Avish Parashar

Avish Parashar grew up in “exotic” Poughkeepsie, New York, and now makes his home in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though he performed theater throughout high school, he made the very responsible decision to stop when he went to college so he could “focus on his studies.” (His parents were very proud.)

That decision lasted approximately three months (His parents were less proud).

The first time Avish saw an improv comedy show, he was hooked. One week later, he auditioned for the campus improv group, got in, and the rest is history. After graduation, he founded Polywumpus Improv Comedy, which performed throughout the Philadelphia area for seven years.

Eventually, Avish realized something powerful: the same principles that make great improv work also help people thrive in the real world - especially when everything changes.

Today, Avish is a keynote speaker, author, and expert on helping leaders and teams navigate change, unlock creativity, and move from apathy to excitement using the Yes, And mindset. (His parents were once again very proud).

Blending humor, audience interaction, improv experiences, and highly practical tools, Avish helps organizations stop merely “getting through” change and start using it as a catalyst for brilliance, innovation, and engagement.

His message is simple but powerful: the biggest obstacle to change is often not resistance. It’s apathy.

And the way forward is learning how to say Yes, And to uncertainty, possibility, and what comes next.

Audiences leave Avish’s programs energized, laughing, and equipped with practical strategies they can use immediately to lead through uncertainty, communicate more effectively, and create momentum when teams feel stuck.

Avish is the author of three books, including his newest book, Say 'Yes, And!' to Change.