Start Small, Keep Going
A practical guide to building a creative habit, translated into eight languages.
- Copies
- 90k
- Languages
- 8
- Reader Rating
- 4.6★
Sample speaker Spring 2027 dates available
Casey Lane
Keynote Speaker & Author
I speak and write about turning an idea into sustained creative work. My talks bring practical exercises and honest examples to teams, conferences and learning groups.
- Keynote Speaking
- Creative Leadership
- Writing
- Workshop Design
- Storytelling
- Moderation
Talks audiences act on
Each talk can be tailored to your audience and event format.
Ideas into Action
Why good ideas stall — and the small daily habits that move them forward.
For creative teamsThe Brave Middle
Keeping creative work alive after the exciting start fades.
For leaders & makersWrite Every Day
A practical writing habit, built live with the audience.
For groups of 10–40
Career & Publications
- 2019 – PresentCLIndependent (Speaker & Author)Keynote Speaker & Author
180+ keynotes in 24 countries. Author of three books on creative work.
- 2023HHarbour PressAuthor, “The Brave Middle”
A book on keeping creative projects alive after the exciting start.
- 2012 – 2019TThistle StudioCreative Director
Led a 30-person studio creating campaigns for arts and cultural clients.
- 2008 – 2012LLoch & Co.Senior Copywriter
Wrote campaigns for tourism, retail and cultural brands.
Organizer Reviews
“Casey was the highest-rated speaker of our festival — and the only one the whole audience actually took notes for.”
Stages I’ve spoken on
- tedx
- makers
- creativeuk
- northfest
- wordfest
- summit
Talks & Publications
Ideas audiences act on. Books readers return to.
Opening Keynote for 3,000 Creatives
“Ideas into Action” — a talk with a live exercise the whole audience completed together.
- Audience
- 3,000
- Rating
- 4.9
- Session
- #1
Creative Leadership Workshop Series
A quarterly workshop for design leads on building teams where new ideas are safe to try.
- Sessions
- 8
- Leaders
- 160
- Ideas Shipped
- +27%
Speaking Formats
Keynotes, workshops and conversations tailored to your audience.
About Me
I speak and write about turning an idea into sustained creative work. My talks bring practical exercises and honest examples to teams, conferences and learning groups.
I spent ten years as a creative director before writing my first book, Start Small, Keep Going. Today I split my time between writing, keynotes and workshops with teams who want to make more of their best ideas.
A good idea is a beginning. A small daily habit is how it becomes real.
— Casey Lane
Profile Match
96% match: Excellent Match
Highly relevant for creative, leadership and innovation-themed conferences and offsites.
- Consistently top-rated sessions
- Published, recognized author
- Interactive talk formats
- Dates open in spring
Speaking Topics
Talks on creativity, leadership and turning ideas into sustained work.
- Creative LeadershipLeading makers
- Ideas into ActionFrom spark to habit
- Writing HabitsDaily practice
- Creative TeamsSafe to try
- StorytellingIdeas that travel
- ModerationPanels & firesides
Talks that leave audiences with a next step.
Every keynote pairs honest stories with a short exercise, so people leave with something they can try the same week.
View Full ProfileEducation & Recognition
- UoEUniversity of EdinburghM.A. English Literature (2003 – 2007)
- GSAGlasgow School of ArtCreative Leadership Programme (2014)
- TEDx SpeakerTEDx Edinburgh
- Bestselling AuthorNational Book List
- Certified Speaking ProfessionalPSA
- Verified SpeakerAliveProfile
Speaking & Writing Toolkit
- Keynote
- Ulysses
- Notion
- Miro
- Riverside
- Substack
- Zoom
- Calendly
- Canva
Available For
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Let’s give your audience something to act on.
Check dates, request a speaker pack, or invite me to your podcast.