Karen Hough
Keynote Speaker: Entrepreneur, Improvisor & Founder & CEO of ImprovEdge; Author of "The Improvisational Edge," "Be the Best Bad Presenter Ever" & "Go with It"
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Travels From:
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Speaking Fee:
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Categories:Sales, Communication, Finance, Negotiation, Change Management, Human Resources, Corporate Culture, Innovation, Peak Performance, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Diversity & Inclusion, Non-Profit, Family & Parenting, Motivational, Leadership, Social Media, Strategic Leadership, Comedian, Business Coaching, Business Authors
Karen Hough Biography
Karen Hough is the founder and CEO of ImprovEdge and has used 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 in 2012.
Hough was recognized in 2016 as an Inspiring Woman by the WNBA’s Indiana Fever and won the WBENC Pitch Pivot Award in 2020 in the first virtual competition of its kind. Her book, "The Improvisation Edge: Secrets to Building Trust and Radical Collaboration at Work" was a No. 1 Amazon bestseller in its category and an 800-CEO-Read Top 25 business book. Hough is a regular contributor to The Huffington Post and has been featured in Harvard Business Review, 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 in 2014, won the Benjamin Franklin Gold Award. Her third book on using improvisation to drive innovation, "Go with It: Embrace the Unexpected to Drive Change," was published in 2017.
Hough is the recipient of the Athena PowerLink Award for outstanding woman-owned business and was named a semifinalist in TechColumbus’ Innovation Awards 2011 for Outstanding Service. She is the creator and author of the Yes! Deck, "Managing Tough Conversations: The Everyday Coaching Model," and the author of numerous articles and blogs, including publication in ASTD’s T&D magazine, Mashable and Business Insider. Hough is a Certified Speaking Professional and is a national and international conference keynote speaker on topics such as the hybrid present and future, negotiation, DEI, leadership, executive presence and sales.
ImprovEdge is a government-certified women’s business enterprise and Hough served on the board of Key Bank’s Key4Women initiative, the board of WELD, Women for Economic and Leadership Development, and the board of The Matriots Ohio. Hough serves on the CAPA board, the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts. Hough was honored as a Deloitte & Touche Wise Woman for their inaugural breakfast event in Columbus, Ohio, and represented women entrepreneurs for the State of Ohio for the Saitama, Japan, women’s contingent.
Hough is a graduate of Yale University and La Sorbonne, Paris IV. She worked for many years as a senior sales executive in the network engineering industry in New York and Chicago. Hough 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.
Hough has been a professional improviser and actor for 30 years. Her improvisational training and performance credits include more than 100 live productions with Second City of Chicago, Metraform/Annoyance Theatre, the Organic Theatre and the Purple Crayon of Yale, among others. Formerly the international spokesperson for Stratacom and a spokesperson for Tivoli and Infiniti, Hough's TV and radio credits include CBS, Miller, Earthshare, Eli Lilly and S.C. Johnson.
Since 1998, ImprovEdge principles and exercises have been vetted through research projects led by Hough with MBA students at the Wharton School, Ohio State University, University of Massachusetts and Otterbein University.
Hough is deeply committed to volunteer activities and philanthropy. She is a mentor for the Otterbein Women’s Network Initiative, and a portion of ImprovEdge profits is donated each year to support arts education through the CAPA Education Fund and the Marquis Awards, the American Heart Association, Computers for Youth, the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio, Kiva and DonorsChoose. Her volunteer activities include teaching improv classes for high school students in rural Kansas and confidence-building workshops for Chicago public schoolchildren. Hough is a former board member of the Yale Whim 'n Rhythm Alumnae Association and is a volunteer for the Yale Alumni Schools Committee and the Yale Alumni Fund.
Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Karen Hough and other top speakers and celebrities.
Karen Hough Speaking Topics
From boardrooms to classrooms, every industry is feeling the pressure of constant change.
From actor to sales leader to entrepreneur, Karen Hough has trained thousands of leaders across Fortune 100 companies, healthcare, finance, law, and tech to lead with agility, courage, and confidence. Drawing on four powerful techniques from the improv stage—backed by neuroscience and proven in business—Karen shows audiences how to turn fear into focus and chaos into opportunity.
Through laughter, interaction, and insight, audiences discover that when you practice improv, you don’t just perform—you transform.
The Goal
To ignite courage and creativity in every audience member to lead with agility and confidence in times of rapid change by providing practical tools that instantly shift how they show up, communicate, and collaborate.
The Big Idea
Improvisation is about adaptability and connection. Improvisation isn’t just about performance—it’s about preparation for the unexpected. Drawing from her Amazon #1 bestselling book The Improvisation Edge and 20+ years of executive facilitation experience, Karen reveals four powerful techniques that help leaders strengthen trust, collaboration, and creativity. These small, science-backed behavioral shifts generate measurable business impact—whether you’re leading five people or 50,000. When leaders embrace the improv mindset—saying “yes, and,” listening deeply, and building on others’ ideas—they unlock a culture of trust and innovation.
Learn how to be the leader who has confidence when you don’t have all the answers.
Key Takeaways
- Experience a fast-paced, laughter-filled session customized for your organization’s unique goals and challenges.
- Replace fear with focus and hesitation with confident, decisive action.
- Learn how neuroscience backs agile leadership behaviors that improve engagement and innovation.
- Discover four improv-inspired techniques that transform how teams communicate, collaborate, and lead.
- Walk away with tools you can use immediately to spark innovation, trust, and resilience in your teams.
This is leadership for the new era: fast, human, and impossible to forget.
This is the event your team needs to navigate 2026 and beyond.
How can we show up anywhere with impact and confidence?
Presenting and doing business on a virtual platform requires a completely different set of capabilities than presenting in person, and very few people are doing it right! One reason public speaking, leading teams and selling effectively is such a nightmare today is that people drive themselves crazy trying to conform to all sorts of handed-down rules that tie them up in knots and put their audiences to sleep.
Karen Hough says you can throw out those rules, relax, be yourself, make “mistakes,” and connect with your audience much more effectively than the guy with the impeccable PowerPoint slides. Her impactful improv techniques are backed by research in human memory and psychology, allowing the audience to walk away with ideas that can change their confidence and capabilities immediately. In her memorable, engaging way, Karen will also speak directly with the audience, integrate their comments, and use exercises and case studies to keep them laughing and thinking.
SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS:
- 5 key tips for hooking into human memory to be memorable, impactful and engaging
- The worst practices and behaviors, both in person and virtually, to drop now!
- Examples from real leaders who implemented these techniques and saw engagement, understanding and participation take off
The improviser's stock in trade is change and surprise. That might be great onstage but can be stressful and scary in real life! Karen Hough gets it, and in this interactive, engaging keynote, she pulls from decades of work with business teams and leaders who were able to integrate simple behaviors to drive and manage change. Paired with research in neuroscience and case studies of successful companies, Karen will reveal simple improv techniques that will allow you to prepare, play, and think upside down to find new and innovative answers. In this keynote, Karen shows how anyone can learn to be more creative, flexible and better at managing change. Through laughter, exercises, stories and direct conversation with the audience, Karen will engage and delight your audience for a memorable and engaging experience!
SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS:
- Navigate change confidently. Increase your personal fulfillment and sense of purpose.
- 3 steps authentic leaders use to cultivate transformation and innovation and enhance resilience in the face of change.
- Case studies from real companies about how they integrated adaptable improv behaviors to improve business outcomes
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 fees to book Karen Hough are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. 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, Change Management, Human Resources, Corporate Culture, Innovation, Peak Performance, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Diversity & Inclusion, Non-Profit, Family & Parenting, Motivational, Leadership, Social Media, Strategic Leadership, Comedian, Business Coaching and Business Authors.
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, and for virtual events $10,000 - $20,000. 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 Joseph Grenny, Dr. Kevin Freiberg and Dr. Jackie Freiberg. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Karen Hough for an upcoming event.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Karen Hough Speaking Topics
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IMPROVISATIONAL LEADERSHIP: Agility, Confidence, Results
From boardrooms to classrooms, every industry is feeling the pressure of constant change.
From actor to sales leader to entrepreneur, Karen Hough has trained thousands of leaders across Fortune 100 companies, healthcare, finance, law, and tech to lead with agility, courage, and confidence. Drawing on four powerful techniques from the improv stage—backed by neuroscience and proven in business—Karen shows audiences how to turn fear into focus and chaos into opportunity.
Through laughter, interaction, and insight, audiences discover that when you practice improv, you don’t just perform—you transform.
The Goal
To ignite courage and creativity in every audience member to lead with agility and confidence in times of rapid change by providing practical tools that instantly shift how they show up, communicate, and collaborate.
The Big Idea
Improvisation is about adaptability and connection. Improvisation isn’t just about performance—it’s about preparation for the unexpected. Drawing from her Amazon #1 bestselling book The Improvisation Edge and 20+ years of executive facilitation experience, Karen reveals four powerful techniques that help leaders strengthen trust, collaboration, and creativity. These small, science-backed behavioral shifts generate measurable business impact—whether you’re leading five people or 50,000. When leaders embrace the improv mindset—saying “yes, and,” listening deeply, and building on others’ ideas—they unlock a culture of trust and innovation.
Learn how to be the leader who has confidence when you don’t have all the answers.
Key Takeaways
- Experience a fast-paced, laughter-filled session customized for your organization’s unique goals and challenges.
- Replace fear with focus and hesitation with confident, decisive action.
- Learn how neuroscience backs agile leadership behaviors that improve engagement and innovation.
- Discover four improv-inspired techniques that transform how teams communicate, collaborate, and lead.
- Walk away with tools you can use immediately to spark innovation, trust, and resilience in your teams.
This is leadership for the new era: fast, human, and impossible to forget.
This is the event your team needs to navigate 2026 and beyond.
-
PRESENCE AND IMPACT ON EVERY PLATFORM: Break the Rules, Make Mistakes, and Win Them Over In-Person, Virtually, or Hybrid
How can we show up anywhere with impact and confidence?
Presenting and doing business on a virtual platform requires a completely different set of capabilities than presenting in person, and very few people are doing it right! One reason public speaking, leading teams and selling effectively is such a nightmare today is that people drive themselves crazy trying to conform to all sorts of handed-down rules that tie them up in knots and put their audiences to sleep.
Karen Hough says you can throw out those rules, relax, be yourself, make “mistakes,” and connect with your audience much more effectively than the guy with the impeccable PowerPoint slides. Her impactful improv techniques are backed by research in human memory and psychology, allowing the audience to walk away with ideas that can change their confidence and capabilities immediately. In her memorable, engaging way, Karen will also speak directly with the audience, integrate their comments, and use exercises and case studies to keep them laughing and thinking.
SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS:
- 5 key tips for hooking into human memory to be memorable, impactful and engaging
- The worst practices and behaviors, both in person and virtually, to drop now!
- Examples from real leaders who implemented these techniques and saw engagement, understanding and participation take off
-
CHANGE AND THE UNEXPECTED: Improv, Impact and Handling Anything that Comes Your Way
The improviser's stock in trade is change and surprise. That might be great onstage but can be stressful and scary in real life! Karen Hough gets it, and in this interactive, engaging keynote, she pulls from decades of work with business teams and leaders who were able to integrate simple behaviors to drive and manage change. Paired with research in neuroscience and case studies of successful companies, Karen will reveal simple improv techniques that will allow you to prepare, play, and think upside down to find new and innovative answers. In this keynote, Karen shows how anyone can learn to be more creative, flexible and better at managing change. Through laughter, exercises, stories and direct conversation with the audience, Karen will engage and delight your audience for a memorable and engaging experience!
SAMPLE TAKEAWAYS:
- Navigate change confidently. Increase your personal fulfillment and sense of purpose.
- 3 steps authentic leaders use to cultivate transformation and innovation and enhance resilience in the face of change.
- Case studies from real companies about how they integrated adaptable improv behaviors to improve business outcomes
VIDEO
Karen Hough Videos
BOOKS
FAQS
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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 fees to book Karen Hough are $10,000 - $20,000 for live events and $10,000 - $20,000 for virtual events. 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, Change Management, Human Resources, Corporate Culture, Innovation, Peak Performance, Teamwork & Teambuilding, Diversity & Inclusion, Non-Profit, Family & Parenting, Motivational, Leadership, Social Media, Strategic Leadership, Comedian, Business Coaching and Business Authors. -
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.
BOOK 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.
