Keynote Speaking Engagements
"His insights have the power to inspire transformative change in how we think, work, and create."
-MARIE PELLONI, Pittsburgh Technology Council
From sketch comedy to software
An unconventional approach to developing products
John Krewson is a rare mix of technical brilliance and genuine, people-first energy. His ability to use humor to break through tough, often stuffy topics keeps audiences engaged and laughing. That makes him a keynote speaker who will transform how your teams think and deliver.
About John
- 25-year software development veteran
- Founder and President of Sketch Development
- Works with Fortune 50 companies to 50-person enterprises
- Published author
- Life-long fan and devotee of sketch comedy
- Claim to fame: A Saturday Night Live appearance amongst the masters
Utilizing his unique background that blends sketch comedy and product development principles, John brings an unconventional approach to the workplace that dismantles creativity-stifling corporate culture and reignites innovation and passion within teams.
What our Clients Are Saying
“John delivers a fresh perspective on how product teams deliver in a way that shares his deep experience yet is profoundly engaging and approachable.”
Julia Pitlyk
Director, Marketing Technology, Nestle HealthScience
Not ready to book a speaking engagement yet?
That's okay. You can check out John's book: "Pitch, Sketch, Launch," instead. It's the first step towards building better teams and products - while having a blast.
In-demand keynote topics
How leaders make innovation repeatable
Routine Breakthroughs
It's time to treat innovation as a continuous leadership discipline rather than a disruptive side project. This program draws on Agile thinking, systems theory, and the operating cadence of Saturday Night Live.
Participants learn why short feedback loops, empowered teams, and small, disciplined bets outperform large "big bang" initiatives in uncertain environments. Members leave with a mental model to make innovation predictable, rather than letting efforts stall. Make more of emerging technologies like AI instead of falling for hype.
Master agility like a sketch comedy team
Pitch, Sketch, Launch
What do Saturday Night Live and product development have in common?
Surprisingly, quite a bit.
John Krewson combines core concepts of agility with the rapid-fire, evolving genius of sketch comedy to help you build adaptable, high-performing teams.
In this energizing keynote, participants can expect to walk away with renewed perspectives, actionable insights, and a few good laughs.
Learning Objectives
- How to create processes for a complex or VUCA environment
- How to nurture high performing teams
- How to manage dependencies and deadlines
- What it means to deliver value continuously
Limits of Expertise, Danger of Earned Dogmatism
The power of curiosity
Is your expertise holding you back? This thought-provoking keynote explores the power of curiosity and the hindering notion of “Earned Dogmatism”, and how it can lead to a closed-minded mentality.
Delve into the importance of always questioning the status quo and having your assumptions challenged. John demonstrates how maintaining a state of curiosity allows us to progress forward, gaining better results with empirical thinking.
Learning Objectives
- Analyze several antidotes to Earned Dogmatism
- Challenge several closely held “best practices” that don’t hold up
- Investigate curiosity as an alternative to expertise
- Connect curiosity and a growth mindset to improving as leaders
When technical problems become people problems
Developer handcuffs
Tired of your best developers being restricted by company protocols?
Developer Handcuffs—those annoying policies and procedures that hinder the software delivery process—are more than just technical problems.
In this keynote, you’ll learn how to break free from these constraints, releasing your team’s full potential.
Learning Objectives
- Identify the types of handcuffs commonly found in large companies
- Walk through real-world examples
- Outline tangible strategies for unshackling product delivery
Other Speaking Formats
Not looking for a one-man show? You can also book John for any of the following:
- panels
- webinars
- fireside chats