Travis Thomas – Keynote Speaker on Courage and Leadership
Travis Thomas is a keynote speaker who challenges leaders, teams, and organizations to rethink what it really takes to perform under pressure. In a world obsessed with confidence, certainty, and control, Travis offers a different path: courage. His work focuses on how people can lead effectively even when answers are unclear, stakes are high, and discomfort is unavoidable.
As the creator of Live Yes, And, Travis draws from improv comedy to teach leaders how to stay present, adaptable, and human in fast-changing environments. His keynotes are not passive lectures. They are immersive experiences where audiences actively participate, reflect, and practice new ways of responding to uncertainty in real time. The result is a learning environment that feels energizing, honest, and immediately relevant.
From Improv Comedy to High-Stakes Performance
Travis brings a rare blend of worlds to the stage. His background spans improv comedy, sports coaching, and performance psychology, allowing him to connect with audiences across industries and roles. The principles of improv run through everything he teaches: listening fully, responding instead of reacting, and building forward even when the outcome is unclear.
These skills are not about being funny or spontaneous for the sake of it. They are about learning how to stay grounded when plans fall apart, how to communicate clearly under pressure, and how to lead in moments that test trust and character. Travis shows how the same skills used on an improv stage or a competitive field can transform leadership, teamwork, and culture inside organizations.
Author of Live Yes, And and Confidence Is Overrated
Travis is the author of two books that form the backbone of his speaking and coaching work. In 3 Words for Getting Unstuck: Live Yes, And, he introduces an improv-inspired framework for navigating uncertainty with resilience and purpose. The book offers simple, memorable language that helps leaders move forward without waiting for perfect conditions.
In Confidence Is Overrated: Why Courage Is the Antidote & Feelings Make Cowards of Us All, Travis challenges the widely held belief that confidence must come first. Instead, he argues that courage is the real engine of growth, leadership, and trust. By acting courageously in uncomfortable moments, confidence becomes a byproduct rather than a prerequisite. This message resonates deeply with leaders who feel pressure to always appear certain, composed, and in control.
Trusted by Leaders, Teams, and Elite Performers
Travis has worked with corporate leaders, sales teams, athletes, and organizations that want more than inspiration. They want lasting transformation. He has spoken to dozens of Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies, delivering keynotes that address leadership, mindset, teamwork, and performance under pressure.
His experience also extends deeply into the world of sports. Travis has worked with professional and collegiate teams including the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, University of Georgia football, and FC Dallas. He served as the Leadership and Team Dynamics Coach for the US Men’s National Soccer Team at the 2022 World Cup, supporting athletes and staff in one of the highest-pressure environments in sports. More recently, he helped Saint Louis University Men’s soccer reach the 2025 Final Four.
Book Travis Thomas for Your Event
When you book Travis Thomas for your event, you are not booking a speaker who delivers clichés or surface-level motivation. You are bringing in a partner who creates space for honest reflection, bold action, and meaningful connection. Travis meets audiences where they are and challenges them to step forward with courage, even when it feels uncomfortable.
Whether on a keynote stage or in a smaller room, Travis creates experiences that are engaging, demanding, and deeply human. His message is timely for leaders navigating change, pressure, and uncertainty. He equips people with practical tools they can use immediately, long after the applause fades.
Travis splits his time between Florida and Michigan and values time with his wife and three kids as much as time on stage. That grounding shows up in his work, making his message not just powerful, but real.
