Kate O'Neill, professional global keynote speaker

As a globally recognized keynote speaker and thought leader, I deliver transformative insights at the intersection of technology, business, and human experience. My talks inspire and equip leaders to navigate digital transformation while creating meaningful human experiences at scale.

Selected speaking engagements demonstrate impact across sectors:

- GLOBAL LEADERSHIP & INNOVATION
    - United Nations: Multiple keynotes on data-driven innovation and human experience
    - World Government Summit (Dubai): Future of work presentation to world leaders
    - Amsterdam's Future-Readiness Initiative: Strategic city transformation
- FORTUNE 500 & ENTERPRISE
    - Executive keynotes for Google, IBM, Adobe, Microsoft, Cisco
    - Digital transformation strategies for Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Charles Schwab
    - Innovation workshops for HCA Healthcare, Northwestern Mutual
- SPECIALIZED EXPERTISE
    - Tech Innovation: Talks at Google series, Etsy Engineering Day
    - Academic Leadership: Guest lectures at Cambridge, Harvard, Yale
    - Industry Events: INBOUND, O'Reilly Strata + Hadoop World London

Speaking topics include:

- • The Tech Humanist Approach to Digital Transformation
- • AI Ethics and Responsible Innovation
- • Future-Ready Leadership in a Tech-Driven World
- • Creating Meaningful Human Experiences at Scale

Available for keynotes, executive workshops, and strategic advisory sessions. Past audiences have included C-suite executives and senior leaders from Fortune 500 companies, tech innovators, and global organizations committed to responsible digital transformation.

Professional Keynote Speaker

The Tech Humanist Show

The Tech Humanist Show is a multi-format program exploring how data and technology shape the human experience. Available as both a podcast and video series, the show features in-depth conversations with influential thinkers and leaders in ethical AI, privacy, and emerging technology. Distinguished guests have included Dr. Rumman Chowdhury (former Twitter Director of ML Ethics), David Ryan Polgar (Founder of All Tech Is Human), Dr. Safiya Noble (author of "Algorithms of Oppression"), and Yanis Varoufakis (former finance minister of Greece and author of “Technofeudalism”), among other visionary voices shaping the future of technology and humanity.

Creator, Host, Executive Producer

KO Insights

KO Insights is a premier strategic advisory firm transforming how global organizations navigate the intersection of technology and humanity. We specialize in human-centric digital transformation, AI ethics, and meaningful innovation at scale.

Our expertise delivers measurable impact through executive advisory services, transformative keynotes, and strategic workshops. We help organizations harness emerging technologies while prioritizing meaningful human experiences and responsible innovation.

Select client engagements showcase our impact across sectors:

- Guided a FORTUNE 50 TECH GIANT in developing ethical AI frameworks and human-centric product strategies
- Partnered with a GLOBAL CONSUMER BRAND LEADER to revolutionize their digital customer experience across 100+ markets
- Led digital transformation strategy for a MAJOR HEALTHCARE NETWORK, focusing on patient experience optimization
- Advised a LEADING SMART CITY INITIATIVE on human-centric IoT implementation
- Facilitated strategic innovation workshops for MULTIPLE FORTUNE 100 EXECUTIVE TEAMS

Our client portfolio includes Fortune 100 corporations, global tech leaders, prestigious universities (including Harvard, Cambridge, Yale), major healthcare institutions, government agencies, and the United Nations. We've worked with recognized brands such as Google, IBM, Adobe, Microsoft, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's, delivering transformative insights that drive both business success and human benefit.

We share our insights globally through books, articles, and thought leadership collaborations with major organizations. My upcoming book "What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast" (2025, Wiley and Thinkers50) continues this tradition.

Founder & CEO / Chief Tech Humanist (Expert Consultant/Advisor, Author, Speaker)

Professional Global Keynote Speaker

Leading Authorities, Inc.

BigSpeak Speakers Bureau

Keppler Speakers

London Speaker Bureau

Faith Popcorn's BrainReserve

Have consulted on strategy projects for Fortune 500 clients, including go-to-market consumer strategy for a new pharmaceutical device, as well as providing expert input on trends for client projects from time to time.

Consulting Strategist / Member of "TalentBank" Panel of Experts

Deep Focus

Stepped in temporarily to lead strategy definition for a client roster including household-name consumer brands and global organizations.

Strategy Consultant

Known globally as the "Tech Humanist," Kate O'Neill is a leading voice on AI ethics, responsible tech, and human-centric digital transformation. As a sought-after expert, she advises Fortune 500 leaders and speaks at high-profile events worldwide on navigating our tech-driven future while prioritizing human experiences.

Kate's unique blend of "Strategic Optimism" and tech expertise has made her an in-demand consultant for organizations facing complex challenges in emerging technologies, climate change, and rapid digital transformation. Her insights help businesses innovate responsibly, balancing technological advancement with human values.

Career highlights:

- Author of six books, including the forthcoming "What Matters Next: A Leader's Guide to Making Human-Friendly Tech Decisions in a World That's Moving Too Fast"
- Shortlisted for the prestigious Thinkers50 Digital Thinking Award
- Featured expert on BBC, WIRED, NPR, and other major media outlets
- Pioneering roles: First content management position at Netflix, built Toshiba's first intranet

With over 25 years of cross-functional expertise in technology, strategy, and innovation, Kate has consistently been at the forefront of digital industry practices. Her work spans from data analytics and IoT to AI and machine learning, always with a focus on creating meaningful, scalable human experiences.

Recognized as "Technology Entrepreneur of the Year" and "Strategist of the Year," Kate continues to shape the global conversation on how businesses can thrive in the digital age while making a positive impact on humanity.

For more information, visit: http://www.koinsights.com/about/about-kate-oneill/

Latest book available for pre-order at: 
https://www.amazon.com/What-Matters-Next-Human-Friendly-Decisions/dp/1394296428/

Kate O'Neill

KEEPING IT HUMAN, INC.

I deliver interactive, fun-filled talks, keynotes and corporate events that focus on transformation and change for teams and leaders - with storytelling, improv principles and humor. The future of work includes play, improv and laughter. Whether its leaders in HR or sales, audiences will laugh, learn and leave inspired to change their work and lives.

I've spoken at conferences and companies in-person and virtually.

Conferences:
Keynote: Visual Storytelling Conference, AMA Ignite, Womens' Center Leadership Conference
Featured: SXSW
Talks: CMWorld, Social Media Marketing World, Inbound, SXSW

Keynote Speaker, Workshop Leader, Podcast Host

I am a keynote speaker, corporate trainer, comic improviser and author of 3 books.

The most important connection in business is a human one.  I know people SAY it. I do it. Since 2010 when 'human in business' wasn't even a trend!

Way too many speakers put the FU in fun. Lol. I get it. I ran teams for ten years in tech. I am also an improviser. I don't do forced acronyms or fun by MBO. What I can do is make it safer and way less drama and work to get to get to great ideas.

Now the spiel, baybee......!!!!

Using improvisation, I humanize storytelling and culture with a blend of strategy, applied improvisation and playful humor. Let's help teamwork suck less and work better for people!  Improv is not theatrical; in business, it's about collaborating with customers and teams to creating compelling stories, products and experiences that move people, ideas and brands forward. And, it's about building collaborative cultures that say "yes" vs. "yes but" and "yes, but hell no!" BS that way too many organizations practice.

Safe spaces for unsafe thinking. BOOM!

Places I have spoken, laughed with and created training for include...

Amazon 
IBM
NASDAQ
Cisco
SXSW (featured speaker 2019, 2X)
Content Marketing World
MarketingProfs
FunnyBizz (2X)
Content Marketing Conference
Social Media Marketing World (3X)
Inbound 
Applied Improv Network World Conference (3X)
Ignite AMA Conference

And.... C4 Media, InfoQ Frecklebox, Delphon, Cisco Systems, SAP, Yahoo!, Autodesk, Genentech, Portola Pharma, Kaiser Permanente,  United Way Silicon Valley, to name a few places.

I work with all kinds of teams: marketing, sales, technical teams, culture and HR to solve communication and creativity challenges.

Founder, Global Speaker, Corporate Expert Facilitator, Comedian, LinkedIn Learning Instructor

Powerfully Funny (Keeping it Human humor div) enables organizations tell their stories in creative, fun ways. We're "marketing story detectives" who combine levity and comedy principles with storytelling and creativity to get great results for clients and their customers. We also offer workshops on levity and humor as internal corporate advantages

Founder of Powerfully Funny, a humor in business agency (merged into Keeping it Human)

LinkedIn

LinkedIn Learning Instructor

The Pear Theatre

Improvisation Performer and Instructor

UC Berkeley Extension

Taught marketing and communications as well as several courses on Humor and Marketing

 Instructor: Buyer Behavior, Marketing, Communications, Humor 

Stanford Continuing Studies

I taught courses that allow people and teams to increase their creativity and innovation through risk-taking and collaborative play.

 Improv and Play for Communication, Creativity and Innovation

Society For New Communications Research of The Conference Board

Nerdafides

The Society for New Communications Research is a global nonprofit 501(c)(3) think tank dedicated to the advanced study of the latest developments in new media and communications, and their effect on traditional media / business models, communications, and society. SNCR is dedicated to creating a bridge between the academic and theoretical pursuit of these topics and the pragmatic implementation of new media and communications tools and methodologies.

Find out about the NewComm Forum in April
www.sncr.org

Founding Board Member, Marketing VP & Sr. Research Fellow

Intermolecular

Built marcom messaging, launched media, ran executive media training. Translated complex tech into simple and powerful human stories media, partners and employees were proud of  

Nerdy Deets (Done Dirt Cheap!) LOL
-Built and managed the internal marketing communications function, managed the PR agency relationship (messaging, PR, collateral, website), and measured results for semiconductor R&D start-up.
- Developed updated messaging for the company and created a marketing plan / system to elevate the company's message and increase awareness.
Launched rev 2.0 of dynamic website with content management system 
- Co- wrote / positioned articles with high PR ROI: Semiconductor Int’l, Solid State Tech, Eng News 
- Brought some PR strategies and tactics in-house to save money and create internal infrastructure
-Created product collateral and internal strategic marcom roadmap around technology pipeline

Global Senior Director Marketing Communications

Autodesk

Areas: market positioning and research, website development, analyst relations

-Championed requirements/benefits for AR program and tracking ROI (share of voice by industry/app segments)
-Defined / created market research portal including content for website (IDC, Factiva), taxonomy definition, and dictionary/thesaurus creation
-Wrote marketing content on segmentation, loyalty programs, measuring marketing ROI
-Created global dictionary / customer benefits segmentation across EMEA, AMER, APAC

Marketing Strategy

Silicon Valley American Marketing Assoc. (SVAMA)

Launched print and web communications including award-winning newsletters, developed PR program. Titles held during 5-year tenure: VP of News Content, PR, and Workshop Programs.

VP Communications

Joint Venture Silicon Valley

Provided strategic program and marketing direction for technology focused non-profit.
-Provided strategic marketing direction for programs, constituent research, and re-positioning efforts
-Created marketing plan for organization where none existed (including stakeholder report)
-Created PR plan that improved publicity (releases, articles, pitches to news editors resulting in published stories)

Strategic Program Director

I help leaders and teams think boldly and communicate and create fearlessly. Using breakthrough methods, I help people to tap into their natural creativity and drive meaningful change.

To be competitive globally, your company has to be an innovative place people WANT to work at. 

My BIG A-HA 

While leading tech teams (product, marketing & comms) by day, and performing stand-up, improv and sketch by night for 20+ years, I learned:

-The biggest laughs and innovation come from trust and connection. 
-Shared laughter builds community. 
-The biggest breakthroughs come when courage fills the air. 

I got curious: Can these elements also be how I get my team to take bolder risks, speak up, innovate and thrive in uncertainty? YES!  

Everything I do is fueled by an improv and humor mindset making it safer to take risks. 

That led me to start my business, write my top-selling book, "Stop Boring Me!", advise global senior leaders and teams, and create 2 popular LinkedIn Learning Courses: 

1) Leading in the Moment with Improv (https://www.linkedin.com/learning/leading-in-the-moment) 

2) Humor for Leaders: https://www.linkedin.com/learning/humor-a-leader-s-guide-to-connection-safety-and-trust/putting-humor-to-work

Leaders, ready for your teams to be braver? Let's talk!


Keynotes & programs so leaders and teams (tech, marketing, HR):

-become bold, resilient, relatable leaders (Amazon AWS, Portola, Cisco)

-innovate new products, services, experiences (Uber, Sprout Social, ADSK, Twilio)

-translate tech into unignorable stories that close business (United Way, TVLP, Kaiser, Amazon)

-improve speaking (Women in Eng., Amazon, Genentech, IBM)

-reduce conflict and laugh more (Stanford Hospital)

ABOUT
I left a tech VP position after 18 years leading profitable teams and being on comedy stages to start Keeping it Human. I still perform comedy

BOOK 
"Stop Boring Me! How to create kick-ass marketing content, stories, products and ideas through the power of improv" (Amazon). Inc. named it a "CMO must read."

WORK
🔶 "As closing *keynote* at AMA Cincinnati's 2018 Ignite CX Conference - A highlight! - Kathy delivered the perfect balance of humor and thought-provoking content in a highly engaging, energetic, relevant presentation. She is exceptional... " - AMA 

🔶 "Kathy's approach to creativity is inspired, fun, and unique. She stretched the boundaries of content for our organization with such fresh thinking. I highly recommend!" - Sprout Social

EDUCATION
ComedySportz & Second City, LA. Stand-up, improv, sketch
MA, Stanford University; MBA, UC Berkeley

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Kate O'Neill

Kathy Klotz-Guest MA, MBA

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