Keynote speaker on human communication and leadership
The best speakers are human.
In the age of AI, the most valuable thing your people bring to work is being human. Kit Pang, former Harvard Business School public speaking coach and founder of BostonSpeaks, helps leaders and teams speak up, listen and lead like humans, nerves and all.
Founder of BostonSpeaksHarvard Business School coachTEDx speaker3x INBOUND speaker12,053+ leaders trained
Stages and teams Kit has spoken to
Why now
Work got faster. It also got less human.
AI is taking the busywork, and with it many of the small moments where people actually talk. What is left is the work only humans can do: say the hard thing, build trust, and speak up early. Those are exactly the moments most of us were taught to hide in.
1 in 3
Talk only about tasks
A third of employees rarely or never have a conversation with a colleague that goes beyond work tasks in a given week.
1 in 5
Feel lonelier with AI
More than a fifth say AI tools have made their relationships with colleagues worse and left them feeling more alone.
43%
Fear losing the human part
Less human-to-human interaction is the top worry people name about AI, ahead of losing their jobs.
Sources: Workday Human Connection Workplace Index, including the ACSI study it cites.
Signature keynote
The Human Advantage
Why the most human leaders and teams win in the age of AI. A keynote about the skills no tool can do for us: speaking up, listening, and trusting each other enough to say the real thing.
- The connection deficit: why teams in the AI era talk more and say less
- Communicating through all five senses: how people see, hear and feel your presence before your words land
- Human professionalism: connecting at work as a person, not just a job title
- Speaking as a leader, including sharing your own emotions without losing trust
- The next level of emotional intelligence: noticing nerves, naming them and using them
- Three practices leaders can start the next morning
Formats
Also booked
From one talk to a human culture
Human speaker. Human leader. Human organization.
Most talks end at the applause. The keynote starts the shift, and BostonSpeaks, the coaching company Kit founded ten years ago, carries it into the work, so it sticks at every level of the company.
Human speaker
Every person owns their voice, nerves and all. It starts with the keynote.
Human leader
Managers learn to listen first, make it safe to speak up, and run meetings where the real thing gets said early.
Human organization
A culture where concerns surface early and trust travels across teams. A 1 to 3 month program with BostonSpeaks coaches.
Private coaching
One-to-one work in The Confident Speaker Method for leaders facing the biggest rooms, with a 90-day guarantee.
One partner from the stage to the follow-through, and one summary you can share with leadership. Book the keynote alone, or ask for the full path.
Past stages
Ballrooms, breakouts and boardrooms.
Conferences, company offsites and leadership programs, including teams that bring Kit back year after year.
Conferences and stages
Company teams and programs
Straight from the room
Filmed at the event, right after the talk.
One of the best presentations I've been to.Attendee, RE/MAX RE/CHARGEWatch 0:37
The crowd loved it!Event host, conference morning sessionWatch 0:27
I've never had an experience like this!Member, US Coast GuardWatch 0:48
If you're thinking about working with BostonSpeaks, I highly recommend it.Attendee, RE/MAX RE/CHARGEWatch 0:56
Everyone loved it.Workshop organizerWatch 0:30
Very valuable. I learned a lot.Conference attendeeWatch 0:40
“Kit is a freakin pro!”
“Everyone was raving about the workshop, they all loved it! We can't wait to discuss all the key takeaways.”
“BostonSpeaks has been an important part of Color Magazine and at a number of our leadership conferences.”
“They came into our base and provided exceptional training on effective public speaking and communication skills.”
“When it comes to presentation training, BostonSpeaks is my go-to.”
“You're going to learn a lot.”
More videos on the BostonSpeaks Wall of Speaking Success.
For event planners
Easy to book, easy to run, easy to report on.
Kit is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Boston and travels nationwide. Here is what working together looks like.
Before
- A 30 minute prep call with your team
- Stories and examples matched to your industry
- A 60 second promo video for your attendees
- Simple AV: a lav mic and a clicker
During
- Interactive from minute one, no slide marathon
- One live exercise every audience can do from their seats
- Stays for Q&A and hallway conversations when schedules allow
After
- Attendee resource page within 24 hours
- Optional follow-up coaching and programs from BostonSpeaks
- A survey summary you can share with leadership
Speaker one-sheet
Need a speaker kit for your committee?
Bio, talk descriptions, formats, AV needs and photos in one PDF. Mention it in the booking form and it comes with your reply.
Investment
Clear fees, no bureau markup.
Every engagement is tailored. These starting points help you plan a budget before we talk. Nonprofit, education and multi-event rates are available.
Virtual keynote
from $6,50045 to 60 minutes, live, with Q&AIn-person keynote
from $10,00045 to 60 minutes, plus travelHalf-day workshop
from $12,5002 to 4 hours, up to 40 participantsKeynote + workshop
from $16,000Same event, best valueKeynote + BostonSpeaks program
CustomThe keynote plus a Human Leader or Human Organization programBook Kit
Tell us about your event.
You'll hear back within one business day with availability and a short proposal. Most teams book for leadership offsites, conferences, ERG events and manager training.
Email works too: [email protected]. Media and podcast requests welcome.
Media and podcasts
Hear Kit before you book him.
Here for yourself?
Private coaching through BostonSpeaks
One-to-one coaching in The Confident Speaker Method for leaders who feel nerves in meetings and presentations. Root-cause work with a 90-day guarantee.
About Kit
A human first. Then a speaker.
Kit Pang has spent ten years helping people do the thing most of them fear more than almost anything: stand up and be seen. He coached public speaking at Harvard Business School, coached three TEDx speakers, gave his own TEDx talk, and founded BostonSpeaks, a coaching company that has trained more than 12,000 leaders.
He has worked with Andrew Yang, Super Bowl champion and former Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo, WordStream founder Larry Kim, Fortune 500 executives, NFL players and three-star Michelin chefs, and with teams at Intel, Liberty Mutual, Bank of America, ASICS, HubSpot and MIT Technology Review.
What makes Kit different is what he refuses to teach: no scripts, no power poses, no pretending you are not nervous. His belief is simple. The best speakers are human. Nerves are a sign you care. Mindset beats skill set. And the leaders people trust most are the ones who let themselves be seen.
He started as a hip-hop street performer, where he learned that a crowd leans in when you are real, not when you are perfect. That lesson sits at the heart of every talk, and of his mission: a world where nervousness is celebrated as a sign of authenticity and leadership.
Off stage
CrossFit athlete. Ultramarathon runner. Cat dad of three.
Kit trains the way he coaches: show up, get uncomfortable, and keep it human. If you see him at your event, ask about the cats.
Planner questions
What people ask before booking.
How far ahead should we book?
Most conferences book 3 to 9 months out. Internal events can often be arranged in 4 to 6 weeks. If your date is close, ask anyway.
Is this an AI talk?
No. It is a human talk for teams living with AI. Kit does not teach tools; he teaches the communication and trust that tools cannot replace.
Does Kit customize the talk?
Yes. Every engagement starts with a prep call so the stories match your industry and the moments your people face: board updates, client pitches, all-hands, difficult conversations.
Is this a public speaking skills class?
No. Skills are easy to find. Kit works on the belief underneath the nerves, so the change holds in the next meeting, not just on the day. Practical tools are built on that foundation.
What do you need from us on the day?
A lav or handheld mic, a clicker, and a screen if we use slides. Kit arrives early for a sound check.
Do you do virtual events?
Yes, live on Zoom or your platform with built-in interaction. Recordings can be licensed for internal use.
Where is Kit based?
The San Francisco Bay Area and Boston, where BostonSpeaks is headquartered. He travels nationwide.