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Yan Markson

The Power of Perception

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Corporate Mentalist
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Penn & Teller's "Fool Us" - Toronto Magician & Mentalist Yan Markson
Yan
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WEB Yan-Markson-2025 Headshot
Speaker Reel
Corporate Mentalist
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Penn & Teller's "Fool Us" - Toronto Magician & Mentalist Yan Markson

Yan Markson is a world-class mentalist, speaker, and perception strategist who explores the powerful intersection of mindset, storytelling, and human behaviour. His keynotes are designed to both entertain and shift perspectives, sparking new ways of thinking and leaving audiences energized with unforgettable experiences.

With a unique career that bridges live performance and corporate leadership, Markson has spent over a decade captivating audiences across North America at major conferences, Fortune 500 events, and galas — as well as on TEDx and national television in three countries, including the hit Las Vegas TV show, Penn & Teller: Fool Us.

Before stepping into the spotlight full-time, Markson served as the Head of Marketing and Communications at an award-winning AI software company, building on his academic background in marketing management from Toronto Metropolitan University. Today, he sits on the company’s advisory board, bringing a rare blend of creative thinking and business strategy to the stage.

At the core of Markson’s work is a belief that perception shapes reality — and by changing the stories we tell ourselves and others, we can transform the way we lead, communicate, and grow. Through his signature keynote series “The Power of Perception,” Markson demonstrates how influence, leadership, and personal transformation all stem from shifting perspectives. His sessions feature witty humour and intelligent entertainment, grounded in real-world application.

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

  • The Power of Perception: Influence and Persuasion

    Influence, persuasion, and effective communication are critical skills that determine whether your ideas thrive or die. People often get lost in features, facts, figures, and their own perspective, but when we ignore the human being in front of us, our message disappears into the noise.

    Yan Markson blends a touch of live mentalism with strategic communication to illustrate the psychology behind the decision-making process in a fun, interactive, and easy-to-understand way.

    In this dynamic keynote, audiences will discover how cognitive bias dilutes their message, how misconceptions create barriers in communication, and how a lack of empathy reduces connection. They’ll also learn how to frame their message to increase perceived value, build trust, and amplify their influence, while identifying the “magic sparks” that engage people on an emotional and deeply human level.

    Expect a uniquely memorable experience with practical strategies and actionable takeaways you can start using today.

    Perfect for: Business development professionals, sales and marketing, entrepreneurs, consultants, customer service teams, PR, negotiators, presenters, and communicators.

  • The Power of Perception: Own Your Story

    When you’re operating in a flow state, it isn’t luck or coincidence. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.

    Yan Markson offers a fresh, engaging take on how a growth mindset and self-reinvention can help you spot opportunities, innovate, and thrive in a fast-paced world. Discover how changing your state of mind fundamentally changes your “zone of possibilities.”

    Backed by behavioural psychology and cognitive science, this interactive keynote shows the real, measurable impact of perception and state of mind on success. Markson leverages live and interactive mentalism and storytelling to illustrate the power of perception and inspires the audience to set intentions, create smart goals, reframe challenges, and take ownership over their story.

    This keynote inspires audiences to “change their normal to change their life.” It’s packed with tangible and actionable takeaways, while Markson’s unique style of fun, interactive presentation and intelligent humour ensures they’ll stick. Once you experience this, you’ll never see yourself the same again.

    Perfect for: All professionals, teams, and organizations ready for growth and change.

  • The Power of Perception: Lead with Impact

    Most leaders aren’t trained to lead — they’re promoted for expertise, only to find themselves increasingly managing people, which often feels like a necessary evil.

    In this dynamic session, Yan Markson helps leaders shift their perspective and embrace a human-centered approach that leads their teams to next-level performance. He will debunk myths and reveal how empathy, autonomy, recognition, and strategic communication creates the psychological safety that drives productivity, innovation, and meaningful results.

    With live mentalism woven in to spark curiosity and emotional engagement, Markson breaks down the science of motivation, willpower, communication, and behavioural change in a way that sticks.

    After over a decade of marketing leadership, and thousands of stages as a mentalist and speaker, Markson knows that if your message isn’t landing, the problem isn’t your audience. There are no unmotivated teams, only uninspiring leaders. Discover why investing in human intelligence and the people around you is where the real value and competitive edge are found in a world obsessed with AI and digital transformation.

    Perfect for: Leaders, managers, executives, HR and people operations, educators, entrepreneurs, growing teams, coaches, and parents.

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Client reviews

  • HomeEquity Bank

    Back in February our company held an in-person conference for our Sales teams. This was the first time in three years so we carefully curated the agenda with the right content and presenters. Yan was the undisputed winner when it came to leading various sessions. He energized the room, made his presentation interesting and relevant, and we couldn’t get enough. So much so that we have invited him to come back this summer and work with our teams again. If you are looking for a brilliant keynote, look no further and hire Yan!

  • City of Hamilton

    Yan was a speaker at our HR Day at the City of Hamilton, a once-a-year event for our 90 Human Resources professionals coming together for a day of learning, connecting, and engaging. Yan did a phenomenal job. He was engaging, funny, and thought provoking. His ability to combine humour, mentalism, and tangible learning that can be applied to the workplace, was invaluable. Attendees felt this year’s event was the best one we have had in decades!

  • Canada Health Infoway

    I had the pleasure of collaborating with Yan Markson as the keynote speaker for our corporate professional development session and I wholeheartedly recommend him for any event. Yan’s dynamic presentation style and ability to connect with the audience were outstanding, leaving a lasting impact on our team. His tailored approach to understanding our audience’s needs contributed significantly to the event’s success, and the feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive.

    Working with Yan was a seamless and enjoyable experience. He is not only a true professional but also a collaborative partner dedicated to ensuring the success of the event. I look forward to the opportunity to work with Yan again, confident that his engaging and impactful presentations will continue to resonate with diverse audiences.

  • QFS Financial

    Yan was a standout at our event, engaging, inspiring, and truly memorable. His keynote used illusion to highlight how perception shapes reality, tying perfectly into our themes of connection and growth. His energy captivated the room, and the conversations he sparked continued long after. I was told he was the best speaker we’ve ever had, and people are still raving about him. You won’t regret bringing Yan to your stage, he brings something truly unique.

  • Ornge

    I have had the pleasure of watching Yan Markson evolve from being a talented mentalist to becoming a dynamic professional speaker. Over the years, he has grown into a thought leader on creativity, mindset, and leadership, seamlessly blending his unique background in entertainment with powerful insights that captivate any audience. Yan’s ability to engage a room is exceptional; he doesn’t just speak to an audience, he connects, inspires, and leaves a lasting impression.

    The fact that Yan was invited back to speak at a subsequent event at Ornge speaks volumes about his impact and effectiveness. I would highly recommend him for any speaking opportunity where engaging, memorable content is needed.

  • IFM

    Yan, thanks so much for speaking at our National Sales Meeting. This is the first time we have had a guest speaker with your skillset and let me tell you, it was a hit! Your mix of topics around sales and perception were well received. I know our team valued the laughs as well as the concepts they can take with them for everyday life. Thanks again!

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