Beth Sherman
Leadership Communication Keynote Speaker
Helping teams build trust quickly to accelerate decisions, expand influence, and improve outcomes
In any interaction, people decide within seconds to engage fully — or not.
Drawing on 30 years as a professional comedian and 7x Emmy Award-winning comedy writer, Beth Sherman teaches teams the principles entertainers use to create emotional connection quickly, and how to apply those same principles to build clarity, trust, and momentum in sales, marketing, and leadership.
Where this content has the most impact
Beth’s keynotes and workshops are designed for moments where teams need to build trust quickly and communicate with clarity, especially when the stakes are high and time is limited.
Leadership & Executive Teams
When alignment needs to happen faster, decisions stall less, and influence must extend across senior stakeholders and functions.
Sales, Marketing & Client-Facing Teams
When trust and credibility need to be established quickly to move conversations forward, strengthen relationships, and win buy-in.
Internal Communications, HR & Culture Events
When teams need practical, human tools for connection, clarity, and engagement during periods of change or growth.
Trusted by global brands and professional audiences worldwide.
What bookers say after Beth’s keynotes
Leaders and event organizers consistently highlight the immediate impact on trust, clarity, and engagement.
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![Heineken logo on green background. Heineken is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
"Brilliant and engaging! Our colleagues went on to use her framework the very next day!"
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![The Marketing Society logo. The Marketing Society is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
"A superb speaker, and terrifically relevant for ambitious businesspeople who want to be more effective leaders."
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![AND Digital logo. AND Digital is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
"Brilliant to work with from start to finish, and the feedback we received from the event she did with senior leaders was exceptional."
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![IPG Mediabrands logo. IPG Mediabrands is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
“Beth is incredible! I’ll absolutely be recommending her to anyone who asks - and even those who don’t!"
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![Institute of Internal Communication logo. The Institute of Internal Communication is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
"Fantastic! Her talk was one of our most popular and I could hear the laughter from the Green Room. Highly recommend!"
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![Pride in Leadership Conference logo. The Pride in Leadership Conference is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
“Beth challenged conventional thinking while keeping the room laughing, engaged, and motivated.”
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![Institute of Practitioners in Advertising logo. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
“Beth’s talk was an absolute masterclass in using humor to connect and persuade, and her content resonated deeply with our members."
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![Great River MBA Conference logo. The Great River MBA Conference is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.]()
"Thanks so much! Your session was a high point of the conference!"
You can’t convert until you connect
In an AI-driven workplace, influence still starts with human connection. Beth Sherman helps leaders, sales teams, and organizations build trust fast, reduce resistance, and move people to action using the same principles comedians rely on to create emotional connection quickly.
Popular Keynotes for Sales, Marketing, Leadership,
and Change Management
These talks focus on creating emotional connection early, so communication actually leads to action.
Building Trust When It Matters Most
How leaders create emotional connection that drives clarity, collaboration, and action
In a high-change, AI-accelerated workplace, leadership is defined by how quickly trust forms. Drawing on three decades as a comedian and seven-time Emmy-winning writer, Beth Sherman shows leaders how comedians build rapport in seconds, and why that skill matters now.
This keynote focuses on how trust forms in the first moments of interaction and how humor, used intentionally, reduces friction without requiring leaders to “be funny.” Attendees leave with a practical framework for creating connection that drives faster decisions, stronger collaboration, and better outcomes.
Best for: Leadership events, executive audiences, culture and alignment initiatives, HR conferences
When Communication Has to Land
How emotional connection earns trust in high-stakes moments
You don’t get unlimited time to warm up a room. In this keynote, Beth Sherman reveals how comedians win over skeptical audiences almost instantly, and how those same techniques apply to leadership communication, change messaging, and high-stakes conversations.
The focus is not on jokes, but on how humor functions as a trust accelerator. By acknowledging context, naming the elephant in the room, and creating emotional connection early, leaders can earn buy-in faster and communicate with greater influence when it matters most.
Best for: Leadership communication, internal communications, marketing, change-focused events
What Actually Gets People to Listen
How emotional connection moves sales conversations forward
Most sales conversations begin with skepticism. This keynote shows how the rapid rapport skills comedians use to win over tough rooms can help sales professionals earn trust faster and move conversations forward more effectively.
Beth Sherman translates humor-based connection principles into practical sales applications that strengthen openings, reduce resistance, and create genuine human connection without sounding scripted or performative. The result is faster alignment, stronger relationships, and better sales outcomes.
Best for: Sales kickoffs, revenue teams, client-facing roles, growth and commercial events
All keynotes can be paired with a Q&A, fireside chat, masterclass, or workshop.
Not sure if Beth is the right speaker for your event?
Take this 2 minute quiz.
Answer seven (7) simple questions about your event, audience, and desired outcomes to see whether Beth’s topic and approach align with your needs and goals.
No sales pitch. Just a clear recommendation.
About Beth Sherman
Beth Sherman is a leadership communication keynote speaker who helps teams build trust fast, turning early connection into clearer decisions, stronger influence, and better outcomes across organizations.
A 7x Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and veteran comedian, Beth brings a rare, real-world understanding of how rapport forms under pressure and how it can be used intentionally in business settings.
She honed her craft in environments where connection must happen instantly or nothing works, from live comedy stages to writing for global broadcasts and high-stakes events.
Today, Beth translates the skill comedians rely on most — rapid rapport — into a practical communication framework for teams navigating change and complexity. Her keynotes equip audiences to build trust quickly, reduce friction, and create momentum from the very first moments of any interaction.
The Ability to Build Trust Quickly Matters
More Than Ever
Business now moves at the speed of trust. When trust forms quickly, decisions accelerate, alignment strengthens, and outcomes improve. When it doesn’t, conversations stall, resistance increases, and momentum is lost.
In a world of rapid change, constant distraction, and rising expectations, teams can’t afford slow starts or fragile relationships. The speed at which trust forms now determines the speed at which work gets done across decisions, influence, collaboration, and results.
When teams build trust quickly, everything accelerates. Communication becomes clearer. Buy-in happens earlier. Problems don’t escalate because the relationship is strong enough to absorb friction.
The ability to build trust and hold attention is not a soft skill. It is an essential skill and a competitive advantage.
Introducing Really Really Rapid Rapport ™
Really Really Rapid Rapport™ is a practical communication framework that shows teams how to create genuine connection quickly and intentionally, without scripts or performance.
It is based on the same principles comedians rely on when they step onstage and have only seconds to bring a room of strangers onside. In comedy, if rapport doesn’t happen fast, nothing works. In business, the stakes are even higher.
You don’t need to be a comedian or a performer to create trust from hello. You need tools that make human connection simple, authentic, and repeatable in real-world business situations.
Really Really Rapid Rapport™ gives teams those tools.
Let’s explore whether this is the right fit
If your team or membership need to build trust quickly, communicate with greater clarity, and create momentum from the very first moments, a short conversation can help determine whether this approach is right for you.
This is not a sales call. It’s a focused discussion about your audience, goals, and timing so you can make the right decision with confidence.
Prefer to assess fit first?
Take the 2-minute Speaker Fit Scorecard →
