KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND PRESENTER
Shane Lukas: Where Values Meet Action
Shane Lukas is a keynote speaker, TEDx speaker, and brand strategist who helps leaders, teams, and mission-driven organizations close the gap between their stated values and their lived reality. He brings a grounded, real-world perspective on values alignment, advocacy, organizational culture, and storytelling to conference stages, corporate events, and university audiences across North America.
WATCH SHANE TAKE THE TEDx STAGE...twice
COMING SOON!
OUR VALUES IN CONFLICT
Stigma stops OUR Future
appearances of shane lukas
Recent speaking Highlights
Values conflict isn't a philosophical problem. It's a physical one. Tight chest. Shallow breath. Hot face. The moment before you say yes to something that goes against what defines you — or stay quiet when you know something has to be said.
Purpose, Practice, and Pivots: Shane Lukas on How to Humanist
In episode #17 of the How to Humanist podcast, Shane Lukas, the leader behind the award-winning agency A Great Idea, joins host Shay Leonia for a wide-ranging, deeply empathetic conversation that bridges business ethics with personal purpose.
While Shane’s agency is renowned nationwide for delivering digital, print, and content solutions that activate advocates for purpose-driven companies, this episode shifts focus to a different kind of critical care: the American foster care system.
TEDxNormal 2026 Speaker
At TEDxNormal, Shane makes the case for why values conflict isn't a soft problem. It lives in your body, your team, and your bottom line — and there's a framework for getting clear before the moment decides for you.
Out in Tech
In this episode of Synching Up, Jake sits down with Shane Lukas, creative strategist and owner of A Great Idea, who's spent 25 years proving that design isn't just about aesthetics—it's a tool for resistance and social change.
StreetFight Live 2025
Shared insights on building a resilient and relational workforce. Featured in AP News and syndicated across major financial outlets.
SHANE'S STORY
A STORY BUILT BY ACTION
Shane Lukas has spent more than a decade working with mission-driven organizations, nonprofits, advocacy groups, and leadership teams across North America who are living this tension every day. He knows what value misalignment actually costs: the stress, the burnout, the trust that quietly erodes. And he knows what it looks like when leaders finally close that gap.
As a TEDx speaker, brand strategist, and co-host of the Power Beyond Pride podcast, Shane brings a rare combination of strategic rigor and deeply personal experience to every stage. His work has been featured in AP News, Business Insider, and national media outlets. He speaks at conferences, universities, and corporate events — and he's available for keynotes, workshops, panels, and podcast appearances.
TOPICS THAT CONNECT
SIGNATURE TALKS
Designed for conference audiences, corporate teams, and university communities, these talks combine personal storytelling, research-backed frameworks, and a healthy dose of provocation. Available as keynotes, workshops, or panel conversations — covering advocacy, leadership, storytelling, and organizational change.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Shane Lukas' TEDx talk about from Normal?
Shane Lukas's talk at TEDxNormal, "What Values Conflict Costs You," is about the real cost — physical, emotional, and organizational — of living or leading out of alignment with your core values. The talk introduces a three-level values hierarchy (Defining, Guiding, and Informing values) and draws on a personal story of arrest and a jail cell golf pencil to make the case that values clarity isn't a self-help concept. It's a strategic tool.
Is Shane Lukas available for workshops as well as keynotes?
Yes. In addition to keynote speaking, Shane offers workshop experiences that give teams time to work directly with the values hierarchy framework — identifying their defining values, stress-testing them against real scenarios, and leaving with a practical clarity tool they can return to. If you're interested in a workshop format, mention it in your inquiry.
What kinds of organizations typically hire Shane Lukas?
Shane is hired by organizations working in social impact, advocacy, nonprofit management, healthcare, and education — as well as conferences focused on DEI, human rights, organizational culture, and leadership. Corporate events and leadership programs seeking speakers who offer real frameworks alongside inspiration are also a strong fit.
On the agency side, A Great Idea works directly with mission-driven organizations and as a co-branded creative partner for PR and communications firms serving the social impact sector. If your agency needs a reliable, sector-experienced creative supplier — for design, brand strategy, or content — without adding overhead to your team, that's a conversation worth having.
What is A Great Idea, and how does it relate to Shane's speaking?
A Great Idea is Shane's creative and brand strategy agency — ten years old, purpose-built for nonprofits, social impact organizations, healthcare providers, and foundations. The values clarity work Shane speaks about on stage is the same work A Great Idea does every day: helping mission-driven teams understand what they stand for, build their brand around it, and communicate with authenticity. Hiring Shane to speak and hiring A Great Idea to work with your organization are two different doors to the same room.
How do I start a conversation with Shane about speaking or working together?
Reach out through the contact page on this site. Whether you're exploring a speaking engagement, a creative partnership, or just want to understand what Shane and A Great Idea do — Shane responds personally to all genuine inquiries. No pitch required. Tell him a bit about your organization, what you're working on, and what you're looking for. He'll take it from there.
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