“Yes, and…”: The Power of Improv within Corporations with Kelly Leonard of The Second City

Kelly Leonard has been at The Second City, where he now serves as Executive Director of its B2B branch, since 1988. He was responsible for hiring some of the most iconic names to come out of the theater, including Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Adam McKay. He also co-authored the book “Yes, And.” Today, Kelly helps companies apply The Second City’s methods to business. We talked with him about cultivating talent, responding in the face of ambiguity, why improv can help solve problems in communication, and washing dishes with Jon Favreau.

Kelly Leonard | Executive Director, The Second City Works Kelly Leonard is the Executive Director of The Second City Works. He has worked at The Second City since 1988 and has overseen productions with such notable performers as Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Steve Carrell, among others. He also co-wrote the book "Yes, And."