About Kelly Swanson, CSP, CPAE
Kelly Swanson is a Hall of Fame motivational speaker, award-winning storyteller, and comedic powerhouse who’s spent over 20 years on stages helping audiences laugh harder, connect deeper, and flip the script on the stories holding them back.Kelly Swanson is also known as a humorous keynote speaker and storytelling keynote speaker who helps audiences laugh, connect, and see new possibilities in their work and lives.
Speaks on: Change, Resilience, Mindset, Innovation, Influence, Persuasion and Story
Kelly Swanson is a Hall of Fame motivational speaker, award-winning storyteller, and comedian known for her powerful ability to make people laugh while teaching them how to transform their mindset through story. She’s a contributor to the Huffington Post, a cast member of the television show The Fashion Hero on Amazon Prime, and the author of Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale, The Story Formula, and The Affirmation Journal for Positive Thinking.
She’s performed for Holland America Cruise Lines, headlined major conferences coast to coast, and continues to tour theaters nationwide with her one-woman shows Who Hijacked My Fairy Tale and Southern Fried Gossip. In 2022, she was inducted into the National Speakers Association Speaker Hall of Fame.
With over two decades of making people laugh while changing the way they see their story, Kelly now teaches leaders, teams, and influencers how to use the power of strategic storytelling to connect, persuade, and create lasting impact. She doesn’t just teach story—she lives it.
Sharing her own journey from self-doubt to standing ovations, Kelly will show you how to flip your script, find your brave, and discover the story that’s been waiting to be told—all while laughing the whole way.
Not only is Kelly a master storyteller, she has cracked the code on how to help others tap into this superpower and raise their level of influence. People from all over the world seek Kelly out – some calling her the Story Whisperer. Does your story need an upgrade? Kelly can turn it into something amazing and authentically you.
Kelly Swanson’s role as a celebrity mentor on Season 1 of Amazon Prime’s TV series The Fashion Hero showcased the heart of her message: it’s not about how you look—it’s about the story you tell yourself.
On the show, Kelly coached aspiring models to shift their inner dialogue, embrace their worth, and show up with confidence—no matter what the world told them. Her unique blend of humor and honesty helped contestants own their authenticity and rewrite the script they’d been handed.
Her presence on the show wasn’t just entertaining—it was transformational. And it beautifully aligned with her mission as a funny motivational speaker: to prove that real beauty, leadership, and influence start with owning your story.
Hi there, I’m Kelly. I know what it feels like to pour your heart into a message—only to watch it fall flat. I’ve seen smart, passionate people try to persuade with facts and logic, and still fail to connect.
Here’s the truth: your story is what makes people care. Facts inform. Stories move. If your message isn’t landing, it probably isn’t missing data—it’s missing heart.
That’s where I come in. For over 20 years, I’ve helped teams, leaders, and organizations flip their script—to lead better, sell smarter, and connect deeper using one powerful tool: story.
Whether you’re building culture, navigating change, or just trying to get people to listen—I’ll help you find the story that does the heavy lifting. Through keynotes, coaching, and the Story Impact Academy, I’ll teach you how to shift mindsets, spark action, and make people feel something.
And yes, there will be plenty of laughter along the way—because humor is my superpower. Ready to discover the magic in your story? Let’s go.
Kelly Swanson is known for blending humor and heartfelt storytelling in a way that leaves audiences laughing while seeing their work and lives differently. Event planners looking for funny motivational speakers and womens conference speakers often discover Kelly while researching speakers such as Jeanne Robertson, Jeff Havens, or Jeff Civillico. Like those speakers, Kelly brings humor to the stage, but her signature style uses powerful stories to help audiences flip their script and imagine what’s possible.
