Pep Rosenfeld
Pep Rosenfeld blends humor, leadership insights and storytelling to energize teams.
Why you should book Pep Rosenfeld for your next event
- His interactive humor keynotes strengthen leadership, teamwork and communication through practical, memorable activities.
- He tailors every keynote with customized material researched specifically for your company or event.
- A trusted host for global events, bringing sharp interviews, humor and energy to any stage.
Non-binding request for Pep Rosenfeld
Humor-driven keynote speaker, Emmy-nominated writer and sought-after event host.
Pep Rosenfeld is a keynote speaker, comedian, author and high-level event host who transforms leadership, communication and teamwork through humor. With more than three decades of experience and a career that spans writing, performing and interviewing global thought leaders, he delivers keynotes that are energetic, tailored and deeply engaging. His sessions invite participants to learn by doing, creating an environment where insight and laughter go hand in hand.
Who is Pep Rosenfeld?
Pep Rosenfeld is one of the most prominent voices on the power of humor in leadership and teamwork. As the author of Work Laugh Balance: Why and How Humor Will Make You and Your Team More Successful, he shows audiences how laughter can unlock engagement, clarity and resilience at work. His background is unique: he is a keynote speaker, communication trainer, comedian and Emmy-nominated writer whose work blends performance expertise with practical workplace insight.
He co-founded Boom Chicago, the celebrated comedy institution that became the launchpad for several of America’s most influential comedians and creators. Seth Meyers, Jordan Peele, Amber Ruffin, Kay Cannon and the creative force behind Ted Lasso Jason Sudeikis, Brendan Hunt and Joe Kelly all developed their craft within Boom Chicago’s environment. Pep’s decades guiding, performing with and coaching rising talent heavily inform his approach to leadership, storytelling and collaboration.
Book Pep Rosenfeld for your event
When you book Pep, you get more than a polished talk. He dives into your organization, gathering details and nuances that allow him to craft tailored material for your audience. This customization strengthens the impact of his message and creates the sense that the keynote belonged exclusively to your event.
Pep designs sessions where the audience becomes active participants. Drawing on improvisation, he uses small-group exercises that reinforce key themes such as mental flexibility, active listening and engaged communication. These interactions spark laughter while helping people internalize useful skills that transfer directly into daily work. As Franklin’s line reminds us tell, show, involve Pep builds experiences where involvement drives the learning.
Impact, style and what audiences can expect
Pep’s presence on stage is energetic, playful and grounded in practical insight. His keynotes combine sharp storytelling, humor and relatable lessons shaped by more than 30 years of experience on professional stages and inside organizations. Participants walk away feeling inspired, more confident in their communication and equipped with techniques that strengthen collaboration.
He is equally known for his work as a host. Pep regularly fronts major conferences such as TEDx, The Next Web, Brand Minds and The Nordic Business Forum, where he famously made Barack Obama laugh. His interviews with Simon Sinek, Brené Brown and Malcolm Gladwell receive exceptional feedback and often rank among event highlights. At many conferences he hosts, Pep earns audience scores that surpass those of the speakers themselves a testament to his timing, curiosity and ability to create connection.
A trusted partner for high-level organizations
Global companies rely on Pep when an event demands clarity, energy and a host who can guide a room with ease. He has led and hosted high-stakes business gatherings for organizations including Johnson & Johnson, Ahold, KPMG, ING, IBM, Software AG, Netflix, Google, Adyen and Novartis. Whether interviewing leaders, moderating discussions or keeping a room energized through long sessions, he brings humor that elevates the entire experience.
Recognition, experience and his perspective on humor
Pep’s understanding of humor in professional settings is deepened by his diverse career. Beyond the stage and the conference hall, he was nominated for an Emmy for his writing on Saturday Night Live, one of television’s most enduring institutions. This blend of corporate, creative and comedic experience shapes his belief that humor is a powerful professional tool.
Adam Grant wrote of his book Work Laugh Balance: “This book won’t make your boring boss funny. But it will make you laugh and help you bring more humor into your job. Pep Rosenfeld is one of the funniest people in business, and any workplace can benefit from his levity.”
This blend of expertise and playfulness sets Pep apart. He brings the rigor of a communication trainer, the instinct of a performer and the strategic lens of someone who has worked closely with leaders and creators across industries. Audiences leave his keynotes with more than a moment of laughter, they gain skills that strengthen teamwork, storytelling and leadership long after the event ends.
Keynotes
Keynote by Pep Rosenfeld:
Work Laugh Balance: Think Like a Comedian to Boost Creativity & Output
Leaders that use humor are more inspirational, and their teams are more effective. Laughing is great for your team's well-being and productivity. Plus it helps them actually want to be in the office. With a mix of science, stories and interaction, Pep shares his Seven Skills that will actually make you funnier at work:
- Listen
- Be present
- Know a little about a lot
- Make connections
- Be specific
- Suprise people
- Sell it
Pep will help you create a culture where humor and happiness can flourish. Your team will feel safe and appreciated which makes them thrive.
Keynote by Pep Rosenfeld:
How to Beat AI: Lead Like a Human
Yes AI is a powerful, game-changing tool. But it's not a leader. In this keynote, Pep shares leadership lessons and stories from twenty-five years of watching companies present new strategies. The way to inspire people is by doing what AI can't: leaning into the things that make us human:
- Show up. Be there, in person, when the team needs you, and be one of them.
- Humor. Use the power of humor in your communication to lead, not avoid, tough conversations.
- DO sweat the small stuff. Acknowledge the problems the team faces, and deal with them in an honest way. Values. Act on and embody them; don't rewrite them again.
- Emotions. Be willing to show yours, and be tuned in to those of your team
Don't be an AL, an "Artificial Leader," who puts on a leadership show by feigning strength and denying vulnerability. Be human.
Keynote by Pep Rosenfeld:
Work Laugh Balance: Storytelling & Collaboration
As we work to restore a sense of team to the team, how do we encourage collaboration? With crisp communication! Clarity, presence, energy, and yes humor all help messages land. In this interactive keynote, Pep shows the skills behind strong storytelling and strong teamwork are the same. And they help teams feel safe to contribute. From there, the keynote can focus on the outcomes your team needs most:
- Storytelling that Persuades and Sticks: How to structure a clear, audience-first narrative and design slides that support (not distract) from your message. Then deliver with emotion, pacing, and specificity so people actually remember what you said.
- Collaboration Powered by "Yes-And": Boom Chicago’s signature mindset stretches ideas, builds trust, and makes every teammate feel heard. Teams experience how “loving every idea for a minute” unlocks creativity and shared ownership.
You choose the focus; Pep brings the energy, humor, and interactive tools your team will use the very next day.
Keynote by Pep Rosenfeld:
From Social Friction to Smart Friction
Social Friction is the negative force that slows teams down. It's the hesitation, politeness, and misinterpretation that stop people from saying what they really think and building on each other’s ideas.
In this interactive talk, teams practice simple, human skills that reduce Social Friction and unlock better collaboration:
- Yes-And Listening. Listen to understand, empathize and build
- Clarity: No More Nodding. Replacing vague agreement with shared understanding, clear language, and real alignment.
- Positve Humor. Lower social risk by connecting people and letting them know they can be human
When Social Friction is reduced, teams don’t become softer — they become sharper. They create space for idea-vs-idea friction: the healthy tension that leads to better thinking, smarter decisions, and more innovative collaboration.
