The Speaker CEOs Hire When They Want Real Talk, Not a Pep Rally
Philippe Cesson delivers keynotes and workshops on Digital Growth, AI, and Cracking the Generational Code — built for executive audiences who have heard enough polished presentations and want something they'll actually use.
Three talks. All built for CEOs who are done with theory.
Philippe doesn't speak from a consultant's perspective. He runs a digital marketing agency, uses the tools he talks about, and has been in the room with thousands of CEOs working through the same challenges. The talks reflect that.
Digital Growth — Building a Marketing Engine That Actually Works
Most CEOs know their marketing isn't working as well as it should. They just don't know which part to fix first — or why what they've tried hasn't moved the needle. This talk cuts through the noise and gives executive audiences a clear framework for evaluating their digital marketing, identifying the gaps costing them the most, and building a growth engine that produces predictable pipeline.
Audience takeaway: a practical diagnostic and prioritization framework for digital marketing investment — specific enough to act on the next day.
AI — The CEO's Real Guide to What's Actually Useful Right Now
Every CEO has been in a room where someone told them AI is going to change everything. This talk is different — it's about what AI is actually doing in business right now, what the hype is covering for, and what decisions a CEO needs to make in the next 12 months to stay competitive without chasing every shiny tool. Philippe uses AI daily in running CESSON. He speaks from that experience, not from a research report.
Audience takeaway: a clear-eyed assessment of where AI creates real ROI versus where it creates the illusion of productivity — and a decision framework for cutting through the noise.
Cracking the Generational Code — Leading and Marketing Across Gen Z & Gen Alpha
This is Philippe's most-requested topic. Gen Z and Gen Alpha are reshaping the workforce and the buyer landscape simultaneously — and most companies are marketing to them with messaging built for their parents. This talk gives CEOs the generational framework they need to lead a multi-generational workforce, market to a multi-generational customer base, and stop losing ground to competitors who figured it out first.
Audience takeaway: specific, actionable shifts in messaging, channel strategy, and leadership approach — built on research and 20 years of watching companies succeed and fail at generational transitions.
The difference between a speaker who informs and one who changes behavior.
He runs the agency — he doesn't just talk about it
Philippe has been running CESSON for 20 years. Everything he speaks about is something he does, has done, or has watched his clients navigate. There's no gap between the talk and the reality.
He pushes back on comfortable assumptions
Philippe's value to an audience is not agreement — it's productive challenge. CEOs leave his sessions with questions they didn't have before. That's where behavior change starts.
He adapts to the room, not just the brief
Every audience is different. Philippe reads the room and adjusts in real time — the depth of the framework, the examples used, the level of challenge. A Vistage group gets something different than a trade association audience.
From CEOs and event organizers who brought Philippe in.
Philippe challenged the way I think about our marketing in a way no other speaker has. I left with three things I acted on immediately. That almost never happens.— Vistage Member, South Florida
Our members are a tough audience — they've heard every pitch. Philippe earned their attention by being direct, specific, and completely uninterested in impressing them. That's why it worked.— Vistage Chair, Texas
The generational talk is the one I keep hearing about months later. CEOs came up to me after and said it changed how they're thinking about their next hire and their next campaign at the same time.— Event Organizer, Association Conference
Philippe speaks like a CEO who has earned the right to be in the room — not like someone reading from a framework. The audience trusted him from the first five minutes.— Vistage Chair, Midwest
What you need to know to book Philippe.
Keynote (45–90 min), half-day workshop, or full-day intensive. Vistage Day presentations, CEO peer groups, industry conferences, and corporate leadership events.
CEOs, founders, and senior executives. Philippe's material is calibrated for decision-makers, not middle management. The smaller and more senior the room, the more direct the content.
Based in Coral Gables, Florida. Available nationally — has presented in 43 states. Virtual presentations available for the right audience and format.
Every engagement includes a pre-event briefing to align on audience, objectives, and the specific challenge you want the talk to address. The framework is consistent. The application is specific to your group.
Philippe's calendar fills 4–8 weeks out for most engagements. For Vistage Days and major conferences, 8–12 weeks is recommended. Contact early to hold a date.
Pre-event audience research, customized presentation, post-event follow-up resources for attendees, and a post-event debrief with the event organizer on audience response and next steps.
Check Philippe's Availability
Start with a 20-minute call to discuss your event, audience, and which topic is the best fit. No commitment required.