Humor In The C-Suite

Welcome to "Humor in the C Suite," where host Kate Davis explores how humor can transform work cultures with guest Dominic George, an expert in leadership coaching for black men. In this week's episode, Dominic shares insights from his extensive career in coaching, including how he integrates humor into his work to foster trust and relatability among leaders. With a background from Columbia University and a mission-b...

In this episode of "Humor in the C Suite," host Kate Davis interviews Dr. Ute Liersch, a seasoned psychologist known for her distinct approach to leadership and resilience. The conversation weaves through Dr. Liersch's eclectic career, from being dismissed as not "clever enough" for university to achieving remarkable success in the realms of psychology and business. Her compelling story and professional jou...

What if laughter could be your secret weapon for better leadership? International comedy expert Stefano Iaboni has spent over 20 years proving that humor isn't just entertainment—it's a powerful business tool that drives innovation, reduces stress, and builds stronger teams.

As founder of Smile Solution, Stefano works with tech companies and startups to transform workplace culture through strategic humor. His approach usin...

In this episode of "Humor in the C Suite," host Kate Davis welcomes Lizzie Schreier, an esteemed veteran in digital transformation and strategy. Kate and Lizzie delve into the intriguing intersection of leadership, humor, and digital innovation, exploring how humor plays a pivotal role in fostering an extraordinary work culture. Lizzie shares her vibrant career path, recounting her diverse experiences across various secto...

Host Kate Davis welcomes negotiation expert Fotini Iconomopoulos. Fotini brings her wealth of experience negotiating for top corporations and shares how humor plays a pivotal role in her negotiation techniques. The discussion delves into how humor can disarm potential conflicts and foster communication in even the most tense business situations. Fotini explains that her distinctive approach to negotiations is informed by her unders...

In this engaging episode of "Humor in the C Suite," host Kate Davis steps into the spotlight to address the many questions from her audience about the intersection of humor and leadership. 

Key Takeaways:

• Humor Enhances Leadership: Humor makes leaders more relatable and trustworthy, helping them to inspire and connect with their teams, thereby increasing leadership effectiveness.
• Communication and Creativity: Using humor...

In this week's episode of “Humor in the C Suite,”  host Kate Davis sits down with Aneace Haddad, a distinguished C-suite executive coach, to explore the intersection of humor and leadership. Aneace shares insights from his remarkable journey from tech entrepreneur to executive coach, highlighting how his midlife transformation led him to discover his passion for people over technology. During their engaging conversation, Aneac...

In this engaging episode of "Humor in the C Suite," host Kate Davis chats with Hugh Forrest, Co-President and Chief Programming Officer of South by Southwest (SXSW). Forrest shares his insights on how humor and creativity intersect to foster an extraordinary work culture, drawing from over three decades of his experience at SXSW. From its humble beginnings as a local music event in 1987, SXSW has burgeoned into a dynamic,...

In this episode of "Humor in the C Suite," host Kate Davis introduces Sara Schulting Kranz, renowned author, speaker, and executive coach. Sara shares her compelling journey of personal transformation, following a life-altering trauma. The episode unfolds her innovative approaches to leadership coaching, where she integrates her experiences into a unique framework focused on change, resilience, and self-discovery. Humor i...

Welcome to another engaging episode of Humor in the C Suite with your host, Kate Davis, featuring the vibrant Heather Tolley-Bauer. This captivating episode unfolds Heather's fascinating journey from a banking executive in PR to a stand-up comedian, as she shares rich anecdotes and pearls of wisdom on using humor as a transformative tool in leadership. With laughter and insight, Heather demonstrates how humor can bridge gaps, ...

Welcome to the first episode of 2025 of "Humor in the C Suite," where host Kate Davis dives into the intersection of humor and leadership. As the new year unfolds, Kate reflects on the previous year’s episodes filled with insightful discussions from guests representing diverse industries such as publishing, construction, and economics. This episode marks a departure from tradition, as Kate chooses to fly solo, taking time...

In this episode of "Humor in the C Suite," host Kate Davis welcomes Melissa Hurley, VP of Learning and People Development at Bill Gosling Outsourcing, for an engaging conversation on how humor influences leadership and workplace culture. The episode kicks off with Kate's enthusiastic introduction of Melissa and a recount of how they met during a high-intensity leadership development weekend named "Outside the Wi...

In this engaging episode of "Humor in the C-Suite," host Kate Davis welcomes Colin Brook, an industry leader from Wika Instruments with an impressive career in engineering and management. 

Throughout the conversation, Colin reflects on how humor, when used thoughtfully, can disarm contentious situations and promote mutual respect among team members, regardless of geographical or generational differences. He shares amusing ...

Why “Vajeans”? You’ll have to listen to find out! In this episode, Kate Davis and Bridgett Burrick Brown weave humor into the challenges of authenticity and self-acceptance. The title, inspired by a hilarious moment during their conversation, sets the tone for an episode full of laughs, personal insights, and transformative ideas about embracing imperfection.

Bridgett’s candid exploration of her journey through modeling an...

Ted Giovanis is President and founder of the Jayne Koskinas Ted Giovanis Foundation for Health and Policy that conducts research in the health policy and clinical arenas. He was previously President of T. Giovanis & Company, LLC and TGC, LLC health policy and reimbursement consultancies, specializing in strategic reimbursement advice and advocacy on behalf of a wide variety of clients. Ted’s work has included both the Medicare ...

Matt Phillips is a leading expert on accelerating innovation. For over 20 years, Matt has been an in-demand advisor to the Fortune 500, large nonprofits and rapidly growing mid-sized companies. As the founder of Phillips & Co., a Chicago-based innovation strategy firm, Matt leads a team of researchers, strategists and inventors who help organizations invent new products, services and businesses. Matt and his team believe in a l...

In this "best of" episode, we explore the power of humor in leadership through highlights from five insightful guests: Todd Hirsch, Danny Goldberg, Allen Grinberg, Amer Kaissi, and Brittanny Kreutzer. Discover how each leader uses humor to build connections, inspire teams, and create positive workplace cultures.

Simplifying Complex Ideas

Economist Todd Hirsch shares how humor can break down complicated topics and bring team...

In this special "best of" series, we're highlighting three incredible leaders who have mastered the art of using humor to inspire, connect, and lead their teams to success.

Oskhar Pineda shares how lightening up and incorporating humor into everyday leadership creates a people-first culture where employees feel at ease, fostering stronger relationships and collaboration. With decades of experience, Oskhar believes hum...

Erin Hatzikostas is a former Corporate CEO turned Professional Pot-Stirrer. 

Erin is an internationally-recognized leader on the impact of authenticity in the workplace. She is the founder of b Authentic inc, where she’s leading a movement to eradicate the workplace of its BS and make it a fundamentally more authentic place. 

Erin is the best-selling author of You Do You(ish), a TEDx speaker, coach-sultant, and the co-host of an offb...