Darrell Keezer

Darrell Keezer is a Toronto‑based digital marketing and AI strategist who has built some of Canada’s fastest‑growing companies. He is the founder and CEO of Candybox Marketing, a multi‑award‑winning digital agency with offices in Oakville and Halifax. Candybox has appeared on The Globe and Mail’s Top Growing Companies list seven years in a row and sat at #299 in 2024 thanks to 115 % revenue growth over three years. The agency is also celebrated as a Top 10 Great Place to Work. Darrell launched Candybox in 2008 with $8,000 in severance and a mission to help businesses win online, later founding Launch48 to deliver ready‑to‑launch websites in two days.

An award‑winning entrepreneur and two‑time author, Darrell has written 37 Ways Your Website Died (and How to Resurrect It) and Pick Up Your Freakin’ Phone, sharing practical insights for business owners and marketers. Over the past year he has become one of Canada’s leading voices on practical AI implementation. His team implemented AI across Candybox’s operations and nearly doubled profitability in just six months while boosting client satisfaction. Darrell has personally trained over 1,000 professionals through private workshops and his AI Masterclass for executives, and he regularly leads closed‑door AI strategy sessions for banks, franchisors, marketing departments and executive boards. He speaks at more than 50 events annually across North America, teaching leaders how to harness AI, digital marketing and hybrid‑work strategies to drive growth. His clients range from Fox Entertainment, Erb Group and GFS to universities and professional associations. Past engagements include presentations for Microsoft, the Conference Board of Canada, the Insurance Brokers Association of Ontario and the 2025 Goodman Alumni Summit at Brock University.

Flipping the Script on AI

Artificial intelligence is both an incredible opportunity and a source of uncertainty. In this timely and interactive presentation, Darrell Keezer's keynote presentations share practical, real-world examples of how AI can immediately boost and grow your business. Drawing from his own experience transforming Candybox Marketing, Darrell shows how companies can embrace AI today to drive record-breaking results—not just speculate about the future. This session challenges you to decide: what side of AI are you on?

Seriously Disruptive Digital Marketing Methods

The way consumers and businesses buy has drastically changed, accelerated by a decade’s worth of digital adoption in just a few years. Has your business kept pace? As a Darrell Keezer speaker, Darrell reveals how top companies leapfrog competitors by combining bold ideas with flawless digital execution. Learn actionable strategies to build a growth-focused marketing plan that works in today’s digital landscape.

Seriously Disruptive Digital Marketing Methods

The way consumers and businesses buy is unrecognizable from 10 years ago. We’ve accelerated our digital adoption by 10 years during the pandemic, but has your business kept up with the times?

From generating sales to creating brand equity, it’s time your business builds a growth strategy that actually works. In this keynote, Darrell Keezer shares how companies are leap frogging their competition with great ideas and flawless execution.

Managing Remote Teams (Without Tears)

Remote and hybrid work is here to stay, but effective management hasn’t always caught up. In this candid keynote, Darrell shares how he grew Candybox Marketing by 40% annually while working 40 hours a week—proving that remote work can be a competitive advantage. As a Darrell Keezer keynote speaker, he offers practical guidance on transforming culture, communication, feedback, and KPIs to succeed in managing remote teams without burnout.

Pick up Your Freakin' Phone

In a world overwhelmed by digital noise, salespeople struggle to get noticed. Darrell Keezer built one of Canada’s fastest-growing companies from a walk-in closet with just his cellphone and smart strategies. This talk combines modern digital tools with timeless sales fundamentals to help you cut through the noise and get results. It’s time to flip the script on ignored voicemails, endless Zoom calls, and unanswered emails—time to pick up your freakin’ phone.