About
KC Estenson

Emmy Award-Winner | Innovation Patent Holder | CEO | Author of The Augmented Leader

KC Estenson is an Emmy Award-winning innovator and technology patent holder who has spent his career turning bold ideas into industry-shaping realities. As CEO of GoNoodle since 2018, KC has transformed the company from a promising startup into a global platform for kids’ health and happiness, now reaching over 90% of U.S. public elementary schools and families in more than 100 countries.

Under KC’s leadership, GoNoodle has expanded beyond the classroom to create a vibrant family ecosystem. He launched mobile apps with 20+ million downloads, founded GoNoodle Records (a joint venture with Universal Music Group generating 100+ million streams of original, kid-powered music), and led the brand into YouTube and Roblox, where it has surpassed 1.5 million subscribers and 1 billion views. His strategic foresight has forged partnerships with world-class organizations like the NFL, Disney, Nike, Nickelodeon, and Dove—alliances that unite entertainment with social good to improve children’s mental and physical health at scale.

KC’s career is defined by innovation at the intersection of technology and consumer impact. He holds multiple patents for enhanced media presentation systems, received a 2007 Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Creative Achievement in Interactive Television during his tenure at Disney, and has built a consistent track record of creating breakthrough products and strategies that transform how people engage, connect, and adopt new technologies.

As SVP & GM of CNN Digital, KC more than doubled profitability, tripled the audience, led CNN’s first strategic acquisition, and forged industry-shaping partnerships with Apple, Twitter, and Google—turning CNN into the largest mobile and social news brand in the world. His leadership at CNN became a case study in how established organizations can achieve rapid transformation in the face of technological change.

Now, KC is bringing his expertise in transformation to leaders everywhere through his forthcoming book, The Augmented Leader: How to Leverage AI to Transform Your Company and Future-Proof Your Career (Fall 2025). In it, he distills decades of experience into a practical playbook for executives who want to harness AI as a force multiplier for strategic clarity, organizational growth, and personal leadership effectiveness.

A dynamic and high-energy presence on stage, KC blends real-world leadership lessons with cutting-edge insights on AI, innovation, and the future of work. He’s known for making complex ideas accessible, energizing audiences with powerful storytelling, unexpected humor, and clear, actionable takeaways. Whether speaking to thousands in a keynote or guiding an intimate executive retreat, KC leaves leaders inspired, equipped, and ready to act.

KC’s work has been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Fortune, and Variety. An avid cook, outdoorsman, and father of three, KC lives at the intersection of technology, creativity, and human impact.