Podcast appearances and mentions of Kelly Leonard

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent conversation he had with University of Toronto professor Christopher DiCarlo where they discussed the ethics of artificial intelligence. Are robots going to kill us? Kelly […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent conversation he had with University of Toronto professor Christopher DiCarlo where they discussed the ethics of artificial intelligence. Are robots going to kill us? Kelly […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he did with the University of Chicago Crime Lab and how Second City is embedded in a program using improv to practice communication skills. […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he did with the University of Chicago Crime Lab and how Second City is embedded in a program using improv to practice communication skills. […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent podcast he did with the University of Chicago Crime Lab and how Second City is embedded in a program using improv to practice communication skills. […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to recap the Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special. What were Kelly’s big takeaways?

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to recap the Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special. What were Kelly’s big takeaways?

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to recap the Saturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special. What were Kelly’s big takeaways?

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about this weekend’s SNL 50th anniversary special and how many members of the cast got their start in Chicago at The Second City. Kelly also talks about a […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about this weekend’s SNL 50th anniversary special and how many members of the cast got their start in Chicago at The Second City. Kelly also talks about a […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about this weekend’s SNL 50th anniversary special and how many members of the cast got their start in Chicago at The Second City. Kelly also talks about a […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent interview he did with Dr. Sunita Sah who talks about the power of ‘no.’ Kelly also talks about an interview he did with author Kurt […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent interview he did with Dr. Sunita Sah who talks about the power of ‘no.’ Kelly also talks about an interview he did with author Kurt […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about a recent interview he did with Dr. Sunita Sah who talks about the power of ‘no.’ Kelly also talks about an interview he did with author Kurt […]

What if improvisation wasn't just for comedy, but a game-changer for business, relationships, and even personal growth? In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Leonard, the creative force behind Second City's groundbreaking use of improv training in the corporate world. From recruiting comedy legends like Tina Fey and Steve Carell to co-authoring the acclaimed book Yes, And, Kelly shares stories, insights, and research-backed techniques that redefine how we approach collaboration, listening, and adaptability. You'll learn how to build trust, navigate ambiguity, and create powerful ensembles in business and life. Kelly also delves into the science behind improv. Whether you're prepping for a high-stakes pitch, navigating personal challenges, or just looking to sharpen your creative edge, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped.   Topics We Cover in This Episode:    The “Yes, And” philosophy and how it fosters creativity and collaboration A surprising FBI training exercise to build agility under pressure How to turn disagreement into a productive conversation with one simple phrase Stories of famous improvisers and the magic of ensemble thinking Why listening deeply is the ultimate superpower in high-stakes situations How improv can help heal anxiety and build resilience The unexpected ways improv transforms both individuals and organizations   If you enjoyed this conversation with Kelly Leonard, dive deeper into his world! Check out my interview on Kelly's podcast, Getting to Yes, And. Don't miss his acclaimed book, Yes, And, a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their collaboration and creativity. Learn more about The Second City here, and tune into Kelly's podcast here. You can also connect with Kelly directly on LinkedIn or follow his updates on X.   Resources Mentioned: Listen to the Give to Grow episode on Kelly's Podcast: ​​https://www.secondcity.com/network/mo-bunnell-give-to-grow  Check out Kelly's book, Yes, And: https://a.co/d/6f6lDYT The Seconde City: https://www.secondcity.com Subscribe to Kelly's podcast: https://www.secondcity.com/network/category/getting-to-yes,-and-podcast Connect with Kelly on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-leonard-b8495047/ Connect with Kelly on X: https://www.twitter.com/KLsecondcity  Order your copy of Give to Grow Get the Supplemental materials for Give to Grow Get a copy of your GrowBIG Playbook today!  

What if improvisation wasn't just for comedy, but a game-changer for business, relationships, and even personal growth? In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Leonard, the creative force behind Second City's groundbreaking use of improv training in the corporate world. From recruiting comedy legends like Tina Fey and Steve Carell to co-authoring the acclaimed book Yes, And, Kelly shares stories, insights, and research-backed techniques that redefine how we approach collaboration, listening, and adaptability. You'll learn how to build trust, navigate ambiguity, and create powerful ensembles in business and life. Kelly also delves into the science behind improv. Whether you're prepping for a high-stakes pitch, navigating personal challenges, or just looking to sharpen your creative edge, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped.   Topics We Cover in This Episode:    The “Yes, And” philosophy and how it fosters creativity and collaboration A surprising FBI training exercise to build agility under pressure How to turn disagreement into a productive conversation with one simple phrase Stories of famous improvisers and the magic of ensemble thinking Why listening deeply is the ultimate superpower in high-stakes situations How improv can help heal anxiety and build resilience The unexpected ways improv transforms both individuals and organizations   If you enjoyed this conversation with Kelly Leonard, dive deeper into his world! Check out my interview on Kelly's podcast, Getting to Yes, And. Don't miss his acclaimed book, Yes, And, a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their collaboration and creativity. Learn more about The Second City here, and tune into Kelly's podcast here. You can also connect with Kelly directly on LinkedIn or follow his updates on X.   Resources Mentioned: Listen to the Give to Grow episode on Kelly's Podcast: ​​https://www.secondcity.com/network/mo-bunnell-give-to-grow  Check out Kelly's book, Yes, And: https://a.co/d/6f6lDYT The Seconde City: https://www.secondcity.com Subscribe to Kelly's podcast: https://www.secondcity.com/network/category/getting-to-yes,-and-podcast Connect with Kelly on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-leonard-b8495047/ Connect with Kelly on X: https://www.twitter.com/KLsecondcity  Order your copy of Give to Grow Get the Supplemental materials for Give to Grow Get a copy of your GrowBIG Playbook today!  

What if improvisation wasn't just for comedy, but a game-changer for business, relationships, and even personal growth? In this episode, I sit down with Kelly Leonard, the creative force behind Second City's groundbreaking use of improv training in the corporate world. From recruiting comedy legends like Tina Fey and Steve Carell to co-authoring the acclaimed book Yes, And, Kelly shares stories, insights, and research-backed techniques that redefine how we approach collaboration, listening, and adaptability. You'll learn how to build trust, navigate ambiguity, and create powerful ensembles in business and life. Kelly also delves into the science behind improv. Whether you're prepping for a high-stakes pitch, navigating personal challenges, or just looking to sharpen your creative edge, this episode will leave you inspired and equipped.   Topics We Cover in This Episode:    The “Yes, And” philosophy and how it fosters creativity and collaboration A surprising FBI training exercise to build agility under pressure How to turn disagreement into a productive conversation with one simple phrase Stories of famous improvisers and the magic of ensemble thinking Why listening deeply is the ultimate superpower in high-stakes situations How improv can help heal anxiety and build resilience The unexpected ways improv transforms both individuals and organizations   If you enjoyed this conversation with Kelly Leonard, dive deeper into his world! Check out my interview on Kelly's podcast, Getting to Yes, And. Don't miss his acclaimed book, Yes, And, a must-read for anyone looking to elevate their collaboration and creativity. Learn more about The Second City here, and tune into Kelly's podcast here. You can also connect with Kelly directly on LinkedIn or follow his updates on X.   Resources Mentioned: Listen to the Give to Grow episode on Kelly's Podcast: ​​https://www.secondcity.com/network/mo-bunnell-give-to-grow  Check out Kelly's book, Yes, And: https://a.co/d/6f6lDYT The Seconde City: https://www.secondcity.com Subscribe to Kelly's podcast: https://www.secondcity.com/network/category/getting-to-yes,-and-podcast Connect with Kelly on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-leonard-b8495047/ Connect with Kelly on X: https://www.twitter.com/KLsecondcity  Order your copy of Give to Grow Get the Supplemental materials for Give to Grow Get a copy of your GrowBIG Playbook today!  

The relaunch of the B.O.O.S.T.® podcast is officially here!  In this initial episode, producer, Claude Jennings, and host, Kelly Leonard, discuss:Why the refresh?What's the new format?What's the B.O.O.S.T.® framework/methodology?B.O.O.S.T.® Framework Breakdown:Build Your Brand: Learn how to create an authentic brand that resonates with your ideal audience/buyer.Optimize Relationships: Discover strategies to foster meaningful connections and collaborations.Obtain More Leads: Uncover lead generation strategies & tactics that work & lead you to your desired outcomes.Secure Thought Leadership Space: Elevate your expertise/amplify your voice to become a go-to authority.Tap into New Markets: Explore expansion opportunities and reach untapped audiences and/or opportunities.We look forward to sharing great new content to help you B.O.O.S.T.® your business and career success! And, if you enjoy the show, please like and rate us, and share the podcast with a friend. Oh, and don't forget to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts! Connect with Kelly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ktleonard/ Let's Stay in Touch! LinkedIn (be sure to mention you heard the podcast ;-)) Twitter Instagram Website - B.O.O.S.T.® Your Brilliance

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to discuss a recent interview he did with Alison Fragale about her an incredible new book, called “Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve.”

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to discuss a recent interview he did with Alison Fragale about her an incredible new book, called “Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve.”

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to discuss a recent interview he did with Alison Fragale about her an incredible new book, called “Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve.”

This episode is part of the Presence project: Presence: Fixing culture starts with your calendar, not your officeYou might think an episode about improv comedy might be a stretch for a podcast about making work better. But in fact as Kelly Leonard explains today the skills of improv comedy are the most important ones that will determine our success at work. Kelly helps to run Second City, the world's famous famous improv comedy club - he believes that improv skills can teach us about what we need in work going forwards. ** TRIGGER WARNING ** includes one brief mention of poetryCheck our Kelly's book Become a member at https://plus.acast.com/s/eatsleepworkrepeat. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Josh Schachter sits down with Damien Howley, author of "Control Your Customer: A Guidebook for Customer Success Managers". Damien explains the concept of "controlling your customer", the STO framework for segmenting customer contacts, the importance of celebrating every win, and the value of quantifying the customer's gain from a product. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview & Intros 4:00 - Control Your Customer 5:50 - Interpreting customer experience 8:17 - STO framework 11:30 - Segmenting customer accounts and tracking engagements 15:40 - Customer happiness is over-rated? 18:40 - Celebrating every customer win as a CSM Damien has spent the last 20 years building, selling, and implementing SaaS. Since the inception of CS, he has worked to develop and refine best practices for revenue-focused customer success teams, helping hundreds of CSMs master their trade. He has served as a leader and advisor in Customer Success. "The richest relationships I've ever formed with customers have come on the heels of exceptional value delivery." — Damien Howley ___________________________

Emily Lockhart, VP of Customer Success at Percona, joins the hosts ⁠⁠Kristi Faltorusso⁠⁠, & ⁠⁠Josh Schachter⁠⁠. They discuss the importance of value delivery in partnerships, building proactive customer relationships, utilizing AI and technology to enhance efficiency, and automating playbooks, hiring for CS roles. Kristi also explains the difference between product and customer advisory boards and their significance. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview & Intros 3:10 - Customer Success at Percona 4:30 - Customer Success Account Managers 7:07 - Breaking into Customer Success 10:55 - Fostering relationships with customers to focus on value delivery 18:30 - Prioritising High Touch & Tech Touch 22:10 - Utilizing Product Advisory Board 24:00 - Difference between Product Advisory Boards & Customer Advisory Board 27:30 - Hiring for Customer Success Roles 35:16 - Closing ___________________________

Mike Sasaki, a seasoned CCO joins the hosts ⁠⁠Kristi Faltorusso⁠ and⁠, ⁠⁠Jon Johnson to discuss the complexities of engaging with executives, the importance of domain expertise, leadership's role in fostering an authentic workplace, and the significance of understanding a company's culture and core values. ___________________________ #updateai #customersuccess #saas #business ___________________________

#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Alex Farmer, CCO at Nezasa, & Michael Forney, VP CS at Responsive join the hosts ⁠⁠Kristi Faltorusso⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Jon Johnson⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Josh Schachter⁠⁠. They discuss: - Challenges of constant employee turnover - Aligning Sales & CS on Success Plans - Strategies for successful cross-functional collaboration - Role of AI in sharing the voice of the customer - Differentiating onboarding phases - Prioritizing customer-centric tactics - Strategic approaches to improving customer retention - Navigating challenges related to M&A Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:25 - Meet our guests & Solar Eclipse 6:31 - Leadership is lonely 8:35 - Challenges in cross-function collaboration 10:58 - Challenges dealing with churn, employee turnover 16:50 - Kristi shares the benefits of re-onboarding & strategies around it 22:50 - Alex shares his perspective on onboarding & non-regretted churn 24:35 - How you can tactically be customer-centric 28:20 - Responsive ---Behind the scenes 32:50 - Re-onboarding doesn't have to be free 35:35 - Identifying customer behavior 38:50 - Using AI to keep customer insights aligned across teams 40:22 - Alex shares about transitioning to an enterprise value selling motion 44:20 - How Alex 6x'ed the average contract value and boosted the win rate from 20 to 33% 45:45 - Adjusting success plans 50:43 - Closing ___________________________ #updateai #customersuccess #saas #business ___________________________

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent chat with Harvard business professor Michael Norton about his new book “The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent chat with Harvard business professor Michael Norton about his new book “The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent chat with Harvard business professor Michael Norton about his new book “The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual, Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday […]

Building customer relationships is a foundational pillar of ensuring business success. Over time, as the company's business grows, maintaining this initial touchpoint with each of the customers from a widespread pool of customers serves as a challenge. Dealing with such an issue needs the backing and support of people who form a close-knit team.  Jonathan Corbin, former Global Vice President of Customer Success & Strategy at HubSpot joins Josh to have an unchurned conversation about  How Hubspot identifies different categories of customers Engaging and nurturing relationships to deliver a great customer experience Team segmentation & secrets to the motivating and progressive culture at Hubspot  Aligning cross-functionality in team “Providing customers a delightful experience is deliberate, it doesn't happen by accident. A lot of people say, - We are going to create a CS team and they are going to solve all the problems. That's NOT true." - Jonathan Corbin Timestamps 0:00- Preview & Intro 2:30 - HubSpot, as a holistic solution for GTM teams 4:27 - Fostering relations with customers across different segments 11:00 - Maintaining company culture 17:00 - Using Hubspot internally 19:00 - Aligning teams cross-functionally 29:42 - Closing #updateai #customersuccess #saas #business ___________________________

#updateai #customersuccess #saas #business Kris Sundberg, the Senior VP of Customer Success at Restaurant365 joins the hosts ⁠⁠Kristi Faltorusso⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Jon Johnson⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Josh Schachter⁠⁠. They discuss how they leverage AI for predictive analysis, the potential benefits of benchmarking and data insights for competitors in the market, and the impact of COVID on their clients in the restaurant industry. Kris delves into the company's unique approach to client engagement and cost management, and the exciting new addition to Restaurant365- Mickey Powell. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:20 - Josh forgets to record, Mickey joins Restaurant365 7:32 - Meet Kris 8:49 - Is having CS report to the CRO a good idea? 11:22 - Commisioning CSMs for retentions and upsells 14:14 - What does a CS Ops analyst do? 18:35 - Managing a team of 260 CSMs 21:10 - Ensuring customer enablement and engagement 25:00 - Kris rehired and outsourced work to former employees during Covid-19 30:05 - How does this outsourcing work at Restaurant365? 32:20 - Focus on Minimizing Customer Turnover and Payroll 35:00 - AI in CS 38:50 - Benchmarking customers against their competitors 42:00 - Closing ___________________________

Elisabeth Zornes, Chief Customer Officer at Autodesk joins the hosts ⁠⁠Kristi Faltorusso⁠⁠, ⁠⁠Jon Johnson⁠⁠ & ⁠⁠Josh Schachter⁠⁠ to explore the challenges and strategies in articulating and delivering value to customers. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 0:58 - BS & Intros 3:30 - How does a CCO work with customers? 4:40 - Where is Kate Middleton? 7:00 - Making the customer a success 9:00 - Articulating the value of the product to customers 13:50 - Planning customer success, measuring and assessing data 16:45 - Collecting customer data to create solid foundations 18:35 - How to use AI for customer insights & recommendations 23:15 - Best conversations for customers' success & technical success 25:40 - How to build a scalable customer success process for small businesses? 30:15 - CS This or That 32:14 - CSMs spent 33% of their time on preparing and follow-ups 36:05 - How can CSMs track and enforce product adoption? 39:50 - The future of CS 44:25 - Closing ___________________________

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent podcast with Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, who explains how, in many jobs, we don’t really have a good […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent podcast with Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, who explains how, in many jobs, we don’t really have a good […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent podcast with Cal Newport, a professor of computer science at Georgetown University, who explains how, in many jobs, we don’t really have a good […]

Unchurned is presented by UpdateAI Carie Buchanan, the Chief Experience Officer (CXO) at Popmenu, participates in CS & BS conversations with the hosts Kristi Faltorusso and Josh Schachter. They discussed the technology landscape in Atlanta and Carie's experiences while working at big companies like Google, Microsoft, Salesforce, and ERPs. The conversation covered various topics, including the evolution of customer success roles at Salesforce, how Carie's consulting background led her to leadership in the tech industry and much more. Timestamps 0:00 - Preview 1:17 - Weekend Highlights & Intros 4:46 - Tech landscape in Atlanta 7:03 - Popmenu 9:45 - Listening Strategy & Customer Feedback 11:55 - Kristi's obsession with consultants 13:10 - Consulting mindset for problem-solving and success 17:00 - 3 skills Carie picked up from her time in consulting 19:05 - Feedback on customer requests vs. software innovation 21:50 - Balancing leadership and contact with individual contributors & customers 24:55 - Setting up governance models 26:50 - Gaining insights from skip-level meetings 28:22 - Dealing with the conflicting perspectives of employees and customers 29:50 - Why Salesforce did not choose to dominate the CS industry - Running Customer Success from Salesforce 34:50 - Kristi's She's So Suite Podcast 39:20 - Forming a CS team to manage your customer base 43:35 - Customer Success Roles and Responsibilities 45:00 - The interplay between Account Managers and Customer Success Managers 47:00 - Closing ___________________________

Kelly Leonard is the executive vice president of The Second City in Chicago. He has worked at the Second City since 1988, overseeing productions with such notable performers as Steven Colbert, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and many more. Kelly is also the author of best selling book “Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses “No, But” thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration.”Topics-Kelly's role at Second City-How curiosity plays a major role in Improv-Understanding the power of Yes, and!-The give and take dichotomy-Talk without “I”-Last word Improvisation exercise-“Thank you, because” exercise-10 Lessons Kelly wish he knew when he was a senior in high schoolGet your FREE list of top 30 books written by Mindset Advantage guests at www.djhillier.com/30booksGet your FREE LMNT sample at www.drinkLMNT.com/mindsetadvantageIf you found value in this episode be sure to leave a rating, review, and share it on your social medias. 

Improv isn't just for comedy. If there are superfoods like blueberries that are good for your health, improv may just be a super-skill that has implications and applications that are also good for your health. No joke. And the skills are highly learnable and can measurably help you become a better person. They can make you a better collaborator in marriage, parenthood, business, and just about everywhere in life. Many Fortune 500 companies, including Clorox, have been able to boost their bottom line by using the skills they've implemented from improv. I had the pleasure of speaking with Kelly Leonard (https://www.secondcity.com/people/kelly-leonard+), the Vice President of Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development of Second City in Chicago, the oldest continually operating improv center in the world. The list of graduates who have come from Second City is utterly astounding. If you are a fan of any of these people, you can thank Second City: Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tina Fey, Tim Meadows, Gilda Radner, Bill Murray, Joan Rivers, Jordan Peele, Alan Alda, John Belushi, Stephen Colbert, Cecily Strong, and so many others. All of them developed their chops under the same roof, where my guest has worked for 35 years. Kelly is the author of an excellent book on improv called, Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, but" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration - Lessons from the Second City. I loved this book and so did a fella by the name of Stephen Colbert who said the book, “…is for anyone looking to be more creative in their work and in their life.” Other similar praise came from Dan Pink and Vanity Fair. In this episode, you will hear how improv works, and why you should consider developing these skills. You may even find yourself bringing people like Kelly to your workplace to help improve performance and employee morale through the types of play that only improv can bring. So, listen in as Kelly and I talk about why you need to learn improv, the super-skill in life.

Could improv comedy be the key to unlocking human potential?Our guest today isn't just tossing around this idea—he's used the alchemy of the improv stage to forge groundbreaking strategies that are sure to ripple through business, sport, and life itself.Let's set the stage for Kelly Leonard. His title—Vice President of Creative Strategy, Innovation, and Business Development—only begins to capture his role at The Second City. And this isn't just any theater. It's a global comedy powerhouse that gave us legends like Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Amy Poehler, to name a few. Yet the improv stage is merely a starting point for Kelly's broader mission. He's on an epic journey to inspire and empower people to use improvisation as a tool for positive change and growth. Kelly's best-selling book, 'Yes, And,' and a pioneering partnership with the University of Chicago reflect this mission—bridging behavioral science with the principles of improv.I love how Kelly offers us unconventional wisdom on reframing challenges, daring to risk, and savoring the present moment in all its unpredictability.And our conversation goes deep. We explore thoughtful leadership, building a culture that unlocks radical creativity, tools to deepen relationships and even some remarkably profound ways to approach grief.So, if you're leading a team, wanting to live fiercely in the now, or simply searching for a fresh lens on life's curveballs, this is one episode you won't want to miss.-----WATCH this episode on our YouTube channel.Connect with us on our Instagram.For more information and shownotes from every episode, head to findingmastery.com.To check out our exclusive sponsor deals and discounts CLICK HERE!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent chat with Harvard professor Amy Edmondson about her new book “The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.” Kelly explains how people […]

Kelly Leonard, Vice President, Creative Strategy, Innovation and Business Development at The Second City and host of the “Getting to Yes, And…” podcast, joins John Williams to talk about his recent chat with Harvard professor Amy Edmondson about her new book “The Right Kind of Wrong: The Science of Failing Well.” Kelly explains how people […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, connects with Marcus Collins, the head of strategy at Wieden+Kennedy and a clinical assistant professor of marketing at The Ross School of Business, University of Michigan, to discuss his new book: “For The Culture: The Power Behind What We Buy, What We Do, And Who […]

BONUS PODCAST: This bonus podcast was taped live at the Up Comedy Club at The Second City. Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, hosts a podcast taping with a stellar panel of guests to look at how comedy is an effective tool in the struggle for human rights. […]

Through more than 50 captivating conversations, we've had the privilege of engaging with distinguished guests, including Customer Success leaders, founders, and a few amazingly talented authors who wrote books not about Customer Success, not about customer-facing teams necessarily, but whose thought leadership can be easily applied.This week's episode is a spotlight episode with the key takeaways from three insightful conversations with - Kindra Hall will discuss how to craft compelling stories and narratives to connect with your customers.- Geoffrey Moore emphasizes the importance of redirecting budgets during downturns and patching up issues within customer success.- Kelly Leonard shares practical exercises on how to build better relationships and handle challenging situations using improv techniques.Listen to the full episode to hear more about these fascinating insights and how they can be applied to your work in customer success and beyond.Checkout the full episodes with- Kindra Hall on Spotify | Apple | Youtube- Geoffrey Moore on Spotify | Apple | Youtube- Kelly Leonard on Spotify | Apple | Youtube

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, gets a lesson in both food and economics from Professor Ha-Joon Chang when they discuss his new book “Edible Economics: A Hungry Economist Explains the World.” “We Koreans don't just eat garlic. We process it. In industrial quantities. We are garlic.” “This […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, talks to facilitator, Neuro-Linguistic Programming Executive Coach, and Burnout Management Specialist Neelu Kaur about her new book, “Be Your Own Cheerleader: An Asian and South Asian Woman's Cultural, Psychological, and Spiritual Guide to Self-Promote at Work.” “We teach people how we want […]

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, connects with University of Virginia psychologist Daniel T. Willingham to talk about his new book, “Outsmart Your Brain: Why Learning is Hard and How You Can Make it Easy.”  “It may come as a surprise, but people can be mistaken about what they […]

The Art of Charm is brought to you by BetterHelp. Visit betterhelp.com/charm today to get 10% off your first month. In today's episode, we cover the importance of improvising with Kelly Leonard. Kelly's career in the theater industry began by accident. He was hired as a dishwasher at Second City in Chicago, where he met John Favreau. He realized improv was not magic, but a skill that could be practiced and applied in business, parenting, and relationships. Kelly established himself as an executive producer for Second City, coordinating performances for generations of comics, actors, and writers. Kelly has written a book, "Yes, And," outlining how he believes the core principles behind improvisation can be applied to spark and drive collaboration. In this episode of The Art of Charm, we explore the world of improvisation and its many benefits in communication, comedy, and creativity. From empathy and collaboration to resilience through failure, our guest speaker shares his experiences using improv to navigate ambiguity and uncertainty. We discuss the importance of listening, reframing, and storytelling, as well as the concept of post traumatic growth.  What to Listen For Introduction – 0:00 How did Kelly Leonard get started in improv? Why is improv important for innovation? The Core Principles of Improv – 10:58 What are the core principles of improv and why do they apply to many areas of life? How do you lead a healthy conversation with someone you disagree with? The Magic of Mistakes – 24:02  How do we leverage mistakes to create success or make progress toward your goals? What simple exercise can you use to reframe negative events in your life to be positive? Creating Comedy – 42:30 How do you formally create comedy? How do you give status to people you're talking to? What simple tool can you start using today to make conversations easier, engaging, and more fun for anyone involved? Many of us are familiar with improv comedy but did you know the principles of improv can be used in business, parenting, and relationships? Every time you have a conversation with someone, you are improvising because you can't predict what the other person will say and so you must improvise every time the other person responds to something you say. The best conversations are fluid and dynamic, making both people feel comfortable and natural. But to be good at improvising, you must practice it just like you would any other skill.  Resources from this Episode Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses "No, But" Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration by Kelly Leonard Kelly Leonard on Twitter Second City's website Check in with AJ and Johnny! AJ on Instagram Johnny on Instagram The Art of Charm on Instagram The Art of Charm on YouTube The Art of Charm on TikTok Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelly Leonard, Executive Director of Learning & Applied Improvisation at Second City Works, Kelly has a conversation with entrepreneur Surbhi Sarna who has a new book “Without a Doubt: How to Go From Underrated to Unbeatable.” “Entrepreneurs are people who build their own ladders while also climbing them.” “Taking care of yourself is a demonstration […]

Let's talk about the magic that is improvisation, or what us cool kids call "improv." It's an art form that's all about unleashing your creativity and performing without a script or plan. Sure, you may have heard of it as a side-splitting comedy act, but improv goes a lot deeper than that. From acting to business to mental health, improv skills can be applied in various areas of life.  Enter Kelly Leonard, the VP of Creative Strategy, Innovation, and Business Development at the infamous Second City in Chicago. Kelly, who over the decades has produced hundreds of original revues with comedians such as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, and Seth Meyers (to name a few) has a unique understanding of behavioral science through the lens of improv.   Regaling us with lessons and stories from his career and book, ‘Yes And', we learn how to utilize improv to help us adapt, empathize, communicate, trust, and collaborate better. We are reminded that saying ‘yes' to new ideas and experiences sparks creativity and can lead to beneficial outcomes. From deepening our relationships with others by practicing active listening and learning to accept and appreciate new ideas, regardless of their origin. It also teaches us to think on our feet and work together to create innovative solutions to problems. Listen and Learn:  How Stephen Colbert came to write a blurb for Kelly's book, Yes, and: How Improvisation Reverses No, But Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration Why so many successful comedy performers have an improv background  How improv skills can help us to empathize, communicate and collaborate The idea of the ‘Yes And' exercise  Why Kelly prefers to use the word ensemble vs. team  Improv's positive impact on caregiver burden and depression An introduction to the ‘I Am Somebody Who' exercise Why adopting a Yes And mentality helps create a psychologically safe environment How improv can be applied in therapy  If improv were an animal, what animal would it be?  What's next for Kelly's work in science and the arts  Resources:  Learn more about Kelly: https://www.secondcity.com/people/kelly-leonard+ Get your copy of Yes, And: How Improvisation Reverses No, But Thinking and Improves Creativity and Collaboration: https://bookshop.org/a/30734/9780062248541 Check out The Second City website: https://www.secondcity.com/ Listen to Kelly's podcast, Getting to Yes And: https://www.secondcityworks.com/podcast About Kelly Leonard  Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of Learning and Applied Improvisation at Second City Works. His book, “Yes, And: Lessons from The Second City” was released to critical acclaim in 2015 by HarperCollins and was praised by Michael Lewis in Vanity Fair who called it “...an excellent guide to the lessons that have bubbled up in Second City's improv workshops.” Kelly is a popular speaker on the power of improvisation to transform people's lives. He has presented at The Aspen Ideas Festival, The Code Conference,TEDx Broadway, Chicago Ideas Festival, The Stanford Graduate School of Business and for companies such as Coca Cola, Microsoft, Twitter, Memorial Sloan Kettering and DDB Worldwide.  Kelly co-created an initiative with the Center for Decision Research at the Booth School at the University of Chicago, The Second Science Project, that looks at behavioral science through the lens of improvisation. He also hosts the podcast, “Getting to Yes, And,” for Second City Works and WGN radio that features interviews with academics, authors and leaders such as Brene Brown, Adam Grant, Michael Lewis, Lindy West, Ash Carter and Amy Edmondson. For over twenty years, Kelly oversaw Second City's live theatrical divisions where he helped generate original productions with such talent as Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Poehler, Seth Meyers, Steve Carell, Keegan Michael Key, Amy Sedaris, Adam McKay and others. In 2019, Arts Alliance Illinois awarded Kelly and his wife Anne Libera with their Creative Voice Award.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices