Speaking Samples

Shaun King empowers people to  take courageous steps in life.  Read a quick biography of Shaun here.  With a way of making complex and often thorny topics very simple and even exciting, Shaun is a fearless, transparent, and humorous communicator that has engaged audiences from Death Row inmates and very stuffy corporate executives to rambunctious preschool students and skeptical teenagers. (They are all more alike than you may think.)

Having served for the past ten years as a full-time motivational speaker, pastor, and educator, Shaun treats every opportunity to speak as if it could be his last chance to make a difference in the world.  He carefully customizes every presentation for his audience and is able to make freestyle shifts and adjustments based on the mood, response, and engagement of the listeners.

Shaun has spoken over 1,000 times at nearly every type of engagement in every imaginable setting (from one on one consulting to thousands of people) and has appeared on NPR, CNN, NBC, CBS and in Fortune Magazine, International Business Times, and a whole bunch of other places :-)

Although Shaun’s primary position is as pastor of The Courageous Church, he is regularly sought out nationally as a political and cultural commentator on issues of social technology, marriage & parenting, fundraising, diversity & race, violence prevention, living with physical pain, reconciliation & forgiveness, and much more.  Check out Shaun’s weekly podcast and the iTunes information here.

Please email Shaun directly @ shaunking@courageous.tv if you are interested in inviting him to speak or consult for your organization in any way.

Video Samples

Testimonials

Shaun is and will be a great leader in ministry and elsewhere. Justice comes only with struggle. Shaun’s social, intellectual and academic pursuits are part of that struggle; carry on. Like him, we should all use our energy to fire up our spirits, our persistence, our courage and our strategic intellect to achieve non-violently the economic, political and moral power that we need to secure justice and equal opportunity in America.
–The Late Honorable Maynard Jackson

I have known Shaun for about ten years. During those years I was his director in the Benjamin E. Mays Teacher Scholar program at Morehouse College, his speech professor, and teacher evaluator at a charter school where he taught. During those years, he shone as a remarkably talented intellectual and orator. Indeed, his first presentation at our scholars meeting raised the bar for all of the other scholars. He was a stellar student, researcher, leader, and mentor to young children during his time at Morehouse. Mature beyond his years, he simply achieved brilliantly at everything he touched.

Shaun was such a shining star that Dr. Lisa Delpit, a giant in the field of education as well as a MacArthur genius fellow and Harvard PhD, asked him after he graduated to teach in a charter school that she was co-directing at the time. His congenial rapport with the students, his capacity to motivate them to learn deeply and well, and his contributions to the school at large singled him out as an educational leader who would be enriching the profession for years to come. Observing him as a teacher revealed his unique capacity for working with teenagers. The charter school where he taught offered many challenges. The conditions of the physical plant, the inexperience of the administrative staff, and the special needs of the young students at the school would confound even an experienced teacher. However, Shaun, with great clarity, imagination, and maturity captured the hearts and attention of those rambunctious middle and high schoolers. He was pure pleasure to watch in the classroom.

I believe that Shaun is a gifted teacher and leader whose presence in any organization would be a tremendous asset. His compassion and expertise with motivating people is superior.
Joan T. Wynne
Professor/Educational Leadership & Policy Studies
Associate Director
Center for Urban Education & Innovation
Florida International University – Miami, FL

I recently met Shaun while attending a meeting of the nonprofit organization, the Southern Regional Council. I had been invited to represent my colleagues at the Southern Regional Educational Board to serve at a series of meetings that are a follow up to a symposium about Brown vs. The Board of Education. Shaun was our luncheon speaker, and I was overwhelmed by the presentation he made to a group of diverse individuals trying to grapple with educational issues facing the Atlanta metropolitan area. His topic was, “How Low Will You Go to Save a Generation.” He shared his work with incarcerated youth as a way of trying to demonstrate the severity of circumstances that so many young people face in today’s world. After hearing him speak, I was determined to do anything I could to help this young man realize his personal and professional goals.

While my association with Shaun has been brief, my admiration of him and his work continues to grow. I have brought him in contact with several colleagues here at SREB who are developing publications and training materials on the topic, “Saving the Male Student,” and “Creating Habits of Success.” These are a natural fit for him and tap into his deep knowledge and understanding of the children that our educational systems have failed to reach and help. We have invited him to participate as a member of a national panel of experts on the above-mentioned topics along with representatives from organizations like Johns Hopkins and Brown Universities. He is mature beyond his years, and his presentation of himself and his experiences is given in a thoughtful, dynamic way. For that reason, we have also invited him to participate in one of our national workshops on guidance and advisement aimed at educators in middle and high schools from our member states and beyond.

He and I have met with others outside my organization whose efforts would be enhanced by knowing Shaun and tapping into his skill set. Dr. Barbara Smith, regional director for AVID (Advancing via Individual Determination), was as deeply impressed with Shaun as I have been. She is pursing additional speaking engagements as part of the national training activities she designs and conducts.
Janie Smith, PhD, Director of Training, Southern Regional Educational Board (SREB)

When I first heard Pastor Shaun King speak at an event in Atlanta I was a critic to say the least. I thought his style was flashy and too pop culture for my conservative taste. It was during his speech that he compared the plight of the African American male with popular rap song titles and other lyrical ideas. I must say though that my counterparts in attendance did not share my perspective, erupting with cheers, applause and nods of encouragement throughout the speech. I decided to call it a draw and attribute the speech’s popularity with King’s rolling preacher’s voice and the familiars in his oratory. But it was not until I went to another event where Pastor Shaun spoke that I actually listened closely to his message.

Pastor Pastor spoke of us being more then what we are and using the power in our own lives to change ourselves and our communities for the better. The speech impacted me for the most selfish reasons, which many experts will tell you is the effect of a dynamic speaker. He made such a connection with me that I felt as if he was talking about me in his speech…. that I was in control of my life if I would only decide to take control.

Pastor Shaun is definitely no ordinary speaker! If you want ordinary go somewhere else! But if you want dynamic, conscious, expressive, entertaining, thought provoking light bulb moments choose Shaun King. He has definitely inspired change in my life and in the lives of countless others. With a gift and a passion that should be shared with others his message of love, healing, and spirituality is truly an inspiration to all.
Scott Hunter, New Orleans, LA

Shaun has been the kind of motivation in my life that I strongly feel many of our youth would also benefit from. His previous professional and civic involvement, particularly in the juvenile justice system, will bode well for the revitalization of our communities. He brings intelligence, compassion and energy to take things to the next level.
Khaatim S. El
Atlanta School Board, District 2 Representative

Please email Shaun’s directly @ shaunking@courageous.tv if you are interested in inviting him to speak.