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Humor In The C-Suite

Humor In The C-Suite

Hosted by Kate Davis | Keynote Speaker & Stand Up Comedian showing Leaders how to Leverage Humor

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Episodes

66

Latest episode

Sep 2026

Language

EN

About the show

Hi this is Kate Davis I’m a comic and keynote Speaker, and thanks for checking out my Podcast Humor in the C-Suite where I interview leaders, executives and business owners on how they use humor and levity to create an extraordinary work culture. I want to ask the questions that we all want answers to like… Does humor help us or harm us at work? Does humor change our perception of a problem? And how do our leaders use humor to inspire curiosity, success and innovation. I want to be a fly in their chardonnay, I mean a fly on their wall. Honestly, I’m as curious as you are…So join me and a guest every week for Humor in the C-Suite

Listen to episodes

60 recent
September 22, 2026Episode 1430 min

How Kevin Dias Makes Room for Humor in a Fully Remote Startup

Kevin Dias doesn't think he's funny, but he's built a company where everyone else gets to be. From his home in Oyama, Japan, the founder of Ambiki talks with Kate about leading a fully remote startup with levity: jokes flying in the Zoom chat, the teammate who told him a joke about a customer crossed the line, and the annual hackathon that keeps turning play into real product features. In this episode: Why humor has to start one-on-one before it works in a group Laughing at a situation vs. laughing at a customer Using self-deprecation to get past imposter syndrome The cynicism trap, and why the wins deserve as many jokes as the losses Two days, four teams, and a hackathon that ships Connect with Kevin: Website: https://www.kevinsdias.com/ Ambiki: https://www.ambiki.com/ The Problem-First Method: https://problem-first-method.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-dias-ambiki/ Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

September 1, 2026Episode 1332 min

Build Your Own Building: How NAVAC Founder Lintao Lu Turns Rejection Into Resilient Leadership

Leadership development, resilience, and humor in leadership take center stage as Kate sits down with NAVAC founder Lintao Lu, author of In Through the Window, for a conversation on grit, authentic leadership, and turning closed doors into opportunity. In this episode, Kate and LT talk about: Why "sometimes you have to realize this building is not for you" — and how to build your own instead Turning a workplace mishap into trust and team cohesion instead of embarrassment Bridging US-China cultural differences in the boardroom How humor eases the pressure cooker of corporate life and boosts employee engagement Why laughing at yourself is the fastest path to authentic leadership and psychological safety LT's story — from a childhood during China's Cultural Revolution to seven US patents and a career spanning engineering, marketing, and the C-suite — is a lesson in workplace culture built on hope, humor, and grit. LT is the author of In Through the Window: On Forging Your Own Path to Success, available now. Connect with LT: lintaolu.com | linkedin.com/in/lintao-lt-lu-10255b5 Find Humor in the C Suite wherever you get your podcasts. Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

August 18, 2026Episode 1233 min

Humor is Rebellion: How Author Pavithra Venkatesan Uses Humor to Break Free From Old Patterns

This week, Kate sits down with Pavithra Venkatesan, author of Archetypal Remembering and pattern intelligence practitioner, for a conversation about the identities we build to survive, and the exact moment those identities turn funny. Pavithra traces her path from software engineer to author and life coach, a shift that began the day she became a mother and started questioning whether the life she was living was actually hers. She walks through her framework of archetypes as adaptive roles built for safety, belonging, and freedom, and why humor only appears once you become the observer of your own performance rather than the performer. The conversation moves through workplace culture (why the "manufactured seriousness" of most organizations quietly sidelines the most playful people), a cross-cultural look at humor in India versus the US, and the "hardened softness" archetype she sees most often in women who've learned to look like they don't need anyone. Themes covered: authentic leadership, workplace culture, psychological safety, archetypes, self-awareness, pattern intelligence, and humor in leadership. Plus, the breakfast table story about her husband and one very strong-willed toddler that finally taught her to let go. You'll Also Love The Skill of Vulnerability: How Executive Coach Amy Green Smith Quiets Inner Critic & Builds Trust with Amy Green Smith, since the inner critic Amy describes and the "observer watching your archetype perform" that Pavithra describes are two versions of the same self-awareness Coding with Humor: How Gamebasics CEO Jeroen Dewort Built a 200 Million Player Empire with Jeroen Dewort, since his humor-as-survival-mechanism story mirrors what Pavithra says about staying alive inside "manufactured seriousness" during her own software engineering days The Flight of Authenticity: Bold Leadership Lessons from Crooked Compass Founder Lisa Pagotto with Lisa Pagotto, for the shared thread of staying yourself across cultures, which runs right through Pavithra and Kate's India/US humor conversation Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

July 28, 2026Episode 1134 min

The Skill of Vulnerability: How Executive Coach Amy Green Smith Quiets Inner Critic & Builds Trust

This week, Kate sits down with Amy Green Smith, executive leadership coach, master hypnotherapist, and keynote speaker, for a conversation on vulnerability, trust, and communication that's equal parts practical and funny. Amy explains why vulnerability is one of the most disarming tools a leader has, how humor-based communication systems help teams say the hard things without the blowup, and why confrontation avoidance always comes with a hidden cost. She also talks about her background as a master hypnotherapist, breaking down what hypnosis actually is at a scientific level and why it's able to quiet the inner critic, the internal guard that usually blocks new beliefs from sticking. Themes covered: authentic leadership, psychological safety, trust building, hypnosis, the inner critic, workplace culture, and humor in leadership. Plus, the story behind "q-tip stick," a phrase that will make sense once you hear it. Connect with Amy Green Smith Website LinkedIn Instagram Free Private Podcast Series: Boundaries Over Burnout Other episodes You'll Also Love The Trolley Scenario: Neuroinclusive Leadership and the Hidden Cost of Masking with Ron Sosa Two Truths and a Lie: How Heart-Led Leadership Beats Burnout with Isabelle Tremblay Work Happy: Why Humor is the Gateway to Mental Health at Work with Greg Kettner Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

July 14, 2026Episode 1038 min

Know the Room, Own the Room: How Michael Earls Uses Humor to Keep Leadership Human in the Age of AI

Key topics: Leadership development in the age of AI · humor as an icebreaker in corporate IT leadership · Who are the "new zombies"? · why empathy and emotion are what AI still can't replicate · AI hallucinations and the limits of large language models · curiosity as a leadership trait · knowing your room before you use humor · storytelling as the key to retention. Guest advice: "Own the room. Know the room." Michael's guiding principle for using humor as a leader, learned from a mentor years ago. Standout quotes: "I am copying and pasting, copying and pasting now. I'm a machine now. And that's not what we were built for... We were built for critical thinking. Emotions... And empathy." —Michael Earls "It doesn't have a heart. It's like a tin man." —Kate Davis, on AI and empathy Connect with Michael Earls: https://www.michaelearls.com/books/finding-direction-in-the-age-of-ai/ Finding Direction in the Age of AI Wired for Purpose The Digital Compass Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

June 23, 2026Episode 933 min

The Reframe: Jeff Arnold, Bestselling Author & RightSure Founder, on Humor as a Leadership Strategy

This week I’m joined by Jeff Arnold : five-time bestselling author, founder of RightSure (North America’s most awarded insurance firm), and a guy who somehow turned standing next to a serious CEO at a drink fountain into a leadership lesson. We talk about why self-deprecating humor is the best humor, why “yes, and” belongs in your boardroom and not just your improv class, how Jeff kills his own ego every time he writes a book, and the story behind the most expensive speeding-ticket photo in Arizona history. Bring tissues. You’ll need them for laughing. Key Topics Self-deprecating humor as a leadership trust-builder The “yes, and” philosophy from improv, applied to business Reframing failure as forward motion Using humor to deliver hard news without losing authenticity Writing 12 books and learning to kill your own ego on the page Humor and AI: deploying technology without losing the human side of leadership Rebranding insurance agents as “famously friendly humans” Knowing your audience: when to dial humor up, and when to dial it down The line between self-deprecating humor and “punching down” Guest Advice Lead with self-deprecating humor before anyone else gets the chance to make you the joke. It signals confidence, not weakness, and it’s the fastest way to build trust with a team. Resources Mentioned RightSure Insurance Jeff’s book, AI Forward Leadership Jeff has written 12 books total, 5 of them bestsellers https://jeffarnold.com/books/ Jeff Arnold's Website Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

June 9, 2026Episode 836 min

The Trolley Scenario: Neuroinclusive Leadership and the Hidden Cost of Masking with Ron Sosa

Imagine a trolley hurtling down the tracks toward five people. You can pull a lever and divert it — but there's one person on the side track too. Most people pull the lever. And according to Ron Sosa, that's exactly how most workplaces are built: systems designed for the majority, with everyone else quietly getting run over. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with Ron to talk about what it really costs to lead while masking, why humor is one of the most powerful tools for self-advocacy, and what becomes possible when leaders are finally given permission to lead as themselves. Key Topics Covered Ron and Kate explore the Trolley Scenario as a framework for understanding how workplace systems are designed — and who they leave behind. They dig into what masking actually costs neurodivergent leaders: the identity erosion, the accelerated burnout, the exhaustion of contorting yourself to meet an expectation that was never built with you in mind. Ron talks about how humor functions as a genuine tool for self-advocacy — not self-deprecation, but the ability to laugh at yourself in a way that makes the hard stuff lighter and the conversations easier. They cover the RISE framework, values-based leadership, and why Ron always starts coaching with personal values rather than professional ones. Kate shares her own experience with ADHD and anxiety, and Ron drops a stat that stops her mid-conversation: neurodivergent children receive an average of 20,000 more corrective comments than their neurotypical peers before the age of ten — and what that does to a person's relationship with humor, validation, and people-pleasing Standout Quotes "The ability to laugh at yourself makes the ability to advocate for yourself less heavy." — Ron Sosa "Nobody is truly toxic. People just have unmet needs they don't know how to express — or needs we don't know how to meet." — Ron Sosa "You conform to society, put on the leadership mask, and everything becomes heavier. You erode your own identity — and then you burn out faster." — Ron Sosa Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

May 26, 2026Episode 732 min

Coding with Humor: Leadership Lessons from Tech CEO Jeroen Derwort

What does it look like when a shy kid who hated networking accidentally builds a game with 200 million players, survives corporate lawsuits, charms tax inspectors into forgetting why they came, and learns to lead by doing? That's Jeroen Derwort's story. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with the former CEO of Gamebasics to explore how humor, humility, and a very healthy relationship with imperfection built one of the most unlikely success stories in gaming history — and what every leader can take from it. Key Topics Covered Jeroen and Kate explore how humor functioned as a genuine survival mechanism through the most stressful periods of building and scaling two tech companies simultaneously. They talk about the culture Jeroen created at Gamebasics — informal, creative, and rooted in shared laughter — and how that culture attracted people who genuinely wanted to be there. Jeroen shares how he handled the legal battles and corporate pressure that threatened to end the game entirely, and why having a light-hearted lawyer was one of the best leadership decisions he ever made. They dig into what it felt like when employees left and why Jeroen was genuinely hurt every time — a vulnerability Kate notes in 55+ episodes of the podcast she has never heard a leader admit before. And they cover Jeroen's philosophy on perfection: that doing something and seeing what happens will always beat waiting until everything is right. Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

May 12, 2026Episode 637 min

The Flight of Authenticity: How Lisa Pagotto Leads with Humor in the World's Most Extreme Destinations

What does leadership look like when your boardroom is a remote jungle and your team is scattered across time zones navigating geopolitical complexity? For Lisa Pagotto, founder of Crooked Compass, it looks like authenticity, resilience, and a finely tuned sense of humor. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with Lisa to explore how the principles that make Crooked Compass extraordinary — cultural respect, genuine connection, and bold decision-making — translate directly into a leadership philosophy that any leader in any industry can learn from. Key Topics Covered Lisa and Kate explore how humor functions as a genuine leadership tool in high-stakes, high-complexity environments — not as performance, but as a way of managing expectations, building trust, and keeping teams grounded when the terrain is genuinely unpredictable. They dig into the cultural intelligence required to know when humor works and when it doesn't — how some cultures welcome levity while others require a more measured approach, and why reading that distinction correctly is a core leadership skill. Lisa talks about how sharing mistakes and failures with humor makes her more relatable to both her team and her clients, and why that vulnerability is actually one of her greatest strengths as a leader. They also cover what Crooked Compass by Air taught Lisa about pivoting under pressure, how she leads a remote team with authenticity and openness, and why she believes the future belongs to those who dare to do things differently. "Sharing failures or mistakes or errors and turning them into humor just makes it more relatable." — Lisa Pagotto About Crooked Compass Crooked Compass is a multi-award-winning experiential travel company specializing in immersive journeys to remote and lesser-known destinations across the globe. Every experience is designed to prioritize cultural integrity, authentic connection, and meaningful exploration — free from the constraints of mass tourism. Visit https://www.crooked-compass.com Connect with Lisa Pagotto 🌐 Crooked Compass Website 📼 Youtube Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

April 28, 2026Episode 534 min

Work Happy: Why Humor is the Gateway to Mental Health at Work with Keynote Speaker Greg Kettner

What if one joke — sent on a Friday morning — could remind someone they matter? What if three words from a stage could stop someone from ending their life? Greg Kettner has seen both happen. In this episode of Humor in the C Suite, Kate Davis sits down with her old comedy circuit friend turned keynote speaker to explore the unexpected intersection of humor and mental health — and why the leaders who get this right are the ones their teams never forget. Greg's Advice for Leaders Start small and start safe. If you're nervous about using humor with your team, test it at home first — with your partner, your kids, your friends. Look to late night TV for clean material that's already been vetted. Send a funny Friday email. Share a meme. You don't have to be a comedian to show you have a sense of humor. And when it comes to mental health specifically: ask the question twice. "How are you doing?" gets you the polite answer. "How are you really doing? I've got time" — that's where the real conversation starts. That's where trust is built. That's where leaders earn the loyalty that no bonus structure can buy. Additional Links & Resources: Interested in being a guest on Humor in the C-Suite? Reach out to book a call with Kate! Learn more about me and my work at katedavis.ca Thank you for tuning in to this episode of Humor in the C-Suite! If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow the podcast, share it with your friends, and leave a rating or review. Your support helps the podcast continue to grow. Hosted by Kate Davis Edited by Chris @ Wider View Studios

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