LEADERSHIP KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Playful. Practical. Powerful. Keynotes That Spark Change and Leave a Lasting Impact
Whether you need a keynote that sparks innovation, a workshop that builds resilience, or an MC who keeps energy soaring, Em brings the perfect mix of humour, heart, and practical tools. Her clients don't just laugh - they leave transformed, with actionable strategies for happier, more impactful leadership.
Ready to turn your next event into an unforgettable experience? Here are the talks that can make your event truly brilliant
The Four Talks That Transform Workplaces:
1. Playful Leadership
Leading with Joy, Impact, and Authenticity
Perfect For: Senior executives, team managers, HR directors, and leadership development programs in finance, tech, and healthcare sectors. Ideal for organisations wanting to boost employee engagement and retention.
What You’ll Get: Learn how to use playfulness to build trust, spark innovation, and create engaged teams. Blend lightness with authority to lead authentically without losing impact.
2. Play for Wellbeing
The Secret to Happier, Healthier, More Resilient Teams
2. Play for Wellbeing
The Secret to Happier, Healthier, More Resilient Teams
3. Playful Communication
How to Be Heard, Understood, and Remembered
The Problem: Communication breakdowns, boring presentations that don’t land, leaders whose messages get lost, and teams struggling to connect authentically with clients or colleagues.
Perfect For: Sales teams, client-facing professionals, internal communications teams, and anyone who needs to present or influence others. Excellent for communication skills workshops and sales conferences.
What You’ll Get: Master confident, authentic communication using humour and adaptability. Make your ideas stick and create genuine connections in any professional setting.
4. Play for Positive Culture
Building Teams That Actually Enjoy Working Together
The Problem: Toxic workplace cultures, low psychological safety, poor team dynamics, and organisations struggling with collaboration and trust issues.
Perfect For: Leadership teams, culture change initiatives, team building events, and organizations going through mergers, restructures, or rapid growth phases.
What You’ll Get: Create psychological safety through play, improve team dynamics, and foster a workplace culture where people genuinely thrive and want to collaborate.
4. Play for Positive Culture
Building Teams That Actually Enjoy Working Together
The Problem: Toxic workplace cultures, low psychological safety, poor team dynamics, and organisations struggling with collaboration and trust issues.
Perfect For: Leadership teams, culture change initiatives, team building events, and organizations going through mergers, restructures, or rapid growth phases.
What You’ll Get: Create psychological safety through play, improve team dynamics, and foster a workplace culture where people genuinely thrive and want to collaborate.
Ready to transform your workplace through the power of play? Let's talk about which approach will create the biggest impact for your team.
Why Em Stroud is All Things Play - And Why That Matters:
Here’s what 20 years of combining performing with business has taught me: Play isn’t the opposite of serious work—it’s the secret ingredient that makes serious work actually work. While others see play as frivolous, I’ve discovered it’s the most sophisticated leadership tool available. Play unlocks creativity when teams are stuck, builds resilience when pressure mounts, and creates the psychological safety that transforms good teams into extraordinary ones.
I’m not just someone who talks about play—I’ve lived it professionally for two decades. From drama school to the boardroom, from the stage to the C-suite, I’ve seen how the principles of play, improvisation, and authentic expression don’t just make work more enjoyable—they make it more profitable, more innovative, and more human. When leaders embrace play, they don’t lose respect; they gain connection. When teams play together, they don’t waste time; they accelerate trust. I am the Play Practitioner.
In a world where AI can do the technical stuff, your competitive advantage lies in the uniquely human skills that play develops: adaptability, creativity, emotional intelligence, and authentic connection. That’s not soft skills—that’s survival skills. And that’s why bringing more play into your workplace isn’t just nice to have—it’s business critical.
