Top leadership communication & emotional intelligence keynote speaker

The future of leadership is funny

Seven-time Emmy-winning comedy writer and comedian Beth Sherman unpacks humor and emotional intelligence as strategic tools for trust, influence, and clarity in business leadership.

Beth Sherman, a woman with short, curly hair in a fitted, black sweater smiles and speaks into a microphone onstage during a keynote. Blurred audience members are visible in the foreground.
Beth Sherman, a woman with short curly hair, wearing a black suit, holding a microphone, smiling, standing in front of a screen that reads "Speaker, Beth Sherman"

With seven Emmy Awards and a career writing for shows like Ellen, Letterman, and the Oscars, Beth has mastered the power of emotional resonance. Her sessions deliver more than motivation—they offer actionable tools for speaking with purpose, leading with EQ, and communicating in ways that spark loyalty, alignment, and connection.

Beth Sherman is the top choice for leadership events that demand depth, energy, and lasting audience impact.

Looking for a top leadership communication & emotional intelligence keynote speaker who blends insight with impact? Beth Sherman brings 30 years of elite comedy writing and stage experience to the business world—equipping leaders with the emotional intelligence and communication skills they need to inspire, connect, and influence.

As a top leadership communication & emotional intelligence keynote speaker, Beth transforms humor into a strategic leadership tool. Her high-energy keynotes and interactive masterclasses teach leaders how to use storytelling, empathy, and wit to build trust, defuse tension, and lead with clarity and authenticity.

Beth Sherman delivers a talk wearing a black ribbed top and a clip-on microphone. She smiles and gestures with one hand while holding a presentation remote in the other. Audience is visible in the foreground.

As a top leadership communication & emotional intelligence keynote speaker, Beth equips audiences with actionable tools for building trust, navigating tension, and inspiring teams through story, tone, and emotional insight. Her experience writing for The Ellen Show, David Letterman, and the Oscars gives her a unique edge: she knows how to craft messages that stick, engage emotionally, and drive behavior.

Beth’s keynotes are engaging, energizing, and rooted in real-world application. She teaches executives and rising leaders alike how to communicate with warmth, authority, and emotional intelligence—skills that are essential in today’s hybrid, high-pressure work environments.

If you want to elevate leadership, improve team trust, and energize your next event, Beth Sherman is the top choice in leadership communication & emotional intelligence.

Humor isn’t a soft skill — it’s a competitive advantage

Beth Sherman is a top leadership communication & emotional intelligence keynote speaker who helps professionals lead with clarity, empathy, and impact.

With 30 years of Emmy-winning comedy writing and stand-up performance behind her, Beth brings a powerful blend of humor and strategy to the business stage—transforming how leaders communicate and connect.

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Beth Sherman stands at the front of a bright, modern meeting room, speaking to an attentive audience seated in rows and at tables. She gestures expressively, mid-explanation.

Available formats

  • Keynote speeches

  • Group trainings and workshops

  • Executive roundtables and panels

Perfect For:

  • Leadership offsites

  • Sales kickoffs

  • Internal comms or HR-led events

  • Conferences looking for energy, relevance, and depth

  • The opening keynote—or the dreaded after-lunch slot

Watch Beth’s speaker showreel

What bookers say

Beth recently spoke at the IoIC Festival and from our first email to our last goodbye she was fantastic. Beth is warm, very likeable, humorous (maybe that’s obvious but not every LinkedIn bio tells the truth!) and knowledgeable. Her talk was one of our most popular and I could hear the laughter from the Green Room. Would highly recommend Beth.
— Institue of Internal Communication
Beth is that rare combination of engaging storyteller, sharp thinker and natural connector. Her humour and warmth created a truly safe, uplifting space where our attendees could lean in, reflect, laugh, and actually connect with one another (not just passively listen).
— The Meetings Show
Beth’s session was a high point of the conference!
— Mortgage Bankers Association, Great River Conference
Beth’s talk was much more than entertaining; it was thought-provoking and highly practical. She managed to challenge conventional thinking while keeping the room laughing, engaged, and motivated.
— Pride In Leadership Conference
Beth’s talk was a masterclass in using humor to connect and persuade. She delivered practical, memorable tools that resonated deeply with our audience of advertising professionals—helping them appear more competent, relatable, and confident. Feedback was glowing, with one attendee calling it ‘a brilliant investment of an hour.’
— Institute of Practitioners in Advertising
If you are looking for an inspirational, authentic, and funny keynote, look no further than Beth Sherman.
— Raleigh Educational Trust Annual Conference
Beth’s unique approach to blending humour with professional development resonated deeply with the audience.
— The Business Brilliance Awards

FAQ: Objections, Answered

Q: By booking a talk on humor, will I risk offending people?
A: Beth teaches audiences how to use humor as a skill for connection. It's not about questionable banter or cheap punchlines, it's about presence, warmth, and trust.

Q: Is this right for our industry?
A: Yes. Beth has spoken to teams in finance, law, advertising, healthcare, and human rights. Humor done well doesn’t undermine credibility—it enhances it. Check out these studies from Harvard Business Review and the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania.

Q: We’ve done communication training already.
A: Most communication training teaches what to say or how to say it. Beth helps audiences unlock their natural ability to connect, a critical advantage in high-stakes leadership, sales, and influence.

Listen to Beth’s podcast appearances

One-to-one presentation coaching

Giving a keynote yourself - or think your internal speakers could use some help?

Whether it’s a keynote, pitch, or internal presentation, Beth’s one-to-one presentation coaching helps professionals of all abilities show up with clarity, confidence, and a message that truly connects.

Working collaboratively, Beth will help you:

  • Sharpen structure

  • Add just the right amount of humor

  • Deliver with presence that keeps people listening and engaged throughout

Beth doesn’t try to make speakers into comedians. She helps them become the most effective, entertaining, and memorable version of themselves.