Scott Dikkers
Unlock workplace creativity and innovation with Scott Dikkers, award-winning humorist and founder of The Onion. Scott equips teams with practical frameworks for breakthrough ideation and creative problem-solving in the AI era. Peabody Award-winner recognized by Time as a top digital influencer with 30+ books and millions of followers worldwide.
Minneapolis, United States
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Scott began his career as a cartoonist, creating Jim’s Journal, a nationally syndicated comic strip that became a New York Times bestselling collection. He went on to co-found The Onion, transforming it from a small college newspaper into one of the most influential comedy and media brands in the world.
Scott founded The A.V. Club and has authored more than 30 books, including Our Dumb Century, which sold over one million copies. His work has earned both a Thurber Prize for American Humor and a Peabody Award and has been recognized by Time as one of the top movers and shakers in the digital world. Entertainment Weekly placed him on their "It List" of top entertainers in Hollywood.
Scott has appeared on Saturday Night Live and built a global following through viral video, digital media, and speaking engagements. In 2014, he founded How to Write Funny in partnership with The Second City, with his students going on to win Emmys, Grammys, and Oscars.
Scott works with organizations using systems he developed inside The Onion writers’ room, including structured brainstorming, creative filters, and human-centered idea generation models designed to produce consistently original thinking. His approach helps teams navigate disruption, strengthen collaboration, and generate practical solutions, particularly in fast-changing environments shaped by technology, AI, and market uncertainty.
Audiences gain practical tools to think more creatively, communicate more effectively, and foster cultures that support innovation and engagement. His presentations combine real business lessons, storytelling, and humor to demonstrate how creativity can become a repeatable, scalable advantage across leadership, marketing, and organizational strategy.
Book Scott to discover how human creativity remains the key competitive advantage in an AI-driven world.
Topics, Sessions And Talks
Scott Dikkers addresses one of today’s most urgent workplace challenges: maintaining human creativity in an age dominated by automation and AI. Drawing from his experience building The Onion into a global media brand, Scott shares a proven system for generating innovative ideas, adapting to disruption, and sustaining creative momentum. Through humor, stories, and practical frameworks, he shows how teams can remain indispensable by harnessing imagination, collaboration, and structured creative thinking.
Scott Dikkers reveals the principles that transformed a small college newspaper into one of the world’s most recognizable humor brands. He explores how clarity of mission, strong team culture, and a sense of enjoyment drive innovation and long-term success. Blending irreverent humor with practical leadership insight, Scott demonstrates how organizations can inspire loyalty, navigate uncertainty, and build cultures that foster creativity, resilience, and meaningful growth.
Scott Dikkers draws on decades leading The Onion to explore the blurred line between satire and reality in today’s digital media landscape. With humor and firsthand stories, he examines how misinformation spreads, why audiences are easily misled, and how critical thinking protects individuals and organizations. Scott equips audiences with the awareness and analytical mindset needed to evaluate information responsibly and navigate an increasingly complex media environment.
Scott Dikkers shares the improbable journey from aspiring cartoonist to founder of a global humor institution. Through candid stories of failure, persistence, and creative breakthroughs, Scott reveals how unconventional thinking and determination shaped his career. His entertaining and relatable storytelling highlights the power of pursuing creative instincts, embracing risk, and recognizing opportunity, showing how ambitious ideas can evolve into influential and lasting achievements.
Looking for a custom keynote or workshop designed around your company’s goals and culture? The expert will create a tailored, interactive session that aligns with your objectives, values, and strategic priorities. From leadership and innovation to wellbeing and collaboration, each experience is built from the ground up to deliver measurable impact and lasting change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about booking an expert speaker, facilitator, host or entertainment for your event.
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- Next, we'll send out contracts to confirm the booking. One of our experienced event producers will liase with both you and the talent on the finer details, and arrange travel if necessary, taking the stress off your plate.
Not necessarily. While the speakers listed on our website may not have worked with PepTalk in the past, they are recognized professionals in the industry and known to engage in similar events and engagements. We work with a wide variety of speaker agents and talent agencies to ensure we have the best selection of speakers, hosts, comedians and entertainers available.
We do not accommodate requests for birthday messages or any other personal, non-commercial contact with the speakers, comedians or entertainers.
We work with speakers across a variety of fee ranges, giving you the flexibility to choose someone who fits your event's needs. Virtual keynote fees in the UK and Europe typically start at £2,000, while in-person top-tier speakers can reach £25,000. In the US, virtual in-person fees range from $5,000 to over $100,000, depending on the speaker and format, such as after-dinner talks, conference keynotes, Q&As, or podcasts. Comedians generally start at £1,500 or $2,000 for a 20-minute set.
Our goal is to help you find the speaker who best matches your event’s goals and budget. We take the time to understand your event, objectives, and audience to recommend the right fit. The most expensive option isn’t always the best one, and our priority is finding the ideal speaker or expert for your needs; not the highest-priced one.
Reach out for personalised recommendations and detailed information on specific speaker fees. We’re here to offer a tailored service and are always happy to discuss your unique requirements!
There’s no additional cost for our services beyond the speaker fee — simply contact us to find the right speaker for your next business or team event. We can also work with your corporate procurement team to negotiate favourable long-term rates, simply email hello@getapeptalk.com for more information.
Partnering with PepTalk means elevating your events with our curated roster of top motivational speakers, industry experts, delivering punchy keynotes that leave a lasting impact. From talent selection, to contracts and logistics, we handle it all. We have global expert network, with over 3000 speakers from over 33 countries on our line-up.
We also provide a full range of talent, from event hosts and moderators to interviewers and corporate entertainment, ensuring your event’s success from start to finish.
PepTalk workshops are interactive learning experiences for leaders at all levels, blending theory with practical insights from industry experts. These programs, led by experienced facilitators, are designed to drive real mindset changes and equip participants with actionable skills. Workshops can be customised to meet your organisation's specific needs. Explore our workshop examples and contact us today to learn how your team can benefit.
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