How to Communicate So People Actually Want to Listen

Audience Engagement for Smart People

Beth Sherman helps leaders and teams make presentations, pitches, and client conversations more engaging, more human, and more effective.

Drawing on 30 years as a comedian and 7x Emmy-winning comedy writer, Beth delivers keynote speeches, workshops, conference prep, and presentation coaching that show smart people how to hold attention, build trust quickly, and make important messages land.

Keynotes | Workshops | Conference Speaker Prep | One-to-One Coaching

A woman speaker on stage at National Theatre Edinburgh challenges event, standing on a stage with a large screen behind her displaying logos of various entertainment and award shows, including the Ellen show, Queen Latifah show, Oscars, MTV Video Mus

Work With Beth

Choose the right format for your audience, event, or communication challenge.

Keynotes

For conferences, leadership events, and company meetings where audiences need to listen, trust, and act.

[Explore Keynotes]

Workshops & Masterclasses

For teams and leaders who need practical tools for clearer, more human, more effective communication.

[Explore Workshops]

Conference Speaker Prep

For organizations preparing executives and internal speakers for speaking engagements.

[Explore Speaker Prep]

One-to-One Coaching

For executives and professionals preparing high-stakes pitches and presentations.

[Explore Coaching]

Not sure what you need?

Contact Beth directly or schedule a call.

Trusted by

  • Heineken logo on green background. Heineken is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    "Brilliant and engaging! Our colleagues went on to use her framework the very next day!"

    — CX Director, Heineken

  • "At an event filled with lots of technical knowledge about accounting it was a breath of fresh air."

    Attendee, Accountex

  • "Very funny and engaging and different to any other training I've been to!"

    Partner, Wilson Solicitors

  • The Marketing Society logo. The Marketing Society is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    "A superb speaker, and terrifically relevant for ambitious businesspeople who want to be more effective leaders."

    — CEO, The Marketing Society

  • AND Digital logo. AND Digital is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    "Brilliant to work with from start to finish, and the feedback we received from the event she did with senior leaders was exceptional."

    — Managing Director, AND Digital

  • Institute of Practitioners in Advertising logo. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    “An absolute masterclass in using humor to connect and persuade."

    — CPD Advisor, Institute of Practitioners of Advertising

  • IPG Mediabrands logo. IPG Mediabrands is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    “Beth is incredible! I’ll absolutely be recommending her to anyone who asks - and even those who don’t!"

    — Head of Talent Development UK, IPG MediaBrands

  • Logo for Natixis corporate and investment banking, speaking client of Beth Sherman

    "Warm, insightful, human, and funny!"

    — Executive Director, Natixis Corporate and Investment Banking

  • Institute of Internal Communication logo. The Institute of Internal Communication is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    "Fantastic! Her talk was one of our most popular and I could hear the laughter from the Green Room. Highly recommend!"

    — Events, Networks & Awards Manager, Institute of Internal Communication

  • Pride in Leadership Conference logo. The Pride in Leadership Conference is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    “Positioned just after lunch, Beth immediately raised the energy in the room. Her talk was much more than entertaining; it was thought-provoking and highly practical.”

    — Director, Pride in Leadership Conference

  • Great River MBA Conference logo. The Great River MBA Conference is a client of leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman.

    "Thanks so much! Your session was a high point of the conference!"

    — Regional Director, Mortgage Bankers Association

Why Expertise Is Not Enough

The best communicators understand this:

You have to connect before you can convert.

People do not make decisions based on logic alone.

Before they listen, they need to feel seen, heard, and understood.

When trust is incomplete, people hesitate, second-guess, delay decisions, look elsewhere, or stop listening entirely.

That wastes time, momentum, and money.

As a comedian who has performed for tough audiences everywhere from Las Vegas to Iraq, and a 7x Emmy-winning writer for David Letterman, Jay Leno, Ellen DeGeneres, Tom Hanks, Helen Mirren, and more, Beth Sherman has spent 30 years mastering the mechanics of earning attention immediately, building trust quickly, and creating emotional connection in real time.

Beth’s keynotes and masterclasses turn that expertise into practical, instantly implementable tools for leadership, presentations, pitches, and client communication.

Leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman onstage speaking into a microphone during a presentation.

Featured Programs

How to Communicate So People Actually Want to Listen

A keynote on attention, trust, and influence for leaders, teams, and organizations navigating change, growth, communication challenges, or high-stakes conversations.

Audiences learn how to build trust faster, reduce resistance, and communicate in ways that make important messages easier to hear, remember, and act on.

Conference Speaker Prep & Communication Masterclasses

Practical workshops for executives, panels, leadership teams, and internal speakers who need to communicate with more clarity, confidence, and audience engagement.

Ideal for conferences, partner retreats, leadership summits, and organizations preparing speakers for high-stakes events.

Leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman onstage in front of an attentive executive audience at an event for her client IPG MediaBrands

Where This Work Creates the Most Value

  • Leadership & Executive Teams

  • Law Firms & Professional Services

  • Sales & Revenue Teams

  • Conferences, Associations & Industry Events

Leadership communication speaker Beth Sherman onstage in front of an attentive executive audience at an event for her client National MI.

About Beth Sherman

Beth Sherman is a leadership communication keynote speaker who helps teams build trust fast, turning early connection into clearer decisions, stronger influence, and better outcomes across organizations.

A 7-time Emmy Award-winning comedy writer and veteran comedian, Beth brings a rare, real-world understanding of how rapport forms under pressure and how it can be used intentionally in business settings.

She honed her craft in environments where connection must happen instantly or nothing works, from live comedy stages to writing for global broadcasts and high-stakes events.

Today, Beth translates the skill comedians rely on most — Rapid Rapport™ — into a practical communication framework for teams navigating change and complexity. Her keynotes equip audiences to build trust quickly, reduce friction, and create momentum from the very first moments of any interaction.

Contact Beth

If you're exploring speakers for your event, Beth would be happy to have a conversation.

Use the form below, call directly, or schedule a short introductory Zoom to discuss your audience, goals, and event format.

US phone: (323) 794-7279
UK phone: +44 7485 679750
email: beth@bethsherman.com

schedule a call

Listen to Beth’s Podcast Appearances

Hear Beth discuss how to earn attention, build trust quickly, and communicate so people actually want to listen, especially when the message is complex, high-stakes, or hard to hear.