Hire the Best Speech Writers in New York

I'm a comedy writer. With nearly three decades writing character-driven comedy, I specialize in conversational content that sounds like a person wrote it. I write social media scripts, brand voice content, punch-ups for presentations and screenplays, and comedy sketches for tech companies, healthcare professionals, lifestyle brands, and more. I started in Chicago's comedy scene writing and performing at Second City's Donny's Skybox Theater, Lincoln Lodge, and Chicago Comedy Festival, then moved to NYC and continued at The Creek and the Cave and Manhattan Monologue Slam. I'm also the author of a dark comedy novel.

Most writers can put words on a page. Very few understand the room the words are walking into. I do. I served as Chief of Staff and Communications Director to the Global Chairman of a private equity firm - operating across New York and Dubai, writing for boardrooms, governments, and principals who have no tolerance for anything less than exact. Before that, I spent years at the highest levels of American political life - advising at the executive level, supporting presidential and Senate-level campaigns, and building coalitions that moved initiatives and outcomes at national scale. I've ghostwritten for executives, public figures, and athletes. I've built pitch decks that secured investments. I've written speeches delivered on national stages. I've crafted narratives for international institutions and brands that needed to sound like they belonged in rooms they were still trying to enter. What I actually do: I take what you're trying to say - your pitch, your vision, your ask - and I make it land the way it was meant to. Pitch decks. Speeches. Executive ghostwriting. Proposals. Long-form thought leadership. High-stakes communications of any kind. I'm not a typical Upwork hire. I'm what you bring in when the stakes are real and the writing has to be right. Bilingual - English and Spanish, native level. Available globally. If you've read this far, you already know whether we're a fit.

I started my career as a stand up comedian and it led me to be one of the youngest syndicated columnists in the country; an amazing job I enjoyed for seven years. I then had the honor of working on Capitol Hill as a Communications Director. I've hosted three-hour live talk shows at SiriusXM and have been a political pundit on cable news. I've written for The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Los Angeles Times, Mother Jones, USAToday and many others. I'm the 2025 recipient of the PEN America/Jean Stein award for Oral History. As a consultant, I have experience working with different types of clients with various levels of abilities and goals. Whether you want to launch a campaign, write a book, punch up a script, or simply want to feel more comfortable in front of a crowd--I can help! Writing samples available upon request.

"Douglas is an outstanding professional and highly skilled. A real gem here on Upwork. HIRE HIM." — Verified Client, Founder & CEO One moment. One message. No second chances. That’s the reality for CEOs and senior leaders stepping onto a stage, into a boardroom, or in front of a camera. I help you win those moments. I’m an executive speechwriter and narrative strategist trusted by leaders whose words must move markets, shape perception, and drive action. My background spans the U.S. Senate, Mastercard’s C‑suite, higher education, and global organizations — environments where clarity, timing, and impact are must-haves. Leaders I’ve written for include: • A Mastercard CEO who later became President of the World Bank • A U.S. Senator named to TIME’s Top Ten • Two university presidents leading major institutional transformations • CEOs and founders across telecom, security tech, and real estate My work has been delivered at: Davos • Mobile World Congress • The U.S. Senate floor • Harvard Business Review China • A NYC gala that raised $1.28M in one night What I Do I work with you to write narratives that land with audiences you want to reach with language that sounds like the best version of you under the brightest lights in rooms large and small. Clients hire me when they need to: • Deliver a keynote that lands • Nail a TEDx or high‑stakes talk • Repurpose a speech into a blogpost • Win an investor pitch • Shape a media appearance • Align a team or board around a strategic narrative • Strengthen CEO visibility and message discipline • Communicate with clarity in complex, high‑stakes environments Proven Results • 90% share of voice at Mobile World Congress for a Fortune 200 CEO • $12M+ pipeline generated from a single investor pitch • 40‑spot rise in WSJ university rankings driven by a presidential narrative platform • 3X digital revenue growth at Tata Communications through a CEO‑driven storytelling initiative • Two Harvard Business School case studies on the Doing Well and Doing Good narrative Send me a message with your specific needs and let's ensure your next high-stakes moment wins. To your success!

🙋‍♂️WHO I AM: Hey there! I’m an LA-based Copywriter, TV Writer, Social Media Strategist, and Comedian. Over the past 16 years, I’ve written for Disney, UberEats, Ruggable, Fair Harbor, NFL, MLB and NHL teams, Country Club Adjacent, The Bouqs Co., Target, McDonald’s, De Soi, dating apps, hotel brands, Shark Tank startups, TV sitcoms, social media accounts with 1M followers, newsletters, blogs, health and beauty, podcasts, wedding speeches, dating profiles, and (sadly) one breakup email. As a standup comedian, I've opened for Nick Kroll and Nikki Glaser, and was honored to be in the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. ✍️ WHAT I DO: I create results-driven copy through my knowledge and experience in content strategy, storytelling, and creativity. I will absorb and master your brand voice, and curate my writing so that it flawlessly delivers your ideas and goals to your target audience. Don’t know your voice yet? That’s okay! I’ll use my brand strategy background to help you discover exactly what to say, and how to say it. 🤩 FEATURED IN: My writing has been featured in Adweek, Times Square, national commercials, network TV shows, animated YouTube shows, and ads you’ve seen on all your social channels. I was also proudly a New Face at the Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. (I promise this is a big deal!) 💡 MY FOCUS: - Providing solution-oriented copywriting, storytelling, and content strategy support for brands and clients of all sizes. - If you’re looking for any of the following, I’m ready when you are: copywriting, blog, SEO, brand voice/guidelines, podcast and video scripts, social media content and captions (Tik Tok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter), product descriptions, hero and taglines, email and CRM, landing pages, speeches. 🎬 TV WRITING IN HOLLYWOOD I’ve had a rewarding career as a TV writer and head monologue writer. I’ve written for sports shows, animated shorts, commercials, and countless sitcom pilots.

Bring your brand and message to life with the clarity, confidence, and precision of a nationally recognized presenter — and Amazon #1 Bestselling Author of *The Unexpected Stage: The Art of Reinvention Through Authentic Communication*. I'm a U.S.-based spokesperson, public speaking coach, and communication strategist with 10+ years of experience helping companies, founders, and thought leaders tell stories that inspire action. From Good Morning America and QVC to TEDx stages, Harvard Business School, Harvard's Loeb Fellowship, Columbia, and NYU Stern, I've coached and represented some of the most recognized names in business, academia, and media. Whether you're preparing for a high-stakes presentation, building a content production system for your brand, or refining your executive voice — I'll help you show up with impact. What I Deliver: 🎤 Full-production VSLs — on-camera performance, scripting, high-motion editing, and final delivery, ready to convert 📈 Spokesperson videos for product launches, brand storytelling, and UGC-style content 🎯 Executive communication coaching — keynotes, job talks, TEDx, investor decks, media interviews 📊 Content production systems and channel blueprints for YouTube brands, course creators, and personal brands — including playbooks, script templates, episode frameworks, and full editorial workflows 📱 On-camera hosting for explainers, educational series, and branded interviews ⚡ Impromptu speaking and interview prep to help you think on your feet and lead with confidence Why Clients Choose Me: ✔ Top Rated on Upwork — 100% Job Success Score ✔ Amazon #1 Bestselling Author — *The Unexpected Stage: The Art of Reinvention Through Authentic Communication* ✔ Nationally recognized presenter — Good Morning America, ABC News, TEDx, QVC ✔ Faculty at Harvard Business School for 6+ years — also coached Loeb Fellows at Harvard GSD ✔ Professor of Strategic Communication at Columbia and NYU Stern — trained and coached top talent at both institutions ✔ Built full-scale YouTube content production systems for multi-channel brands — playbooks, templates, Shorts frameworks, and ClickUp workflows ✔ Styled and coached leaders for the Oscars, Tonys, and Emmy Awards ✔ Helped founders land funding, authors expand platforms, and PhDs win dream roles Equipment: Professional green screen setup, 4K camera, studio lighting, lav and boom mics, and broadcast-quality audio. White, neutral, and branded backgrounds available with full post-production. NYC and Boston studio access upon request. Let's Work Together: Whether you need a fully produced VSL that converts, an elite coach for your next big stage, or a strategic partner to build your content system from the ground up — I'll help you deliver with clarity, confidence, and impact. Book a consultation today and let's create something powerful.