In this episode of the Bet on People Podcast, Keegan Evans, executive coach and AI Consultant at Euda and Limited Partner at Beyond Earth Ventures, sits down with Jeff Kramer, Founder and CEO of CSz San Jose, the longest-running show in the Silicon Valley, to explore how improvisation develops the same skills that drive effective leadership, collaboration, and organizational performance. They discuss how improv moves far beyond entertainment, becoming a practical framework for building stronger teams through listening, adaptability, trust, and creative problem-solving. Jeff shares his journey from becoming an actor and discovering improv to building Comedy Sports San Jose into one of Silicon Valley’s longest-running improv organizations. Through stories spanning the early days of introducing improv to new audiences, helping Apple engineers improve collaboration, developing corporate training programs, and navigating the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, he demonstrates how improv principles translate directly into workplace effectiveness. The conversation also explores why great leaders know when to step forward and when to step aside, how psychological safety enables teams to take risks, why “having each other’s backs” creates stronger cultures, and what improv can teach us about leadership in an increasingly AI-driven world. Expect to Learn: Why improv is a serious leadership skill built on listening, adaptability, and trustHow Comedy Sports evolved from a comedy performance into a corporate training and team-development toolWhy psychological safety and “having each other’s backs” are essential for high-performing teamsHow leaders can recognize when to step up, support others, or get out of the wayWhat improv teaches us about decision-making, experimentation, and working alongside AIEpisode Breakdown with Timestamps: [00:00:00] - Teaser [00:00:45] - Introduction: How improv skills connect to leadership and organizational effectiveness [00:03:31] - The power of listening: The most important skill for improvisers and leaders [00:05:26] - Jeff’s journey into improv and founding Comedy Sports San Jose [00:08:00] - Building improv in San Jose and educating a new audience about the art form [00:09:56] - The unexpected Apple connection: How engineers discovered improv for teamwork [00:11:43] - Using play and experience to teach collaboration and design thinking [00:14:27] - Growing a 40-year organization through uncertainty and changing markets [00:18:13] - Leading through crisis: Navigating the pandemic and rebuilding together [00:28:55] - advertising on TV and telling Mentor [00:34:01] - Lightning round: Growth goals, mentors, AI, media recommendations, and closing thoughts 🔗Connect with Guest Jeff Kramer: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-kramer-0317734/ 👉 Email: jeff@cszsanjose.com 🔗Connect with CSz San Jose: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/comedysportz-san-jose/ 👉 Website: https://www.cszsanjose.com/ 👉 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CSzSanJose 👉 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cszsanjose 👉 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@csz.san.jose.backstage 👉 The ComedySportz Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-comedysportz-podcast/id1493584575 🔗Connect with Host Keegan Evans: 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keeganevans/ 🔗 More from Euda: 👉 Website: https://www.euda.io/ 👉 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/euda-io/ 🔗 Follow the Podcast on: 👉 Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bet-on-people/id1882863281 👉 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5HgXTMbgkDsmuqzUiDGcXc 👉 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Euda-io