Erin Diehl: Keynote Speaker on Leadership, Empathy, and Adaptability
Erin Diehl is a sought-after keynote speaker known for combining business acumen, improvisational comedy, and experiential learning into unforgettable experiences. As a Business Improv Edutainer and Failfluencer, Erin helps organizations navigate uncertainty, build trust, and strengthen leadership skills in a way that feels accessible, practical, and energizing. Her work centers on one powerful idea: when people feel seen, supported, and safe to try, they perform better, together.
Erin is the founder of improve it!, a professional development company born from a series of unrelated dares that turned into a bold mission. Through immersive keynotes and workshops, Erin sharpens leaders and teams so they can thrive in ever-changing environments, all while having a whole lot of laughs along the way. Her style is engaging, participatory, and grounded in the realities of modern work.
From Chicago Improv Stages to Global Business Audiences
A graduate of Clemson University, Erin began her career in experiential marketing and recruiting before discovering the transformative power of improvisation. She trained with some of Chicago’s most respected improvisational institutions, including The Second City, i.O. Theater, and The Annoyance Theater. This foundation allows her to translate improv principles, like listening, trust, and adaptability, into tools leaders can immediately apply in the workplace.
Erin has shared the stage with organizations such as Amazon, LinkedIn, McKesson, and The Obama Foundation, delivering keynotes that resonate across industries and cultures. Recently featured in The New York Times, she brings credibility, warmth, and a distinctive voice that leaves lasting ripple effects for change long after the applause fades.
Book Erin Diehl for Your Event
When you book Erin Diehl for your event, you get more than a keynote, you get an experience that invites participation and reflection. Erin’s sessions are designed to energize rooms, break down silos, and spark meaningful conversations around leadership, empathy, communication, and resilience. Her audiences don’t just listen; they play, practice, and learn together.
Erin’s keynotes are particularly impactful for organizations navigating growth, change, or burnout. She creates space for leaders and teams to reconnect with themselves and each other, building cultures where curiosity, trust, and courage can thrive. And yes, many sessions include movement, laughter, and sometimes even a chicken dance, a moment Erin is proudly known for having inspired over 51,000 professionals to attempt.
Thought Leadership, Learning, and Radical Empathy
Erin is a graduate of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Program and a member of The Chicago Innovation Awards Women’s Cohort, reflecting her commitment to lifelong learning and innovation. She is also the host of The Workday Playdate Podcast with improve it!, a Top 1% global podcast where she explores how play, empathy, and authenticity can transform the way we work.
As a first-time author, Erin wrote the Amazon Best Seller and Top New Release I See You! A Leader’s Guide to Energizing Your Team Through Radical Empathy. The book expands on her core message: leadership starts with truly seeing people and allowing yourself to be seen as well.
A Speaker Who Connects on a Human Level
What sets Erin Diehl apart as a keynote speaker is her ability to balance humor with depth. She speaks openly about failure, vulnerability, and growth, creating a sense of psychological safety that encourages audiences to lean in. Her message is relatable, research-informed, and deeply human, making her a powerful choice for conferences, leadership events, and internal company gatherings.
When she’s not speaking, coaching, or playing pretend, Erin enjoys walking on the beach with her husband, son, and eight-pound toy poodle, BIGG DIEHL. That same sense of joy and presence carries into every room she enters, reminding leaders that work can be productive, meaningful, and fun.
If you are looking to book Erin Diehl for your event, expect an engaging keynote that leaves your audience energized, connected, and ready to lead with empathy, adaptability, and confidence.
