Speaking – Playfully Works

Engaging and Inspiring, Kelsey walks the talk on every stage

Kelsey has spoken around the world (really… from Berlin to Vegas to Singapore, to Sao Paulo to Paris… ok you get the idea). Sometimes this is for corporate learning events, a team session or as part of an expert panel.

Kelsey has designed marquee workshops that define some of the key elements she leverages at Google—psychological safety, struggle & playfulness. She also works with clients to develop custom sessions based on their specific needs and has a soft spot for speaking to organisations that are doing good for our planet.

Meet Kelsey (1 min promo video)

Kelsey's 5 min Disrupt Dublin Talk

Kelsey’s sessions include:

Getting Serious about Playfulness

The Art and (neuro) Science of Creating Great Learning

Building a Culture of Learning

I had the pleasure of meeting Kelsey at a learning conference, where she delivered an exciting and insightful presentation on the learning culture she helped to build at Google. Her energy and passion for continuous development were truly inspirational. Impressed by her engaging approach and the depth of her content, we invited Kelsey to speak to our international HR community, where she inspired us with practical strategies and thought-provoking ideas on fostering a thriving learning culture. Her ability to captivate an audience while delivering rich, actionable insights makes her a great speaker and a true advocate for lifelong learning. I highly recommend Kelsey to anyone looking to elevate their organisational learning practices or seeking an inspiring voice in the learning and development space.

Barbara Busi

Head of L&D, Allianz Partners

Kelsey is a rare talent who exists at the magical intersection of rigorous data science and creative playfulness. I had the pleasure of working with her across several roles at Google, and I watched her consistently transform ‘serious’ business challenges into engaging, high-impact experiences. Whether she was building the Analytical Academy from the ground up or bringing structure to our global facilitation strategy, Kelsey always kept the focus on purpose. She has a gift for making complex learning feel like fun, and I would trust her creative brilliance with any challenge. As she launches her own venture, I have no doubt she will continue to prove that the best way to drive results is to bring a little more ‘play’ to the process.

Elizabeth (Elle) Duncan

Global VP, Sales Enablement, Go-to-Market Operations for Google's Business Organization

Kelsey doesn’t just talk about playfulness; she makes it happen. Her sessions are high-energy experiences where everyone—no matter their starting point—feels seen, included, and part of the action. What really sets her apart is how she balances humor with heart. Whether she’s laughing at herself while dancing on stage or sharing vulnerable stories about her kids touching every doughnut in the shop, it never feels like a lecture. It feels like a conversation with a brilliant friend. It’s rare to find something this much fun that still leaves you with such profound, practical ways to change how you work and connect with others.

Michael Zwettler

Erste Group Bank AG

Kelsey Kates' session on playfulness was the tonic I did not know I needed. There were bubbles. There was laughter. It could easily have been dreadful, but it was not. It was not play as gimmick. It was play as energy, attention and permission. Perhaps the real work is to become more deliberate about what we delegate to machines and more devoted to what should remain beautifully, stubbornly and irreducibly human. That is the work. And that, I think, is where the soul still lives.