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Kiesha Garrison    

Professional Emcee, Moderator & Comedian; Founder & CEO, Hey, Black Seattle!

Kiesha Garrison is a dynamic host who leads events and conversations that spark personal, professional, and cultural shifts. She has decades of experience guiding audiences through in-person and virtual events for learning, development, and entertainment.

Garrison combines her 20 years of experience as a business and culture leader at Time, Inc. and Microsoft with her skill as a standup comedian to shine on stage in a variety of settings. Most recently, she led employee learning and development experiences as the Director of Communications and Culture for Microsoft’s Artificial Intelligence Platform Engineering team. In this role, she designed strategic messaging and engagement programs that impacted the workplace culture experience and education for a diverse and global staff of thousands.

Her skill as an emcee and moderator has made her a reliable and impactful host for several marquee corporate events, including Workhuman Live, Include 2021 (Microsoft’s groundbreaking global, digital event focused on diversity and inclusion), and Microsoft’s first-ever fully virtual Ready Conference. Garrison has also delivered insightful mainstage interviews with well-known subjects Will Smith, Ang Lee, Lenny Kravitz, Ed Catmull, and countless corporate, nonprofit, and community leaders.

In addition to her work leading events, Garrison is committed to guiding others a towards healthier understanding of themselves and others. She produces & hosts "YOU Better!," a weekly interview podcast, and speaks to teams across the country about self-discovery and personal power. Additionally, Garrison has co-hosted "Sunday Soul Sessions," a monthly wellness event within LuvvNation -a community founded by New York Times best-selling author Luvvie Ajayi Jones- and has served as a spokesperson for the women’s empowerment nonprofit Dress for Success Seattle.

Offstage, Garrison is the Founder and CEO of Hey, Black Seattle, a company providing community-centered tech and media that connects people of the African diaspora who live in the Greater Seattle area. Via a data-driven search website, creative collaborations, and merchandise, Hey, Black Seattle! aims to be a beacon that shines a light on opportunities to sustain beautiful Black lives in the region.

From tech exec to comedian to professional host - Garrison has approached her journey courageously living as her full self. Her overarching mission is to connect people to the insight, resources, and experiences they need to thrive in their fullest self-expression. She is a proud graduate of Spelman College and is currently based in Seattle, WA.

Speech Topics


Host/MC: Kiesha Becomes a Hub of Energy & Impact for Your Event or Broadcast Goals

Kiesha is a vibrant and strategic talent who delivers the orchestration, cohesion, and energy necessary to enhance every aspect of the audience experiences she leads. Drawing from her career as a corporate executive, stand-up comedian and conversation facilitator, she uses her gift of honoring multiple perspectives at once to deliver success for all stakeholders involved. The organizers, production team and speakers all receive a champion at the heart of the show who is alert to the opportunities that can make every moment magical for the audience.

Kiesha brings an infectious performance that is well-tuned for either the intimacy of a camera or the expanse of a theater. She is adept at managing the dynamic needs of event production navigating teleprompters, correspondents, guest interviews, and more, with poise and vibrant personality.

Whether in front of a Fortune 500 crowd, face-to-face with executives, or driving impact with community changemakers, Kiesha’s poise and thoughtfulness make her a must-have on-stage talent and event partner.

Outcomes for Event Planners: Your audience has a unifying guide and Chief Energy Officer!

  • Speakers are supported in having their core messages amplified and connected to the event theme.
  • Your planning team gets an experienced partner in crafting an event that flows smoothly.
  • Your production crew receives an agile team member who can improvise and keep the show flowing.

Interviewer/Moderator: No Matter the Scenario, Kiesha’s Got the Conversation Covered

At the heart of every conversation is a person who values being deeply seen and truly heard. This belief is embedded in Kiesha's work as an interviewer. She goes in-depth with subjects to honor their truth while also unearthing usable insights for the audience. She brings empathetic energy, charisma, and humor (as appropriate) to meet guests where they are and go on a journey of learning together.

Her skill also extends to the world of panel discussions – which are great for uncovering multiple perspectives on a subject. When panels are not well moderated, however, they run the risk of masking the very expertise you are trying to highlight and reducing field experts to shallow sound bites. Kiesha is experienced at curating, planning and hosting panels that offer speakers the space and opportunity to share the wisdom you intend to deliver to your eager audience.

Outcomes for Event Planners:

  • A clear "owner" and point person for interview prep
  • Deep research on the subject to inform relevant questions and enlightening dialogue.
  • A solid plan for the conversation flow that covers your objectives and leaves space for serendipity.
  • Professional and entertaining delivery.
  • Panel orchestration that prevents an imbalanced or shallow experience.

Keynote/Workshop: YOU Better! Interactive Sessions to Spark Self-Empowerment

As a culture leader in your organization, you care about fostering a sense of belonging and the spirit of creativity on your team. But that is difficult to achieve when team members are burdened by personal struggles and self-doubt. Low self-acceptance is a quiet enemy that causes daily stress and undermines teamwork and innovation.

When people are secure from within, they operate from inner strength and trust rather than fear, obligation, and guilt. The whole team benefits when its members are supported in developing inner strength and wellbeing.

In her highly-rated YOU Better! speeches and workshops, Kiesha unpacks how harmful conditioning burdens us and then guides attendees in the work of defining themselves for themselves. Through storytelling and prompts for reflection, she provides a trailhead for the path that leads to a stronger sense of self.

Learning Outcomes: With Kiesha, People & Culture Leaders can offer:

  • Education of how systems of oppression and societal pressures influence individual identity
  • Understanding of the impact our decision to live as our true self (or not) has on us and the people around us
  • Clarity about personal core values & motivations
  • Tools for self-inquiry and declaring an answer to the empowering question “Who am I?”

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