Kathy Klotz-Guest

Creates Thriving Cultures of Innovation Using Humor Principles for Lasting Impact, Chief Improviser, Innovation & Narrative Expert, Workshop Facilitator, Former Corporate Leader

Topics: Comedy & Humorist, Corporate Culture, Employee Engagement, Attitude, Business, Business Growth, Business Leadership, Communication, Creativity, Innovation, Inspirational & Motivational, Leadership, Productivity, Resilience, Sales, Teamwork

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Biography

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Kathy Klotz-Guest is a powerhouse speaker, author, and former Silicon Valley tech executive with a mission to create braver, healthier workplaces. Drawing on over two decades of leading high-performing teams in product, marketing, and communications, as well as her background in stand-up, improv, and sketch comedy—including performances at the iconic Second City—Kathy has developed a groundbreaking approach to leadership and culture. Her philosophy, called Brave Fuel℠, is built on the idea that humor, trust, and connection are the catalysts for courage, creativity, and innovation.

While leading teams by day and performing comedy by night, Kathy noticed a striking pattern: workplaces that prioritize trust and connection consistently outperform those that don’t. Through humor and playfulness, she discovered how to create environments where bold ideas flourish, collaboration thrives, and fear is replaced by courage. Her unique leadership mindset draws from the principles of improv, such as “I got your back” and “Yes, and”, fostering psychological safety that empowers teams to think boldly and adapt in uncertain times.

Kathy’s impact extends far beyond the workplace. She founded Keeping it Human℠ in 2010, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations communicate and innovate more effectively. Her Amazon top-10 book, Stop Boring Me!, has been celebrated as a “must-read” for leaders, and her insights on humor and leadership have been featured in Forbes, HuffPost, and Inc. She also teaches two highly acclaimed LinkedIn Learning courses: Leading with Improv and Humor: A Leader’s Guide to Building Team Trust, equipping leaders with tools to build resilient, connected teams.

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Videos

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Laughter is the Power Code to Trust

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Building Bolder, Resilient Leaders

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The Ultimate Algorithm for Innovation

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Testimonials

Thank you for your keynote at the Women Center’s Leadership Conference. I - and so many others - were inspired by your story. You were insightful and funny – a winning combination. Thank you for sharing yourself with us!

– Rachna K., Women’s Center

As the closing keynote at AMA Cincinnati's Ignite CX Conference - A highlight! - Kathy delivered the perfect balance of humor and thought-provoking content in a highly engaging, energetic, and relevant presentation. She is exceptional...

– Gina B., American Marketing Association Ignite Conference

Thank you, Kathy, for keynoting The 2021 Women’s Center’s Leadership Conference: Learn, Pivot, Grow! We were so inspired by your story. You were insightful and funny…which is a winning combination. Thank you for sharing yourself with us!”

– Rachna Krishma, Women’s Center Conference Board

Kathy had us laughing and made is safe to make the behavior changes. She’s hilarious and cares about people’s ability to grow and learn. People still talk about her talk and ‘YES AND’ as a mindset for life.

– Sandy Carter, AWS Leader

Kathy served as closing keynote at AMA Cincinnati 2018 IGNITE CX Conference. She delivered the perfect balance of humor and thought-provoking content in a highly engaging, energetic, relevant presentation. She is exceptional, and attendees are still talking about, quoting, and applying Kathy’s “yes-and” and story concepts in practice!

– Past AMA President, Gina Bonar