David Allison

AI is accelerating faster than anyone expected. The result? A workforce unsure of how to adapt, leaders grappling with nonstop disruption, and organizations struggling to maintain focus as the ground shifts beneath their feet. David Allison—global human values pioneer and creator of the Valuegraphics Database—delivers an electrifying message: the true competitive advantage in an AI world is our humanity.

Using nearly a million data points about the shared values that drive all human behavior, David shows the audience how to transform fear of change into fuel for innovation and unity. This keynote reveals why employees resist change, how to dissolve that resistance at its source, and what leaders must do to keep teams engaged as AI reshapes our industry.

With compelling stories, real data, and the signature humor and warmth David brings to every stage, this session reframes AI as a catalyst—not a catastrophe. Attendees leave prepared, energized, and equipped with tools to help themselves and each other thrive in a world where technology evolves daily.

Attendees will learn how to:

1. Use Values as a Strategic Compass: Discover how values like Belonging, Community, Personal Responsibility, and Financia Security drive behavior—on the job, during change, and in response to AI.

2. Reduce Fear and Resistance: Understand why people resist new technology and how aligning change initiatives with shared human values instantly boosts buy-in.

3. Lead People Through Big Change: Apply values-driven leadership techniques to keep teams focused, calm, and collaborative—even when the industry feels like it’s reinventing itself in real time.

4. Future-Proof Your Workforce: Walk away with simple tools—including David’s Three Telltale Questions—to build a workplace culture ready for AI and ready for whatever comes next.

5. Build a Human-Centered Change Strategy: Connect automation, AI, and digital transformation to what matters most to the people who make your business run.

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. Your audience 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, David brings a unique approach to this critical challenge. Not only does he deliver statistically precise, data-driven insights tailored to your organization’s unique needs, but he pairs them with an inspiring, heartfelt delivery. Packed with engaging stories, audience interaction, and lightbulb moments, David creates a keynote experience that will stay with your audience for years.

David’s proven methodology has helped global giants like Google, PayPal, lululemon, and the United Nations Foundation. His work has been featured in the Harvard Business Review, INC Magazine, Forbes, and even textbooks used on campuses worldwide. If you want to move beyond conflict and unlock the potential of shared values, this keynote is your roadmap to transformation.

Who is this for?

• Organizational Leaders:CEOs, CMOs, CHROs, and other senior executives looking to foster unity and drive success.
• Association Executives:Leaders navigating diverse memberships or polarized environments.
• Anyone Managing Stakeholders: Professionals engaging with employees, clients, donors, or industry members

Key Learnings and Takeaways:

1. Identify Common Values: Learn how to uncover the shared human values within any stakeholder group, transforming differences into meaningful collaboration and connection.
2. Proactively Resolve Conflicts: Discover how shared values can help manage and prevent disagreements, turning potential flashpoints into opportunities for growth.
3. 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.
4. 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.

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.David 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 light bulb moments that spark lasting shifts in perspective. David 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. David’s proven methodology has helped global organizations like Google, PayPal, lululemon, and the UnitedNations Foundation connect with their audiences in meaningful ways. His work has been featured in HarvardBusiness Review,INC Magazine,Forbes, and textbooks worldwide. If your organization is ready to reshape public perception, this keynote is your definitive guide.

Who Is This For?

• Industry Leaders: CEOs, CMOs, and senior decision-makers tasked with shaping public narratives.
• Communications and PR Practitioners: Professionals managing public messaging, brand reputation, or external relations.
• Policy and Advocacy Professionals: Organizations seeking to influence public opinion and gain trust.

Key Learnings and Takeaways:

• 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.

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, behaviors, and beliefs as a leader.

In this highly interactive session, David 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.You’ll leave with more than self-awareness—you’ll have a clear, actionable roadmap for navigating your role as a leader. Armed with your values and the tools to put them into practice, you’ll be prepared to lead authentically, connect meaningfully, and inspire lasting change in your organization.

Who Is This 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.
• Leadership teams across large organizations striving for greater alignment, collaboration, and cohesion to drive collective success.

Audience Takeaways:

• 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.

Values-Driven Leadership Insights:

• 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.