Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Trust AAE Speakers Bureau for Booking Top Professional Speakers. Find a Keynote Speaker Today.
Karen Hough

Karen Hough

Keynote Speaker: Founder & CEO of ImprovEdge

Karen Hough Biography

Karen Hough is the Founder & CEO of ImprovEdge, www.ImprovEdge.com, and has been using improvisation as a catalyst for business training and consulting since 1998.

ImprovEdge won the silver International Stevie Award for Most Innovative Company of the Year 2012, and Karen was recognized in 2016 as an Inspiring Woman by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever. Her first book, The Improvisation Edge: Secrets to Building Trust and Radical Collaboration at Work published by Berrett-Koehler, was a #1 Amazon Bestselling author in category and 800CEORead Top 25 Business Books. Ms. Hough is a regular contributor to the Huffington Post and has been featured in Inc magazine and Investor’s Business Daily. Her second book, Be the Best Bad Presenter Ever: Break the Rules, Make Mistakes and Win Them Over published by BK in 2014 won the Benjamin Franklin Gold Award. Karen’s third book, “Go With it: Embrace the Unexpected to Drive Change,” on using improvisation to drive innovation was published in 2017 by the Association for Talent Development.

Karen is also an engaging and gifted speaker-conducting energizing breakout sessions, memorable workshops, riveting keynotes, and effective strategic planning sessions.

The high-energy presentations that Karen deliver are as interactive as you want them to be. She never delivers a "canned" speech and is happy to introduce improv into the format of any program-with audiences that are small and intimate to groups of hundreds. The results of her powerful, thought-provoking programs are empowered individuals, more effective teams, and stronger organizations.

For a number of years, Karen worked as a senior sales executive in the network engineering industry in New York and Chicago. She originated and expanded the sales and management efforts of three separate technology start-ups, launched partner programs and assisted in East Coast and National expansions. Karen has been a professional improviser and actor for 20 years. Her improvisational training and performance credits include the Second City of Chicago, Metraform/Annoyance Theatre, the Organic Theatre and the Purple Crayon of Yale. Karen is the former International Spokesperson for Stratacom, a spokesperson for Tivoli and Infiniti. Her TV and radio credits include CBS, Miller, Earthshare, Eli Lilly and S.C. Johnson.

An accomplished businesswoman, Karen has received the 2009 Athena Powerlink Award sponsored by NAWBO and National City Bank, and was honored as a Deloitte & Touche Wise Woman, for its inaugural breakfast event. She is a member of AFTRA (American Federation of Television and Radio Actors), NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners), NSA (National Speakers Association), ASTD (American Society of Training and Development), eWomenNetwork, MPI (Meeting Planners International) and WELD (Women for Economic and Leadership Development). She is a graduate of Yale University and La Sorbonne, Paris IV.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Karen Hough and other top speakers and celebrities.

Karen Hough Speaking Topics

Managing Tough Conversations

Leverage Your People Power: Building Team Equity

Oops to Eureka! Turning Mistakes into Great Discoveries

Building Better Relationships: It's All about Communication & Interaction

From Promising Managers to Tomorrow's Leaders

Karen Hough Videos

Karen Hough: Keynote Highlights - YouTube
Being Confident With Karen From ImprovEdge - YouTube

How do I book Karen Hough to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Karen Hough for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Karen Hough, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Karen Hough or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Karen Hough for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Karen Hough, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Karen Hough, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Karen Hough speak about?

Karen Hough is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Sales, Communication, Finance, Negotiation, Personal Growth, Change Management, Corporate Culture, Innovation, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Diversity & Inclusion, Non-Profit, Corporate Strategy, Networking, Peak Performance, Human Resources, Relationships, Strategic Leadership, Motivational, Leadership and Social Media.

Where does Karen Hough travel from?

Karen Hough generally travels from Columbus, OH, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Karen Hough?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Karen Hough for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Karen Hough for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Karen Hough or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Karen Hough is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Sales, Communication and Finance. The estimated speaking fee range to book Karen Hough for live events is $10,000 - $20,000. Please contact us for virtual event fees. Karen Hough generally travels from Columbus, OH, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Carol Muratore, Doug Lipp and Dr. Jackie Freiberg. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Karen Hough for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 06/09/2024.

Karen Hough Speaking Topics

  • Managing Tough Conversations

  • Leverage Your People Power: Building Team Equity

  • Oops to Eureka! Turning Mistakes into Great Discoveries

  • Building Better Relationships: It's All about Communication & Interaction

  • From Promising Managers to Tomorrow's Leaders

Karen Hough Videos

Karen Hough: Keynote Highlights - YouTube
Being Confident With Karen From ImprovEdge - YouTube
  • How do I book Karen Hough to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Karen Hough for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Karen Hough, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Karen Hough or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Karen Hough for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Karen Hough, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a live event is $10,000 - $20,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Karen Hough, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Karen Hough speak about?

  • Where does Karen Hough travel from?

    Karen Hough generally travels from Columbus, OH, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Karen Hough?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Karen Hough for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Karen Hough for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Karen Hough or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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KAREN HOUGH

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All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.