Humor is Serious Business

For years, we’ve taught at Stanford's Graduate School of Business and coached executives on how humor can boost resilience, creativity, trust, and sense of connectedness on teams. And in our first-ever online class, we’ve teamed up with comedy writers from The Onion, Funny or Die, and Comedy Central, to create an experience that will bring more humor to your remote team. You’ll laugh (probably), you’ll cry (maybe), and you’ll become a more joyful, bonded, creative, and resilient team by harnessing the power of humor (definitely).

Recent Press

“Highly entertaining series of video lectures and assessments that walk students through the importance of bringing laughter into the workplace—and the right ways to deploy it.”

“Engaging content and learning tools that blends sketch comedy, lecture, and team-building exercises. This course can help people carve out a few more opportunities for joy and connection in their lives and the lives of their coworkers.”

“Hi Sweetie! Love this course! Had no idea you were doing this. Is there a way for me to enroll question mark Give me a call and buddy no no bad dog put down the remote where did you get that OMG!!! Sorry i left Siri on so she was recording all of that. Anyway I love you my sweet.”

What's Included

Considering joining?

  • Research-backed curriculum

    Access our research-backed (but not soul-crushing!) curriculum, with weekly lectures, curated reading lists, and individual and team activities.

  • Weekly team building sessions

    Access facilitator guides and materials for weekly team-building "labs" that will apply course learnings and leave your team more joyful and connected.

  • Professionally-facilitated events

    Participate in interactive live sessions with your team, facilitated by professional improv artists and experience designers.

Learning Outcomes

90 minutes / week. 7 weeks.

  • Create a more joyful, humorous team. Through interactive activities and comedy techniques from the pros, we'll reignite your (and your team's) sense of humor at work, teaching you to find comedy in everyday experiences.

  • Boost connectedness and resilience. Research shows that moments of shared laughter help teams feel more bonded and resilient through hard times. Through team-building activities and professionally-facilitated events, your team will become more connected and productive.

  • Spur creativity. Laughter releases a cocktail of hormones that have been proven to result in more creative, original thinking, especially in times of stress. In this course, we'll use laughter and humor to help your team unlock greater mental agility and innovation in a fast-changing world.

Learner Testimonials

“I am a better colleague and leader after taking this course. It's data-driven, action-oriented, and hilarious.”

Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation

Ayla Schlosser

“Take this class. It was hands-down one of the most actionable, fun I’ve ever taken. It will make your meetings more enjoyable, your presentations more effective, and your business relationships stronger. ”

Principal @ Owl Ventures

Ross Darwin

“Connor and Naomi have fundamentally changed how I engage with my colleagues and lead. They infuse research-backed insights into tactical tips on how to use humor to be your best self. ”

Global Service Lead @ Nike

Ian McMillan

Your Instructors

NAOMI BAGDONAS is the co-author of the upcoming book, Humor, Seriously: Why Humor is a Secret Weapon in Business and Life, an Executive Coach, and a Lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. She helps leaders be more creative, flexible and resilient in the face of change by facilitating interactive sessions for Fortune 100 companies and nonprofits, and coaching executives and celebrities for appearances ranging from SNL to The Today Show. Formally trained at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, Naomi now volunteers teaching improv in the county jail. Her dog Maxxy describes her as “gullible and full of treats”.

Naomi Bagdonas

Your Instructors

CONNOR DIEMAND-YAUMAN is the Co-CEO of Merit America, a nonprofit preparing low-wage workers for skilled careers at scale, and a Lecturer at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business. Prior to Merit America, he co-founded and led Philanthropy U, the world's largest trainer of working adults in the social sector, launched Coursera's B2B strategy and business line, and was named to Forbes’ 30 Under 30. He’s taught primary school in South Africa, South Korea, and Kenya, and his academic research is cited in over 250 academic articles. He volunteers in San Francisco’s county jail and has competed (and lost!) on two reality shows.

Connor Diemand-Yauman

As featured in

FAQ

  • How do I enroll my team?

    Send each of your teammates this page and ask them (politely, and with encouraging emojis) to enroll. Interested in taking this with 10 or more teammates? Email us at [email protected]

  • How much?

    $199 per person, with discounts for teams of 10 or more.

  • How do I contact the teaching team?

    Feel free to email us at [email protected].

  • How long is the course?

    We recommend 90 minutes per week for 7 weeks (but you can go as fast or as slow as you want!)

  • Will my company cover this course?

    Most likely, yes! There's good chance your employer will pay for it 💸 AND think more highly of you for enrolling 👍. Most companies offer employees a professional development budget that can be used for our courses. To help you out, we've drafted this email template to help you get approval from your manager: https://bit.ly/36YM9Et

  • Can I take this course as an individual?

    This course is designed for corporate teams. Individuals can take our Remotely Humorous Professional Certificate on edX here: https://www.edx.org/professional-certificate/humorx-remotely-humorous