRECTOR, EVENTS & MARKETING | NIELSENIQ
The keynote opens the door. The No Matter What Experience is designed to make sure that's just the beginning — with 12 weeks of customized content, tools, and support built around your organization's specific goals, retail culture, and audience.
Before the event to prepare the room. During to maximize the moment. After to make the identity shift irreversible.
One keynote, 90+ days of impact
Frequently Asked Questions
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Yes. Every retail and CPG engagement starts with a discovery call to ensure the right fit and fully customized content. Sterling's team explores your goals, culture, and audience before a single slide is built.
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Yes. Sterling speaks live on stages worldwide and delivers interactive virtual keynotes for distributed retail and CPG teams. Both formats create the same No Matter What threshold experience.
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Yes. While earlier booking is recommended, Sterling and his team accommodate last-minute requests regularly — our fastest turnaround was the day before. Reach out directly to discuss availability.
Transforming Your Retail & CPG Organizations Starts Here
The conversation starts with a discovery call. Let's find out if Sterling is the right fit for your event — and build the moment from there.