Adaptability & Leadership Development Expert; Author of "How to Handle Anything"; Creator of The Improve Method™

Detroit, MI, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

Mary Lemmer Biography

Mary Lemmer is a keynote speaker, author, entrepreneur and creator of The Improve Method, an approach that uses the principles of improvisation, supported by research and behavioral science, to help leaders and teams navigate uncertainty, adapt when plans change and respond effectively when there is no script to follow. Lemmer is the author of "How to Handle Anything: Four Improv Principles for Navigating Life's Curveballs"; her TED Talk, "How Improv Can Improve Your Leadership and Life," has brought her work to a global audience.

For more than 15 years, Lemmer has designed and delivered interactive keynotes, workshops and leadership experiences for organizations including Google, Verizon, Pfizer, Square, TED, KPMG, Riot Games and Lyft. Her perspective draws from an unconventional career spanning entrepreneurship, venture capital, leadership at a fast-growing startup, and comedy. She started her first company as a teenager, has advised and invested in startups, and has helped leaders build the adaptability and communication skills required to perform when the answer is not obvious.

A longtime improviser and comedic performer, Lemmer trained at The Second City, Upright Citizens Brigade and The Groundlings. Her work combines the energy and participation of improv with practical tools and research, giving audiences a memorable way to practice, and not just hear about, the skills they need to handle change, uncertainty and the unexpected.

Lemmer is a graduate of the University of Michigan Ross School of Business. Her work has been featured in Forbes, Fast Company and The New York Times.

BOOK Mary Lemmer

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 09/01/2026.

Mary Lemmer Speaking Topics

  • YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING

    The future is unscripted. Your people should be ready for it.

    Plans change. Priorities shift. Markets move. AI transforms how we work. And even the best leaders regularly find themselves in moments they couldn’t predict or prepare for.

    In this highly interactive keynote, Mary Lemmer brings the principles of improvisation offstage, supported by research and behavioral science, to help people navigate uncertainty, adapt when things don’t go according to plan, and respond more effectively when there is no script to follow.

    Drawing from her book "How to Handle Anything," Mary introduces four practical principles that help audiences build the awareness, adaptability, and range to respond to whatever comes next. And because adaptability isn’t learned by listening to someone talk about it, audiences actually practice the principles together.

    Attendees will learn to:

    • Respond more effectively when plans change or the answer isn’t obvious
    • Turn unexpected circumstances into useful information and possibilities
    • Communicate, collaborate, and create with greater agility
    • Move through uncertainty with greater confidence
    • Expand their range of possible responses rather than defaulting to familiar patterns

Mary Lemmer Videos

Mary Lemmer Speaker Reel

Mary Lemmer Speaker Reel

Improvise Amidst Chaos, Change & Uncertainty

Mary Lemmer - TED Residency

Mary Lemmer - TED Residency

How improv can improve your leadership and life.

  • How do I book Mary Lemmer to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mary Lemmer for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Mary Lemmer, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Mary Lemmer or any other speaker of your choice.
  • What are the speaker fees for Mary Lemmer

    Speaking fees for Mary Lemmer, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mary Lemmer are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mary Lemmer, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Mary Lemmer speak about?

    Mary Lemmer is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Comedian, Creativity, Leadership, Non-Fiction Authors, Personal Growth, TED
  • Where does Mary Lemmer travel from?

    Mary Lemmer generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.
  • Who is Mary Lemmer’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Mary Lemmer for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mary Lemmer for your next private or corporate function.
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    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Mary Lemmer or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
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Mary Lemmer is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as YOU CAN HANDLE ANYTHING. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mary Lemmer for your event is available upon request. Mary Lemmer generally travels from Detroit, MI, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Shana Merlin, Olympia LePoint, Bill Stainton, Teri Weinberg and Nikita Thakrar. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mary Lemmer for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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