Second City Works

Grateful for the incredible energy and insights at the Fast Company Innovation Festival yesterday! In our session, we explored using AI to minimize time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing us to focus on what fuels our creativity and human connections. Afterward, Second City Works Creative Director Tyler Dean Kempf joined Fast Company's Joshua Christensen to record an episode of the Most Innovative Companies podcast. They discussed Second City’s upcoming 65th anniversary and how a "Yes, And" mindset can open up new ways to approach AI—not as a replacement for creativity, but as a partner that enhances it. Key Takeaways: Use AI not just to work harder but more meaningfully. Automate the mundane to make space for what enriches our professional and personal lives. #InnovationFestival #AI #Creativity #FastCompany #SecondCity

On today's bonus podcast, Kelly sits down with Sandra Steinbrecher, a Chicago documentary photographer, to discuss her stunning new book that captures the transformation of the iconic Morton Salt factory into The Salt Shed, one of Chicago’s premier music venues. In this episode, Sandra reflects on the connection between architecture and human experience, sharing, “Ultimately, the goal of architecture is to shelter and create spaces that improve human life and foster a sense of belonging.” Tune in for a behind-the-scenes look at how art and architecture come together to shape our city and its cultural spaces. #Arts #Creativity #Chicago The Second City https://lnkd.in/gqFdvB8c

This week, Kelly connects with Yumi Kendall, Assistant Principal cellist for the Philadelphia Orchestra, to explore the transformative power of the arts and her unique experiences growing up in the Waldorf educational system. Yumi shares her insights on the role of music in shaping our understanding of the world, noting, “Music is a medium of awe that helps make sense of life’s wonders.” Join us for an inspiring conversation on the beauty of music and its ability to enrich our lives. #Arts #Creativity #Practice?The Second City https://lnkd.in/gybx5f2b?

We are super excited for Tyler Dean Kempf's session on AI at the Fast Company Innovation Festival today! Balancing AI and Human Creativity Through Improv with the Second City is not just about integrating AI—it's about using it as a catalyst for innovative thinking. Can't wait for the interactive exercises designed to expand our mental agility and spark spontaneous, emotionally-rich creativity. If you're navigating the age of AI and looking to infuse your work with fresh creativity, this is a session you won't want to miss. Here’s to blending technology with the timeless art of improv! We will share details from this session tomorrow! #Innovation #AI #Creativity #FastCompany #SecondCity #Improv https://lnkd.in/eq-tBThT

From all of us?at Second City Works,?to all of you at?Amper Technologies, we were thrilled to host you and are honored to be part of your work to bring the sexy back to manufacturing! ;) For the rest of you, if you are looking to bring your team together—whether for professional development, a planning offsite, or just some laughs and team bonding—break out of your escape rooms, throw away your axes, and stop the drums of the forced march through PowerPoints. Contact us here at Second City Works and learn how we create moments that matter, drive engagement within your teams, and teach skills that make a lasting business impact. #TeamBuilding #ProfessionalDevelopment #LaughsThatLast #CultureMatters

We were absolutely thrilled to meet the team at?World Business Chicago?earlier this week. Their work to drive growth, expansion, and innovation in Chicago's economy is critically important and, as an organization that has been part of this city's fabric for more than?half a century, we were thrilled to have our own Kelly Leonard spend time with them talking about the lessons from improv that they can apply to their mission. We work with organizations, big and small, from around the globe and teach them how to apply insights and techniques from improv to real business challenges and make a meaningful impact on team performance. #innovation #professionaldevelopment #businessgrowth #businessimpact

Kelly meets up with writer, teacher, and philanthropist Randy Fertel to discuss his provocative new book, "Winging It: Improv’s Power and Peril in the Time of Trump." Randy dives into how improv can help us navigate turbulent times, emphasizing its transformative power: “Improv seeks to widen our mental bubble.” Join us as he highlights how “improvisation is the discourse of paradigm shifts,” making it a vital tool for challenging the status quo. Tune in for a thought-provoking conversation on the impact of improv, politics, and how we can open ourselves to new possibilities. #improvisation #culture #connection?The Second City https://lnkd.in/gxy7ipBn

Live from The Second City in collaboration with the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, Kelly Leonard interviews Alison Fragale, the Mary Farley Ames Lee Distinguished Scholar of Organizational Behavior at UNC Chapel Hill's Kenan-Flagler Business School. In this episode, Alison dives into her incredible new book, “Likeable Badass: How Women Get the Success They Deserve.” Discover the secrets to managing your status and why “the key to managing your status – and reaping all the benefits that come with it – is showing up as a likeable badass, getting others to see you as both assertive and warm.” Plus, learn about the powerful link between humor and success, as Alison shares attests, “There is a strong relationship between humor and status. People who have high status engage in more humor.” Tune in now for an insightful conversation on leadership, status, and the power of being a likeable badass! #status #agility #presence?The Second City https://lnkd.in/gGjzQ6fu

Kelly talks Yes, And with Dr. Frederik G. Pferdt, Google’s first Chief Innovation Evangelist. As the founder of Google’s Innovation Lab, Frederik has trained tens of thousands of Googlers in developing cutting-edge ideas and has taught groundbreaking classes on innovation and creativity at Stanford University for over a decade. In this episode, we dive into his new book, “What’s Next is Now: How to Live Future Ready.” Dr. Pferdt shares his insights on embracing innovation, with a powerful reminder that “fair warning: it takes courage to be curious.” Tune in now for an inspiring conversation on staying ahead of the curve and living future ready! #creativity #agility #innovation?The Second City https://lnkd.in/gKCQydyy

Kelly sits down with Robert C. Wolcott, adjunct professor of innovation at the Booth School of Business and the Kellogg School of Management, and Kaihan Krippendorff, CEO of Outthinker Networks, to discuss their new book: “Proximity: How Coming Breakthroughs in Real-Time Delivery Transform Business, Society, and Daily Life.” Explore how advancements in real-time delivery are set to revolutionize the way we live and work. Robert and Kaihan share insights on why “people want what they want, where and when they want it. Those who can give it to them are more likely to win.” Tune in now for a forward-thinking conversation on the future of business and society! #futurework #agility #innovation?The Second City https://lnkd.in/d7YHSv9x