Peter Laughter

Leaders today face unprecedented disruption with most responding by grasping for more control. Yet the most successful organizations are doing the opposite: distributing authority and unleashing the collective intelligence already inside their walls.

Peter Laughter helps leaders make this shift. As an award-winning storyteller and future-of-work expert, he combines narrative with practical frameworks to guide organizations beyond command-and-control. His approach shows leaders how to access the 96% of insights traditional leadership practices miss, accelerate decision-making, and turn disruption into competitive advantage.

Peter brings 25+ years of entrepreneurial experience—founding businesses that earned accolades like the Inc. 500, pioneering the first SaaS platform for enterprise contingent labor programs, and building three successful firms in the staffing industry. His work spans elite consultancies, global banks, and innovative organizations reimagining what's possible.

A TEDx speaker on Radical Empathy and three-time Moth Story Slam winner (with one story featured on The Moth Podcast), Peter discovered these principles twelve years ago while serving on a Quaker school board—where a community solved an "unsolvable" problem by abandoning authority and embracing collective wisdom.

When he's not speaking, you'll find Peter pedaling his bicycle, hiking trails, or reading voraciously. Most of all, he loves riding the Cyclone with his daughter Eddy.

Most Requested Programs

The Pyramid Has Collapsed: Turning the Age of Disruption into an Era of Abundance

Humanity has entered the most disruptive period in history. Complexity, volatility, and emerging technologies are rewriting the rules. Leaders are beginning to realize that everything we have learned about leadership and organizational structure is proving incompatible with this new, perilous age.

Using the engaging story of how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech almost never happened, this session shows how leaders can thrive by embracing Abundant Leadership. This approach unleashes distributed authority and the collective intelligence of their teams. Organizations applying this model reduce overhead by 40 percent, boost productivity by 17 percent, and access 96 percent of the insights command- and-control misses.

Award-winning storyteller and future-of-work expert Peter Laughter combines narrative, case studies, and transformative practices to guide leaders beyond control. He helps turn disruption into innovation, engagement, and lasting success. His story-driven style captivates audiences, sparks conversations, and ensures participants leave with practical tools they can use immediately. The result is a session that is the surprise highlight of any event.

What You’ll Gain
- A bold new lens on leadership — inspired by King’s adaptive approach.
- Proven frameworks to unlock leadership at every level.
- Faster, better decisions by eliminating costly bottlenecks.
- Tools to bridge the “Imagination Gap” and surface hidden innovations.
- Case studies of organizations turning disruption into opportunity.

Who Will Benefit
- C-Level Executives — Harness collective intelligence to shape the future.
- Senior Leaders — Replace rigid control with models that accelerate agility.
- Team Managers seeking to build safe, collaborative environments where leadership emerges

Testimonials

Hire Peter now! What a wonderful keynote speaker! If you measure a speaker by how many people line up after their talk just to shake their hand or ask a question, Peter is in a league of his own. He has a rare ability to captivate and inspire; connecting with audiences in a way that feels personal and engaging with a great mix of humor, energy, and impactful insights. - Mike Michalowicz - Profit First Professionals

I’m giving myself a well-deserved pat on the back for booking Peter Laughter as my closing keynote. His performance was a masterclass in wit and wisdom, sparking thought-provoking moments that held the audience in a captivated silence—you could hear a pin drop. From start to finish, he commanded the stage, weaving stories that resonated deeply, leaving the crowd eager for more. The applause and cheers that followed were a testament to his impact. Without a doubt, I’d recommend his storytelling prowess to anyone looking to leave their audience inspired and spellbound. - Jim Stroud - SourceCon

I had the opportunity to work with Peter Laughter as the event organizer for a client conference and would highly recommend him. Not only did we get great feedback from attendees, but it was a pleasure to work with him in the weeks before as he customized his presentation for our audience, added components we've seen great success with in the past and made communication + coordination a breeze. I highly recommend him and his great content! - Liz Caruso - ProfitCon

As host of The World AI Summit in Austin, Texas, we had the privilege of inviting Peter Laughter to speak at our event. His talk, "The Pyramid has Collapsed: Adaptive Leadership for a Disruptive World," was a highlight of the summit. Peter's presentation was engaging, relevant, and a refreshing contrast amidst a technically heavy agenda. His insights into adaptive leadership were both thought-provoking and practical, resonating deeply with our audience. Peter's dynamic delivery and deep wisdom made his session stand out. I highly recommend Peter as a speaker and thought leader. His ability to captivate and inspire is truly remarkable. - Peter Cobabe - The World AI Summit

Peter has a captivating stage presence and the talk he gave at my conference was a highlight of the event. His storytelling arc held the audience attention, and his video has generated tens of thousands of views. The material was so prescient that it has continued to grow our viewership years later. Also he was a pleasure to work with, throughout the process. - Aaron Sylvan - TEDx Fulton Street