Wendy Mak
Speaker | MC | Interviewer
Speaker | MC | Interviewer
Wendy is a first-generation Australian who migrated solo at age 16. Today, she bridges boardrooms and social platforms as a corporate executive and midlife influencer - with deep expertise in AI, cybersecurity, digital products and ESG.
Her mission? To champion true cultural and ethnic diversity at the executive and boardroom table - and to bring real talk to the way we lead, work and live.
A confident, warm and funny speaker and MC, Wendy brings sharp insights, candid storytelling, and thoughtful conversation to every event - whether she's moderating a panel, delivering a keynote or being your event’s host for the day!
keynote & panel corporate speaker
As a keynote speaker or panelist, Wendy covers the below topics:
AI, Work & Society:
Wendy brings a bold yet relatable take on how AI - including humanoids - is reshaping work, marketing and everyday life.She’s pro-technology, but firmly grounded in pro-choice and transparency: people should always know when they’re engaging with AI, and have the tools to verify what’s real.
Challenging the idea that AI will only “enhance” human roles, Wendy explores why job extinction in some sectors may be unavoidable, and how our own fears and limitations often blind us to AI’s full potential.
She also tackles ethical grey areas - like the balance between protecting creators and not stifling AI innovation, and the urgent need for verification in a world of synthetic media.
With humour, warmth and lived experience, Wendy invites audiences to move beyond hype or fear, and meet the AI future with informed, empowered curiosity.
Diverse Leadership
Wendy challenges surface-level inclusion by sharing what it takes to truly break cultural and ethnic stereotypes - and how to build leadership teams that reflect real-world diversity, not just performative checkboxes.
Career Reinvention
From corporate executive to fashion stylist and back again, Wendy shares a refreshingly honest take on pivoting careers - with lessons on adaptability, identity and finding purpose at any stage of life.
Cyber Resilience & Crisis Comms
Drawing on real-world experience leading through cyber incidents, Wendy explores how organisations can build resilience, respond under pressure, and lead with clarity in an age of constant disruption.
Midlife Leadership & Wellness
With wit and honesty, Wendy unpacks what it means to lead through midlife, from navigating perimenopause to staying visible, relevant and well in a world that rarely talks about it. Especially when you can no longer remember anyone’s names anymore!
wendy’S personal story
Wendy shares a powerful and relatable journey of resilience, change and reinvention - from arriving in Australia alone as a teenager, to navigating cultural bias in her career, to making bold career pivots as a stylist, author, and now CMO & social media influencer.
Her story is told with humour, heart and a powerful message: success doesn’t always follow a straight line - and that’s a good thing.
For keynotes, panels, or to MC your next event with insight and energy:
Highlights: Speaking Portfolio
CMO Asia Summit 2025: Lead moderator & MC for two-day Chief Marketing Officer Summit in Singapore
American Marketing Association’s Global Marketing SIG Conference 2025: Industry panel speaker
ASFA Spotlight on Operations: Welcome address & MC, May 2025
ASFA National Conference 2024 : Moderator, “What’s Next in AI”
Asia Society, Asia in Victoria Forum: Moderator, “How can Asian-Australians support Australia’s prosperity in Asia?”, October 2024
UNSW’s Marketing Analytics Symposium Sydney: Industry panel speaker, May 2024
CMO ANZ Summit 2024: Keynote Speaker, “The Power of Marketing: Advocating for Sustainability to Create Value for the World”, February 2024
The Business Of podcast: Guest speaker, “Ethical marketing – is AI becoming a moral minefield for marketers?”, January 2024
ASFA National Conference 2023: Moderator, “AI, Machine & Bots - The ‘Future Face’ of Super?” panel session
CMO ANZ Summit 2023: Panel speaker, “Balancing Personalisation & Privacy: Navigating Digital Ethics in the Era of AI & Data Driven Marketing”, August 2023
ASFA National Conference 2023: Moderator, “Operationalising & Communicating During A Cyber Attack”, February 2023
