Joel Cohen's keynotes are powered by a unique combination of solid business education, training and experience, and a highly successful career on the creative side of the entertainment industry. Armed with a Bachelor's of Science Degree and an MBA, Cohen started out on the sales side of his industry, landing a job as a salesman for a film distribution company (where he eventually became a vice president), and then with Turner Broadcasting. With his foot in the door of the entertainment world, he was able to secure a job as a writer on the Brooke Shields sitcom Suddenly Susan. From there, he moved on to The Simpsons. It may sound simple, but Cohen's career at The Simpsons is the culmination of years of hard work, dedication and focus.

The success of the The Simpsons is like nothing ever seen before on television. TIME magazine called it "The greatest TV show of the 20th century," and it has become a touchstone of American pop culture—both at home and abroad. (In a 2003 BBC poll, Homer Simpson was voted the "Greatest American;" Abraham Lincoln finished second.) This success is driven by a team of writers that is second to none, and who consistently produce work that is creative, innovative, and, of course, funny. With his background in business, Cohen has an ability to share the secrets of this success in a way that corporate audiences will find useful, compelling, and entertaining.

In addition to his work on The Simpsons, Cohen has been a contributing writer on numerous feature films, including Cat in the Hat and Curious George. He has been nominated for or won major awards including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Writer's Guild Award.

In this engaging, informative and hilarious talk, Joel Cohen provides insight into managing a high-pressure creative process, and explores the tools that companies can use to be more innovative. After eighteen seasons and more than 400 episodes, remaining fresh, innovative and funny is a constant challenge for the award-winning writing team behind The Simpsons. Their remarkable record of success offers lessons that can be applied in virtually any setting to meet the needs of today's ever-changing business dynamic. Using anecdotes from his seven years with the show, interspersed with clips to illustrate key points, Cohen inspires audiences to find a fresh approach to their work—whatever their role might be. From overcoming creative logjams, to team dynamics, to knowledge management, he offers insights that are entertaining as well as practical. Delivered with the timing and razor-sharp wit of a standup comedian, this talk is the perfect choice for any group that needs to inject more creative energy into their daily lives.