Carol Leifer

Carol Leifer has spent more than four decades in the rooms where comedy gets made — and few people alive know those rooms better. She made 25 appearances on Late Night with David Letterman, the most of any guest in the show’s history. She wrote for Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, The Larry Sanders Show, Modern Family, and Curb Your Enthusiasm. She has written for 11 Academy Awards shows, the most of any female writer. And she is the Emmy, Golden Globe, Writers Guild Award, and Producers Guild Award-winning Co-Executive Producer of HBO’s Hacks. She speaks on perseverance, creativity, breaking into competitive fields, and the lessons from a 40-year career at the top of a male-dominated industry.

The Real Elaine
Leifer has been dubbed the real Elaine by Seinfeld fans — the character was partially based on her long friendship with Jerry Seinfeld. Her career arc, from one of the only women on the 1980s stand-up circuit to one of television’s most decorated comedy writers, is a story of grit, reinvention, and the willingness to keep showing up when the industry was not exactly welcoming.

The Writer’s Workshop
Leifer’s corporate keynote takes audiences behind the scenes of what she has observed in some of the greatest comedy rooms in history, providing practical strategies for creative thinking, pitching ideas, and finding the humor and humanity in any professional challenge. Her comedy is clean and entirely HR-safe.

Carol Leifer delivers keynotes on creativity, perseverance, breaking through in competitive environments, and the life lessons from a 40-year career at the top of American comedy.

What does Carol Leifer speak about?

Carol Leifer speaks on humor, creativity, and reinvention, drawing on a career writing for Seinfeld and performing stand-up at the highest levels of comedy. Her keynotes use genuine comedy to deliver insights on finding your voice and adapting to change.

What is Carol Leifer’s background?

Leifer is a stand-up comedian, Emmy-nominated writer for Seinfeld, and one of the most recognized voices in American comedy.

Who books Carol Leifer to speak?

Meeting planners book Carol Leifer for association conferences, media events, and corporate audiences looking for a genuinely funny keynote with real substance.

Pg-Rated Corporate Laughs

Carol Leifer is a clean comedian and proud of it!  After 25 appearances on The David Letterman Show, she is used to making people laugh without the use of cursing and f-bombs, totally HR safe!  Carol tells her story about being a kid on Long Island, dreaming of one day making it big like the comedians her dad watched on TV shows and specials.  “The laughter that rang through my house was such an inspiration for me to go into comedy,” she says.  Her journey from being one of the only women on the comedy circuit starting out, the trials and tribulations that she faced and conquered.  Segueing to her first comedy writing job on the legendary Saturday Night Live, then moving on to write for the iconic Seinfeld, hers is a tale of determination, grit and gusto.  Still going strong thirty years later, as the Co-Executive Producer of the Emmy-winning HBO show Hacks, starring Jean Smart, and producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm, Carol’s tale of hard-won achievement is one for the ages.  Her many stories interfacing with legends and the lessons she learned along the way are priceless! Your group will be inspired, entertained, and leaving confident that dreams do come true with just the right amounts of perseverance and positivity!

How To Succeed in Business Without Really Crying 

(Based on Carol’s N.Y. Times Bestselling book)

In this fall-down-funny keynote, Carol describes why she’s been a 30-year mainstay in the male-dominated world of Live Standup and Television Comedy. Her experience is unrivaled as a comedian (25) Letterman appearances, a 40-episode writer on Seinfeld, as the current Co-Executive Producer of the Emmy-winning HBO show Hacks, starring Jean Smart, and writer/producer of Curb Your Enthusiasm.

To be successful in show business at this level, performers, writers, and producers must have a highly resilient, entrepreneurial spirit. Carol takes you behind the scenes of how she navigated disruptive obstacles (and egos) along the way. Your attendees will find Carol’s grit and gusto to be indefatigable, inspiring, and hilarious! Attendees will go home with an easy-to-implement roadmap for developing more confidence and direction in their careers.

Taking A Sledgehammer to The Glass Ceiling!  10 Leadership Tips Every Woman in Business Should Know

(From the comedy writer of Seinfeld, Modern Family, Saturday Night Live and producer of Hacks, and Curb Your Enthusiasm)

If you’re a woman in leadership, how do you get buy-in from your smart and talented male and female team members?

TAKEAWAYS:

• The behind-the-scenes stories of triumph and tragedy from the woman who competed against some of the best performers and writers in the world.
• The art of “pitching” – what scores in comedy writing also scores when pitching in business.
• When to challenge team members to solve (seemingly impossible) problems for the good of the team.
• How to encourage inclusivity in order to grow team unity.
• What can you do when you get pushback from High Ego people?

Comedy Workshops:

How Seinfeld Not Only Created the Marble Rye, Shrinkage And Yada, Yada, Yada…And How “The Show About Nothing” Taught Comedy Writer, Carol Leifer, “Everything” About Business.

Have you ever dreamed of being a TV comedy writer?  A comedian? Even as a hobby?  Now think about how your company, organization, or students could benefit from an infusion of humor in presentations and seminars?

Then, five-time Emmy nominee and best-selling author Carol Leifer is perfect for your group!  Book her now for her critically acclaimed comedy workshop, incorporating tips from her bestselling book, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY CRYING.

TAKEAWAYS:

• The basics of joke writing and personal essay writing from the woman who’s written for Billy Crystal, Ellen DeGeneres, Chris Rock, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg.
• What makes a funny idea for an episode of a sitcom?  Loosening up your comedy chops transfers over to the business world, too.
• The behind-the-scenes stories of triumph and tragedy from the woman who’s written for Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, Hacks and Curb Your Enthusiasm.
• The art of “pitching” – what scores in comedy writing also scores when pitching in business.
• By bringing simple exercises to her workshops, Leifer unleashes the funny power that lies within everyone.

Leadership Tactics From The Woman Who’s Written Legendary Scripts For Seinfeld, Saturday Night Live, Modern Family, Hacks, and Curb Your Enthusiasm.

TAKEAWAYS:

• What does comedy writing for TV shows have to do with leading or influencing coworkers?
• What kind of humor is appropriate in the workplace…and what humor ISN’T?
• Three ways you can change a dark mood at work.
• How to create a culture of fun and creativity in the office