ABOUT MATT
Matt Purcell is Australia’s leading personal branding expert and the founder of Australia’s only verbal self-defense program social kung fu. he is on mission to help doers think and thinkers do.
Today, Matt Purcell whispers in the ears of kings and queens, working with some of Australia’s biggest brands and high profile individuals on branding, and business and positioning them to be the best in their field. However, Matt’s life wasn’t always one of accolades and success.
In fact, Matt was born in a small town in South Korea called Cholla-Bukto to a young mother who was unable to raise him.
Growing up, he grappled with questions about his identity and racial differences, as he realised that he looked different from his adoptive parents. This early curiosity about his background and physical appearance marked the beginning of his journey to self-discovery.
As a child, Matt's life took an unexpected turn when his parents revealed that he and his sister were adopted. While this revelation didn't change the love and support he received from his adoptive family, it planted a seed of curiosity about his biological roots and added a layer of complexity to his childhood.
He experienced the pain of parental separation, which came at a difficult time, leading to a year filled with numerous changes, including frequent house moves and transitioning to a new school. It was during this period that Matt encountered severe bullying, both physically and verbally. He became the target of racial discrimination, experiencing racism from other students who outnumbered and physically attacked him. The emotional toll of these experiences left him feeling like an object with no value, a sense of dehumanization that deeply affected his self-esteem.
Despite the hardships he faced, Matt's story takes a hopeful turn as he found mentors and support during his high school years. He discovered his passion for public speaking and music, and ultimately find his own identity.This sparked an incredible work drive in Matt to achieve some amazing results.
Matt has qualifications in mental health and has founded many businesses including “The Green Room MP” which has helped hundreds of young people with music, academy and life coaching which he later sold in 2021.
Matt has been acknowledged for his entrepreneurial abilities and was the recipient , Sydney Young Entrepreneur Award Winner for Media & PR and ranked 86 in Australia’s Top 100 Young Entreprenuer’s
Matt founded KYU Media which is an award-winning creative agency based in Sydney, Australia. They are the leading personal branding agency which helps brands and individual’s discover their brand identity.
Matt was the host of The Examined Life Podcast which regularly reached the #1 position in the Australian iTunes Charts before stopping in 2020. The Examined Life interviewed high-profile Australians to hear their current views about the world, their challenges, and beliefs that had lead them towards making better decisions.
He is the founder of Social Kung Fu, Australia’s number 1 verbal self-defense and confidence training for students. His mission is to impact 1 million students with this training against bullying, and dehumanization and raise a generation to become more self-aware. In 2023, Social Kung Fu partnered with Sydney University in research on the anti bullying program to which in 2024 will be the first evidence based program in Australia of it’s kind.
Matt has been on national television and has featured in national campaigns for brands such as Ford Motors, Xero Australia, LG Australia, and has spoken on stage for TED-X.
Social kung fu
Matt’s on a mission to equip 1 million students in Social Kung Fu, which is Australia’s #1 verbal self-defense and confidence training.
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KYU MEDIA
Matt is the director of KYU Media which is a creative agency based in Sydney Australia. They work with Australia’s top brands and individuals on brand, social media, content, podcasts, and more.
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speaking & consulting
Matt is one of the dynamic and in demand speakers on marketing, social kung fu themes and social media.
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