Available to book
Naomi Bagdonas
Naomi Bagdonas, strategic conversation designer and media consultant specialising in the science of humour, is my recommended facilitator for leadership workshops and executive media coaching; she works with startups to Fortune 100s and prepares executives for appearances on The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live.
Naomi is a strategic conversation designer and media consultant specialising in human perceptions and the science of humour. She facilitates workshops and off-sites for boards and leadership teams, ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies.
Naomi focuses on creating conditions that foster innovation, alignment, and lasting impact, addressing human barriers to progress through interactive experiences. As a media consultant, she helps executives and high-profile individuals enhance their personal brand and incorporate humour into their style.
Naomi coaches clients for various events, including appearances on The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live, company meetings, political speeches, and talks at United Nations forums.
In her spare time, Naomi teaches improv comedy to inmates at the SF County Jail, enjoys backpacking in the Sierras, and fosters rescue dogs, who often wreak havoc in her home.
Topics, sessions and talks
Naomi Bagdonas discusses how humor is a crucial tool for leaders, enhancing connection, creativity, and resilience in the workplace, and why it should be taken seriously.
This session invites attendees to join Naomi Bagdonas, a Stanford lecturer and executive advisor, as she delves into the transformative role of humor in the business world. Through this engaging session, participants will gain practical strategies to enhance their leadership presence, foster creativity, and build stronger teams by harnessing the power of laughter. Drawing from real-world applications and Naomi's extensive experience, this event promises to provide valuable insights for business professionals.
It used to be that leaders needed to be revered; now they need to be understood. In A New Type of Leader, Jennifer Aaker and Naomi Bagdonas explore why traditional models of leadership have shifted and how we can embody a new type of leadership: one defined by humanity and humor. They share stories from inspiring leaders and tactics that can be deployed to bridge the trust gap, cultivate cultures of levity, and unlock agility in the face of change.
often considered together
Amy Gallo
Conflict Resolution
Communication
Company Culture
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
Naomi Bagdonas draws on behavioural science and real-world case studies to frame humor as a leadership tool, delivering practical strategies through interactive workshop-style sessions built on her Stanford teaching and executive advisory work.
Naomi Bagdonas speaks on humour as a leadership tool, cultivating workplace cultures of levity and creativity, and the shift toward human-centred leadership models. She lectures at Stanford and serves as executive advisor to organisations ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies, coaching clients for appearances including The Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live.
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Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.
Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.
