The basics of improvisation are the basics of human connection.
That’s the idea behind Better Business Through Comedy: improv skills sharpen communication, build confidence, and unlock creativity by strengthening how people connect.
This isn’t about telling jokes. It’s about building a more innovative, mentally agile, and connected workplace.
Bottom line: Your people will communicate better immediately—and it’s the rare training they’ll actually enjoy.
Clear communication.
Faster thinking.
Stronger teams.
Founder and Director,
Kurt Braunohler
Kurt Braunohler is a comedian, writer, actor, and corporate coach who once hired a skywriter to write “HOW DO I LAND?” over Los Angeles.
If curiosity and optimism started doing stand-up, it might look something like Kurt.
He’s written for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and worked as an on-set writer for Charlize Theron, Seth Rogen, Holly Hunter, Kumail Nanjiani, Ray Romano, and others. Kurt has spent more than 27 years honing the craft of improvisation, originally training with Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, and Matt Walsh when the Upright Citizens Brigade first opened in 1999.
Over time, Kurt discovered something surprising: the core skills of great improv are also the core skills of great business—active listening, positive collaboration, and mental agility.
In film, Kurt appears in the Oscar-nominated The Big Sick, Lionsgate’s Long Shot, Zach Cregger’s horror hit, Barbarian, and alongside Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun. On television he has appeared in Bob’s Burgers, The Good Place, Murderville, Black Monday, Lady Dynamite, American Housewife, and many others. His stand-up has been featured on The Tonight Show, Late Night with Seth Meyers, Conan, The Late Late Show with James Corden, and—more times than anyone can reasonably explain—After Midnight.
Kurt’s third comedy special, Perfectly Stupid, was praised by The New York Times for doing “…what fresh comedy can—make you see things that were always there but never noticed.”
He has performed stand-up around the world, taught improv for decades, and once jet-skied from Chicago to New Orleans for charity, which—like most of his work—started as a ridiculous idea and turned into something unexpectedly meaningful.
“A charismatic comedian with a flair for the absurd.” – New York Times
“Kurt Braunohler is the closest thing we have to a real-life Willy Wonka.” – Vice
“Not only a singular talent, but an inimitable spirit.” – LA Weekly
Meet the Team
Lauren Cook is a creative strategist, writer, and co-founder of Better Business Through Comedy, where she helps teams communicate more clearly, collaborate more effectively, and actively enjoy working together.
She has worked across entertainment and media as a writer and brand strategist, with credits including NBC, Hulu, Paramount, and The Cut. Her work centers on shaping ideas into stories that connect—whether that’s for a pitch, a campaign, or a room full of people who need to be on the same page.
Lauren is also classically trained in the Meisner technique, a performance discipline rooted in deep listening, presence, and authentic human connection. She brings those principles directly into her work with teams, helping people respond in real time, communicate with clarity, and build trust quickly.
At Better Business Through Comedy, Lauren leads on messaging, program development, and workshop facilitation, working hands-on with teams to translate the principles of improvisation into practical tools for communication, leadership, and creative thinking. Her focus is simple: ideas should not only be smart—they should land.
Workshops
Utilizing Kurt’s decades of improv teaching and comedy writing, these workshops are active and participatory experiences that get team member’s minds working together to increase confidence, connection, and creativity.
What We Offer
Leadership Keynote - Jet-skiing from Michigan to New Orleans
A funny, insightful talk on the resilience required to succeed.
Kurt brings decades of experience in comedy to a keynote that’s both entertaining and practical. Drawing from his legendary trip traveling down the Mississippi on a jet-ski for charity—this talk shows how the same skills that make successful comedians also make great leaders and teams. Perfect for conferences, company off-sites, and leadership summits.
Improv for Collaboration Workshop
A hands-on workshop that helps teams think faster and work better together.
A team-building workshop that’s fun, fast-paced, and gets people on their feet. Participants practice clear communication, active listening, and collaboration through simple, engaging exercises. Our goal is not to do a perfect, hilarious improv scene (although that will happen) our goal is to allow people to let their guard down and co-create a connection with another person. The result is a workforce that has the ability to build instant rapport, actively listen, and work together more creatively.
Speech Coaching & Comedy Punch-Up
For leaders who want their message to truly land.
We help executives and founders turn good speeches into great ones. Drawing on Kurt and Lauren’s years of experience writing speeches and scripts for Hollywood’s elite, we help shape the structure, sharpen the message, add well-placed humor, and coach the delivery so the speaker feels confident and authentic onstage. In a world of AI-generated speeches, stand out from the crowd with an actually funny and engaging talk. Perfect for keynote speeches, major announcements, investor events, and conferences.
Workshop + Stand-Up Performance Package
A full day of programming that ends in laughter.
Start the day with a collaborative workshop on communication and creativity, then end the evening with a stand-up performance from Kurt as the team relaxes and celebrates. It’s a unique way to combine learning with entertainment—and it makes your event unforgettable. Ideal for company retreats, offsites, and leadership gatherings.
What People Have to Say
“"Kurt delivered one of the most engaging keynotes we’ve had in years. He had the entire room laughing while sharing his unique insights about the value of being RESILIENT, which is what it takes to be successful these days. We still talk about it around the office."
- - Matt Murphy, Global Chief Creative Officer / Partner at 72andSunny
"Kurt and his writing partner, Lauren, worked with us to punch up the comedy in our CEO’s keynote for Pax8’s global conference, Beyond: the largest IT provider event in the world. Their ability to understand the audience and dial the humor to exactly the right level was remarkable. The jokes landed beautifully and elevated the entire presentation. They know how to make business content genuinely funny while still serving the story and the message."
- - Katharine Flynn, Senior Director of Creative Content, Pax8
“The improv workshop Kurt gave our sampling team was the most fun we’ve had all year, while also giving us tools that we’ve come back to over and over again in the field.”
— Scott Landes, Lead Marketing Agent, Red Bull
Contact Us
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