David Allison

Speaking topics

Presentations listed below include in-person and virtual keynotes, as well as workshops, fireside chats, and other presentation formats.

• The Science of Values-Based Leadership

  Leverage the next evolution in values-driven leadership with a scientific breakthrough in human values data.

  Neurologists have known for years that leading people effectively requires tapping into their core values. But until now, there hasn’t been a way to identify, measure, and leverage the specific values shared by teams, or large groups of people.

  Human values expert, leadership keynote speaker, and two-time bestselling author David Allison has cracked the code. Drawing on nearly a million surveys in 152 languages and hundreds of millions of data points, he has turned shared human values into actionable, science-backed insights. Using this unparalleled data, he crafts custom keynotes from scratch, tailoring each presentation to the unique needs and goals of the audience in front of him.

  Allison’s leadership keynotes aren’t just inspiring — they’re edge-of-your-seat experiences that deliver practical tools and spark immediate change. In his fast-paced, dynamic presentations, he isolates the values that mean the most to your teams, your entire workforce, or even your entire industry. Then, he shows you exactly how to use those values to tackle any issue, meet any goal, and elevate your leadership to the next level.

  Once you learn the accurate, science-backed, shared values of your people, the transformation begins. You’ll see your true self in your work. You’ll see where your values intersect with the values of people you need to engage. And you’ll find that more effective leadership comes from being more human. As Allison says, “If we let them, our values will unite us. Because we are all values driven.”

  Key takeaways include:

  • The specific Power Values that will empower you to engage people and influence outcomes.
  • Creative, detailed strategies to immediately put the Power Values to use.
  • Allison’s revolutionary Values Thinking Process that turns shared values into actionable tactics.
  • The Three Telltale Questions that will identify the shared values of anyone you want to engage and inspire.

  Key leadership insights explored include how to:

  • Improve collaboration: Learn how to leverage shared values for stronger team cohesion and enhanced collaboration.
  • Align corporate goals with human values: Understand how to align organizational goals with employee values for greater engagement.
  • Employ values-based conflict resolution: Find out how to use values to navigate and resolve conflicts effectively.
  • Lean into diverse leadership styles: Discover how to tailor leadership styles to meet the values of diverse teams.

  This presentation is great for leaders and managers at all levels, organizations that want to cultivate great leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs.

• Passion and Purpose, Not Ping Pong and Pizza: Revolutionary Employee Engagement with Shared Values

  It’s no secret that employee engagement and retention are in freefall. Companies continue to offer more perks and incentives, yet 85% of employees worldwide aren’t engaged at work. Many organizations are at a loss for how to make people do great things and feel satisfied along the way.

  Human values expert, employee engagement keynote speaker, and two-time bestselling author David Allison has dedicated his career to studying the core values that drive people to become engaged, inspired, and motivated. Drawing on nearly a million surveys in 152 languages and hundreds of millions of data points, he has turned shared human values into actionable, science-backed insights. Using this data, he crafts custom keynotes from scratch, tailoring each presentation to meet the specific needs of the audience in front of him.

  Allison’s groundbreaking discoveries — featured in college textbooks and trusted by industry leaders like Google, PayPal, lululemon, and the United Nations Foundation — reveal the true motivators behind employee engagement. His keynotes aren’t just inspiring; they’re edge-of-your-seat events that ignite audiences and stay with them long after the applause dies down.

  Delivered in a fast-paced, dynamic style, Allison’s presentations show you how to go beyond superficial perks to create a workforce driven by what they value most. People don’t want ping pong tables and free pizza. Give them more of what they truly care about, and you’ll unlock their passion, purpose, and full potential.

  Key takeaways include:

  • The specific Power Values that will empower you to engage people and influence outcomes.
  • Creative, detailed strategies to immediately put the Power Values to use.
  • David’s revolutionary Values Thinking Process that turns shared values into actionable tactics.
  • The Three Telltale Questions that will identify the shared values of anyone you want to engage and inspire.

  Key employee engagement and retention insights explored include how to:

  • Align policies with values: Gain insights into creating policies that resonate with what employees value most, fostering a culture of belonging and motivation.
  • Create values-driven communication: Acquire strategies for communicating with your team in a way that honours their core values, enhancing clarity and commitment.
  • Boost team cohesion: Explore methods to identify and leverage common values within your team, strengthening bonds and collaboration.

  This presentation is great for people and culture professionals, senior strategy-level leadership in any industry, pension and benefits providers.

• Boosting Sales by Being Human: Explosive Sales and ROI Growth Using Shared Human Values

  Consumers today are harder to pin down than ever before, behaving in ways that defy traditional demographic molds like age, income, gender, and education. Even with more data at our fingertips than ever before, it often feels like we’re no closer to achieving our goals. What if the problem isn’t the data itself, but what we’re measuring?

  David Allison, human values expert, electrifying keynote speaker, and a two-time bestselling author, has cracked the code. For the first time, he has transformed our shared human values into actionable, data-driven insights through nearly a million surveys in 152 languages and hundreds of millions of data points. Using this unparalleled data, Allison crafts custom keynotes from scratch, tailoring each presentation to address the unique needs and challenges of the audience in front of him. His findings reveal a profound neurological truth: every decision we make — thousands of times a day — is driven by our values.

  Allison’s keynotes aren’t just inspiring — they’re edge-of-your-seat revelations packed with actionable tools that stick with audiences long after the applause dies down. His proven, science-backed method for identifying and leveraging shared values empowers sales and marketing teams to deliver results that don’t just meet expectations — they shatter them.

  This isn’t just another talk — it’s a transformative experience. Audiences will leave armed with the insights and strategies to engage any audience, deliver any message, and ignite explosive growth using the power of shared human values.

  Key takeaways include:

  • The specific Power Values that will empower you to engage people and influence outcomes.
  • Creative, detailed strategies to immediately put the Power Values to use.
  • Allison’s revolutionary Values Thinking Process that turns shared values into actionable tactics.
  • The Three Telltale Questions that will identify the shared values of anyone you want to engage and inspire.

  Key sales insights explored include how to:

  • Build better bonds: Discover how to align sales strategies with customer values for deeper connections and better results.
  • Identify drivers: Learn how to identify key values that drive purchasing decisions in diverse customer groups.
  • Speak their language: Master the art of values-based communication to resonate with customers’ core beliefs and needs.

  This presentation is great for sales teams and leaders, marketing departments and agencies, and organizational leaders looking to revolutionize their businesses from the ground up.

• AI and the Superhuman Future: Inspiring People to Embrace and Ignite the Power of AI

  AI is transforming the way we work, sell, and lead, offering unprecedented opportunities — but also raising challenges about how people and organizations can adapt. The answer lies in pairing AI’s cutting-edge technology with the profound motivators that drive all human behaviour: shared values.

  For the first time ever, David Allison has turned the enormous power of human values into actionable, data-driven insights that pinpoint exactly what buttons to push to move the needle in the right direction. Using hundreds of millions of data points from the Valuegraphics Project — the first global inventory of shared human values — Allison’s groundbreaking methodology reveals what truly inspires people to act, connect, and thrive.

  This is not a one-size-fits-all presentation. Every keynote is built from scratch, powered by custom research that uncovers the specific shared values driving sales, employee engagement, or innovation in your industry or organization. By combining AI with these highly tailored insights, Allison offers a revolutionary approach that delivers a clear, proven roadmap for achieving goals with unprecedented precision and effectiveness.

  Allison’s keynote, “The Superhuman Future”, delivers more than just insights — it delivers a transformative experience. Known for his electrifying stage presence, he combines cutting-edge research with inspiring storytelling, audience interaction, and lightbulb moments that will leave people on the edge of their seats. Attendees will leave energized, equipped with tools they can use immediately, and talking about this keynote for years to come.

  Key takeaways include how to:

  • Leverage shared values: Learn how to identify and use the core human values of your workforce, customers, and stakeholders to enhance AI-driven strategies.
  • Reduce fear and resistance: Discover how to align innovation with what matters most to people, creating a culture that embraces change.
  • Superhuman strategies: Explore actionable approaches to combine AI with values-based insights to engage employees, motivate teams, and achieve organizational goals.
  • Future-ready tools: Leave with Allison’s Values Thinking Process, the Three Telltale Questions, and other practical tools to build a values-aligned, AI-ready organization.

  Who is this for:

  • Sales and customer experience leaders: Teams seeking to pair AI with values-based insights to build trust, enhance loyalty, and drive results.
  • Senior leadership and strategy professionals: CEOs, CHROs, and other leaders navigating AI-driven transformation.
  • People and culture leaders: HR and workforce engagement professionals striving to align teams with new technologies.
  • AI and technology innovators: Developers and strategists seeking to humanize AI adoption.

• Cracking the Customer Experience Code: The Scientific Method for Giving Customers What They Value

  What is customer experience? In today’s era of instability, it’s a more complicated question than ever. Customers want more than seamless functionality — they’re searching for a journey that aligns with their deeply held values. The challenge? Until now, there’s never been a way to identify and measure the values shared by your customers.

  David Allison, human values expert, captivating keynote speaker, and a two-time bestselling author, has cracked the code. Drawing on nearly a million surveys in 152 languages and hundreds of millions of data points, he has turned shared human values into actionable, hard data. He uses this data to craft custom keynotes from scratch, tailoring every talk to meet the unique needs and challenges of the audience in front of him. It’s no wonder his work is featured in college textbooks and trusted by industry leaders like Google, PayPal, lululemon, and the United Nations Foundation.

  Allison’s keynotes don’t just inform — they ignite. They’re fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat experiences that uncover the exact values driving your customers’ decisions. With a proven system that replaces guesswork with science, Allison shows businesses how to create customer experiences that don’t just satisfy — they inspire loyalty, trust, and advocacy. The CX secret code is all about values because, at our core, we are all values-driven.

  Key takeaways include:

  • The specific Power Values that will empower you to engage people and influence outcomes.
  • Creative, detailed strategies to immediately put the Power Values to use.
  • Allison’s revolutionary Values Thinking Process that turns shared values into actionable tactics.
  • The Three Telltale Questions that will identify the shared values of anyone you want to engage and inspire.

  Customer experience-specific insights include how to:

  • Identify shared values: Learn to pinpoint and prioritize the values shaping customer experiences.
  • Customize and personalize: Master the art of tailoring customer interactions based on shared human values.
  • Align values and brand: Discover techniques to align your brand’s offerings with the intrinsic values of your customers.

  This presentation is great for customer experience professionals, product managers and designers, and organizational leadership, as well as founders and entrepreneurs.

• United We Thrive, Divided We Fail: How to Turn Conflict into Collaboration

  Divisiveness isn’t just a societal issue; it’s impacting workplaces, communities, associations, and industries, creating toxic environments and stalling growth. People entrenched in conflict and disagreement struggle to collaborate, leaving everyone feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about how to move forward. The challenges of strained relationships and gridlocked decisions make achieving shared goals feel unattainable — but now there’s a way to transform this division into connection and purpose.

  Drawing on hundreds of millions of data points from the groundbreaking Valuegraphics Project, David Allison uncovers the powerful shared values that uniquely unite any stakeholder group, regardless of where they stand on the issues of the day. He creates a custom keynote, using unique and proprietary data on shared values, to show people with different opinions how to foster understanding and mutual respect. Audiences will leave equipped with actionable strategies to create connection and achieve their shared goals.

  This highly customized and transformative keynote, originally developed for leadership audiences at the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), is now available to any organization eager to turn conflict into collaboration. As the world’s leading authority on shared human values, Allison brings a unique approach to this critical challenge. Not only does he deliver statistically precise, data-driven insights tailored to an organization’s unique needs, he pairs them with an inspiring, heartfelt delivery. Packed with engaging stories, audience interaction, and lightbulb moments, Allison creates a keynote experience that will stays with audiences for years.

  If you want to move beyond conflict and unlock the potential of shared values, this keynote is your roadmap to transformation.

  Key learnings and takeaways include how to:

  • Identify common values: Learn how to uncover the shared human values within any stakeholder group, transforming differences into meaningful collaboration and connection.
  • Proactively resolve conflicts: Discover how shared values can help manage and prevent disagreements, turning potential flashpoints into opportunities for growth.
  • Human-centric decision-making: Empower your organization to design services, messaging, and strategies that resonate with diverse groups by aligning with what truly matters to them.
  • Comprehensive toolkit: Receive a values-driven framework for decision-making, research-based insights, a learning-on-demand video library, and additional tools to implement strategies immediately.

  This presentation is great for organizational Leaders (CEOs, CMOs, CHROs, and other senior executives) looking to foster unity and drive success; association executives and leaders navigating diverse memberships or polarized environments; anyone managing stakeholders and engaging with employees, clients, donors, or industry members.

• The Personal Values Compass: A Roadmap for Navigating Leadership with Your Personal Values

  A masterclass for leaders.

  Leadership today often feels like navigating without a map. The tools we’ve relied on — demographics, personality tests, and outdated management theories — fail to provide the clarity leaders need to connect, inspire, and lead effectively. Without understanding the deeper forces that drive themselves and their teams, leaders can struggle to create alignment, build trust, and achieve lasting impact.

  This small-group master class session offers a groundbreaking solution: a personalized and confidential Values Identifier assessment. Completed in advance, this 30-minute series of questions draws on hundreds of millions of data points from the world’s first global inventory of human values. The assessment identifies the precise core values that define who you are and what drives your decisions, behaviours, and beliefs as a leader.

  In this highly interactive session, Allison will guide participants through their assessment results, showing how to use this powerful self-knowledge as a leadership compass. By connecting deeply with your values and understanding how they influence your actions, you’ll uncover new ways to lead with purpose, align your team, and foster meaningful collaboration. The session provides not just insights but practical tools for applying this knowledge to real-world leadership challenges.

  Attendees will leave with more than self-awareness — they’ll have a clear, actionable roadmap for navigating their role as a leader. Armed with their values and the tools to put them into practice, they’ll be prepared to lead authentically, connect meaningfully, and inspire lasting change in their organization.

  Audience takeaways include:

  • Personalized insights from the Values Identifier to uncover core leadership strengths.
  • Tools to translate values into strategies for team alignment and influence.
  • The Personal Values Workbook: Packed with templates and worksheets to help you navigate your role as a leader in a values-driven way.
  • Practical strategies to foster a culture of trust and motivation through values-driven leadership.

  Key values-driven leadership insights explored include how to:

  • Understand yourself: Use your values report to build a leadership style that’s authentic and effective.
  • Engage others: Learn to recognize the shared values that drive those around you and build stronger, more aligned teams.
  • Lead with purpose: Create a leadership legacy that resonates with what matters most to you and the people you serve.

  This presentation is great for senior leaders seeking to refine their leadership style and align their actions with their core values; emerging leaders looking for a strong foundation to build authentic, values-driven leadership skills; and leadership teams across large organizations striving for greater alignment, collaboration, and cohesion to drive collective success.

• Flipping the Script: How to Shift Public Opinion and Win Hearts

  When an industry is misunderstood or viewed negatively, it can hinder growth, create resistance, and damage trust. Changing this narrative requires more than traditional communication tactics; it demands a deeper understanding of what truly motivates the people you need to reach, deep inside their hearts. But what should you say? What stories will resonate? How can you change the narrative and help people understand what you are really all about?

  Backed by hundreds of millions of data points from the groundbreaking Valuegraphics Project, David Allison identifies the core values of your target audience and shows how to use them to design strategies and deliver messages that resonate deeply. This uniquely customized and powerfully transformative keynote equips your audience with a roadmap to reshape public perception by tapping into shared human values — the universal motivators that drive what people do, think, and feel.

  Allison brings a unique energy to the stage, crafting a keynote from scratch based on a large-scale research study undertaken just for your audience, and just for your event. The actionable insights that result are delivered in his trademark inspirational style, with engaging stories, audience interaction, and lightbulb moments that spark lasting shifts in perspective. Allison creates a keynote experience that keeps people on the edge of their seats and leaves them with practical tools to implement change. Audiences will be talking about his keynote for years.

  If your organization is ready to reshape public perception, this keynote is your definitive guide.

  Key learnings and takeaways include how to:

  • Identify motivating values: Discover the shared human values of your target audience to craft messages and stories that deeply resonate.
  • Reframe public narratives: Learn how to use values-based storytelling to shift perceptions, build trust, and inspire change.
  • Engage with authenticity: Understand how to design public engagement strategies rooted in what truly matters to the people you’re trying to reach.
  • Actionable toolkit: Receive a values-driven framework for public perception management, research-based insights, and additional tools to implement change immediately.

  This presentation is great for industry Leaders such as CEOs, CMOs, and senior decision-makers tasked with shaping public narratives; communications and PR practitioners or other professionals managing public messaging, brand reputation, or external relations; policy and advocacy professionals seeking to influence public opinion and gain trust.