Kat Koppett: Applied Improv pioneer, author & consultant
Kat Koppett
Kat Koppett is the eponymous founder of Koppett, a global consultancy that blends organizational development with improvisation and storytelling to help leaders and teams perform at their best. She is the author of Training to Imagine: Practical Improvisational Theatre Techniques to Enhance Creativity, Teamwork, Leadership, and Learning, considered a seminal work in applied improvisation.
Major corporations, foundations and organizations looking to improve workplace culture and collaboration have embraced the tools she has developed, and Koppett clients that have benefitted from her methods include Meta, Apple, NASA, PwC and the Clinton Global Initiative.
Kat holds a B.F.A. in Drama from NYU and an M.A. in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She is co‑director of the Mopco Improv Theatre, and in 2024 served as vice president of the Applied Improvisation Network, In 2019 she received a Women of Excellence award as well as NASAGA's Ifill-Raynolds Lifetime Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of experiential learning. Additionally, TheatreWeek Magazine recognized her as one of its “Unsung Heroes” for creating Spontaneous Broadway, the world’s first fully-improvised musical format.
Why Book Kat?
Global authority in applied improvisation. In use worldwide for almost 25 years, Kat’s book Training to Imagine is considered a vital resource for anyone who wishes to use improv as a key to unlock business success, and she co‑authored The Facilitation Advantage to extend improv principles into facilitation.
Acclaimed facilitator & educator. She has delivered keynotes and workshops at Stanford, RPI, UC Berkeley, Skidmore, and professional associations such as ATD, ISPI, and NSA.
Proven track record. Kat designs programs for organizations large and small, from non‑profits to Fortune 500 companies and government agencies across the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Recognized leader. She’s a founding member and vice‑president of the Applied Improvisation Network and a recipient of NASAGA’s Ifill‑Raynolds Lifetime Achievement Award.
Engaging communicator. Kat is known for her warmth and humor; her sessions are interactive, grounded in research, and immediately applicable.
Speaking Topics & Workshops
Kat customizes every engagement to the audience. Popular topics include:
Improv for Leaders: How improvisational principles help leaders navigate uncertainty, make better decisions and build resilient teams.
Facilitation Mastery: Insights from The Facilitation Advantage on how to transform meetings and conversations into inclusive, high‑impact experiences.
Storytelling for Influence: Crafting stories that engage hearts and minds, whether you’re pitching an idea or driving change.
Building High‑Trust Cultures: Exercises to foster psychological safety, empathy and collaboration.
Creativity & Innovation Labs: Structured improvisation games to unlock creativity and ideation.
Each session combines short, evidence‑based insights with experiential exercises, leaving participants with practical tools they can use immediately.
Watch & Listen
Podcast: Performance Shift – The Art of Successfully Navigating Change. Kat co‑hosts conversations on creativity and resilience; the podcast’s biography notes her founding role at Koppett and her leadership in applied improvisation.
TEDx Talks: Kat has delivered multiple TEDx presentations on how improv can transform leadership and learning. Watch here.
Interview on the Applied Improvisation Podcast: Hear Kat discuss how improv principles can be applied beyond the stage.
Podcast: Applied Improvisation CEO and Performer on If This is True with Chris Hall: Hear Kat describe what applied improvisation is, how she first developed her training programs for use in the workplace, and how it has grown. Listen here.
Podcast: Kat Koppett ‘Improv is the Gym for Life’ The host, Melissa Dinwiddie, calls Kat’s book Training to Imagine a “bible” for applied improvisation and they discuss how she got her beginnings and developed her expertise. Listen here.
Podcast: Kat Koppett | Storytelling with John Cooper: Dives into the applications and skills that applied improv can bring to leadership, team building, and cultural differences. Listen here.
Contact & Booking
Kat books a limited number of keynotes and workshops each year to ensure every client gets a bespoke experience. To discuss your event:
Email: hello@koppett.com
Phone: +1 (518) 847-9882
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/koppett
Koppett consulting services: koppett.com
Alternatively, complete the form below, and our team will respond within one business day.
Books by Kat
Professional photos:
