Why This Marketing Keynote Speaker Had Media Insiders Shaking (Literally)
When media insiders lean forward, stop scrolling, and actually feel something, you know something unusual is happening. At the Canadian Media Directors Council (CMDC) event, a room full of seasoned marketing professionals—people who live and breathe influence—came in expecting a keynote. They left having experienced a disruption. And not just any disruption. A fully immersive, 3D holographic one.
When Danielle Sweeney of The Sweeney Agency was tasked with recommending a marketing keynote speaker for this elite audience, she knew this wasn’t the time for ordinary. These weren’t passive listeners. They were expert communicators with sharp radars for anything inauthentic or unimpressive. So she called Sylvie di Giusto. And Sylvie didn’t just deliver. She changed the room.
Key Takeaways
- 3D holographic technology can elevate message delivery and audience engagement.
- Even the most cynical, media-savvy audiences can be captivated by immersive storytelling.
- The keynote, when made experiential, hits deeper than any slide deck.
- A top marketing keynote speaker isn’t just informative—they’re unforgettable.
- Seamless execution behind the scenes enables peak immersion onstage.
- Strategic disruption isn’t a gimmick; it’s a tool for real cognitive shift.
- The medium is the message—and this one left them shaken, in the best way.
When the Audience Knows All the Tricks
Danielle Sweeney put it perfectly: “An experienced—dare I say, somewhat cynical—audience was completely taken in.” The difference? Sylvie didn’t rely on novelty. She built something new.
Imagine standing in front of a crowd that’s seen every campaign, studied every trend, and created some of the most iconic messaging in the business. That was Sylvie’s audience at CMDC. Media executives. Marketing strategists. Creatives who could spot a gimmick a mile away. This wasn’t just a keynote—it was a test.
And Sylvie passed. With distinction. Her presentation was powered by holography, yes—but it was grounded in behavioral science, storytelling, and strategic design. From the first visual cue to the final message, the audience wasn’t just listening. They were leaning in, emotionally engaged, and physically reacting. That’s not easy to do with professionals who write emotional hooks for a living.
What made this especially impressive is that the CMDC isn’t just any organization. The Canadian Media Directors Council plays a central role in shaping the future of advertising, media strategy, and communication in Canada. Their annual gathering attracts the brightest minds in media and marketing—people trained to question, analyze, and challenge any message they encounter. For a marketing keynote speaker to earn their full attention requires more than clever slides. It takes something radically different.
That’s where Sylvie stood out. Her message aligned perfectly with the moment: a media landscape in flux, a consumer base making faster decisions than ever, and professionals trying to cut through noise with meaning. Her keynote didn’t just speak to the audience—it mirrored their own challenges and aspirations. That level of resonance is what separates the best marketing keynote speakers from the “good ones.”.
The Power of Choice, Delivered Differently
The event took place at the Design Exchange in Toronto—a space known for innovation, creativity, and bold design thinking. Once home to the Toronto Stock Exchange, the venue now serves as a cultural hub, making it an ideal location for a keynote rooted in reinvention. Its architectural drama and immersive layout created the perfect backdrop for a 3D experience that blended technology and human insight seamlessly. For a marketing keynote speaker like Sylvie, this wasn’t just a stage. It was a statement.
Sylvie’s keynote wasn’t about choice in the abstract. It was about helping people feel the weight of their decisions in real time. She didn’t just explain it—she immersed the audience in it. Through visuals, voice, and technology, she invited people to reflect, react, and reshape their perceptions.
The theme—The Power of Choice—is highly relevant in today’s marketing climate. Where every brand interaction is a decision, every scroll a judgment, every campaign a calculated risk, understanding the psychology of choice isn’t a luxury. It’s a must-have.
In marketing, intentional choices determine more than messaging—they shape perception, brand loyalty, and trust. Media professionals who operate on instinct often find themselves missing the deeper layer: the why behind decisions. Sylvie’s keynote peeled that back, revealing how conscious, values-based choices can drive authentic engagement and long-term influence.
This is especially critical in an era where algorithms reward speed, but audiences reward substance. A top marketing keynote speaker doesn’t just speak to that paradox—they help teams navigate it. Sylvie gave her audience permission to slow down, reconsider, and choose differently. Because in a world obsessed with reach, resonance still wins.
This wasn’t about pushing a message. It was about pulling people into it. That’s what a truly effective marketing keynote speaker does. They don’t just speak to the moment—they create one.
When the Medium Is the Message
Custom animations designed for this keynote amplified key psychological triggers—tailored specifically to the CMDC audience’s mindset, values, and professional challenges.
Marshall McLuhan’s famous phrase couldn’t have been more apt. The way Sylvie delivered her keynote became part of the meaning itself. The 3D holographic delivery wasn’t a trick or a spectacle. It was an extension of the core idea: that how we show up—visually, verbally, behaviorally—matters as much as what we say.
Danielle observed that the medium challenged assumptions. It forced the audience to reconcile the familiar (keynotes) with the unfamiliar (a holographic keynote). That juxtaposition? It created space for something powerful: new perspective.
One visual highlight: a tribute animation to the CMDC team themselves—celebrating their influence on the industry and honoring the impact they make on shaping audience thinking across Canada’s media landscape.
Sylvie’s approach isn’t just about information. It’s about activation. Her 3D holographic keynote is a sensory, emotional, intellectual journey that gives every audience member something to think about, feel, and do. For events trying to stand out—for brands trying to live their values on stage—this isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s the edge.
Because in a room full of storytellers, Sylvie rewrote the story.
A Client Reaction That Says It All
With CMDC President Shannon Lewis, whose leadership and vision set the tone for an event that truly celebrated innovation and intentionality across the media industry.
Danielle shared that after the keynote, the client came up to her shaking. Shaking—from impact, not nerves. “Absolutely amazing,” she said. “Totally blown away.”
These weren’t interns or entry-level marketers. These were decision-makers, brand architects, media directors. And they were floored. That’s what happens when you book a marketing keynote speaker who delivers more—more immersion, more insight, more emotional connection.
Part of that impact came from a masterfully crafted moment of disruption—a twist Sylvie embedded right into the experience. It wasn’t just dramatic; it was strategic. One that made the room collectively pause, reflect, and rethink. Even in a space full of seasoned storytellers, this moment flipped the script and created a visceral shift. Reflection replaced resistance. Surprise replaced skepticism.
And none of it would have landed without the behind-the-scenes excellence. From the earliest planning calls to the final tech check, Sylvie and her producer Justin handled every detail with precision. They prepped the client, aligned with AV, and ensured everything—from holographic timing to lighting cues—ran flawlessly. The keynote didn’t just look effortless. It was effortless, because of everything that happened before anyone took their seat.
Danielle summed it up with six simple words: “We’d do this again in a heartbeat.”
Looking for a Marketing Keynote Speaker Who Can Captivate Any Crowd?
If you want more than slides and soundbites, and you’re ready to give your audience a keynote they’ll talk about long after the lights go down—book Sylvie di Giusto. Because marketing professionals aren’t easy to impress. Unless you show them something they’ve never seen.
As a marketing keynote speaker, I help brands and professionals own their edge—by making intentional choices that leave unforgettable impressions. My immersive keynotes aren’t off-the-shelf lectures; they’re tailored experiences designed to spark reflection, provoke action, and unlock influence. Whether I’m speaking to a room of creatives, executives, or rising leaders, my goal is the same: to turn what makes people different into what makes them powerful.
Want to see what that looks like on stage? Explore my keynotes here.
The Canadian Media Directors Council (CMDC) is a powerhouse in shaping Canada’s media and marketing landscape. Their annual summit draws the country’s most influential marketing minds—from agency leaders to media buyers to brand visionaries. Known for challenging norms and driving innovation, the CMDC event is where bold ideas take center stage and only the sharpest voices resonate.
Learn more about CMDC.
