Will Luera shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Will, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
Most mornings begin at 5:30 a.m. at CrossFit. Starting my day in the gym is a deliberate choice, it centers me physically and mentally before the demands of the day begins. Training alongside a diverse community of professionals, parents, and entrepreneurs reminds me daily that growth requires consistency, humility, and resilience. The workout itself is challenging, but the real value is the mindset it reinforces: show up, do hard things, support the people around you, and improve incrementally. By the time I leave the gym, I’ve already accomplished something meaningful, which allows me to approach the rest of my day with clarity, energy, and focus rather than reactivity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Will Luera, and I am an arts executive, director, and educator dedicated to using storytelling as a tool for connection, healing, and community impact. I currently serve as the Executive Director of Lifeline Productions, where we create original theatrical works and immersive experiences that explore mental health, resilience, and the human condition.
For more than two decades, I’ve worked at the intersection of improvisation, leadership development, and social impact…directing, teaching, and performing internationally. What makes my work unique is that I don’t see theater as entertainment alone…I see it as a bridge.
I’m especially passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen…whether that’s in a rehearsal room, a leadership cohort, a CrossFit class, or a community gathering. Right now, I’m focused on expanding my theater’s reach, deepening partnerships, and building sustainable models where art and well-being support each other in meaningful ways.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work was my father. He didn’t teach it through lectures, he taught it through example. I watched him work in factories, open and run his own small store, and juggle multiple side hustles at once. There was no entitlement in our house, no shortcuts. If something needed to be done, you did it. If the hours were long, you stayed longer.
What I absorbed from him wasn’t just work ethic…it was responsibility. Work wasn’t about status, it was about providing, building stability, and creating opportunity for the next generation. That mindset shaped how I lead today. Whether I’m producing a show, running an organization, or coaching a team, I believe in showing up consistently, doing the unglamorous work, and understanding that success is built over time.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
As a kid, I struggled with confidence, body image, and feeling like I didn’t quite measure up. I compared myself constantly…physically, socially, academically. What I didn’t understand then is that the very sensitivity that made me doubt myself would later become one of my greatest strengths. It would help me read a room, connect with people, and build spaces where others feel seen.
I’d tell that younger version of me that leadership doesn’t come from being the loudest or the biggest person in the room. It comes from empathy, resilience, and doing the work even when you don’t feel ready. The insecurity doesn’t disappear overnight but it becomes fuel. And one day, you’ll look around and realize the things you once felt ashamed of helped shape the leader you became.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that people matter to me. Relationships matter. Showing up matters.
They’d probably tell you I care deeply about building community, whether that’s in a rehearsal room, at the gym, on a softball field, or around a dinner table. I value loyalty, consistency, and being someone others can rely on.
They’d also say growth matters to me. I’m always working on something…a new show, a new initiative, a new version of myself. But underneath that drive is a desire to create spaces where people feel seen and supported. I care about my family fiercely, I care about the communities I serve, and I care about doing work that has meaning beyond applause.
And if they were being honest, they’d probably add that I can’t sit still for very long, but that restlessness usually comes from wanting to build something that brings people together.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had ten years left, I would stop overcommitting. I’ve spent much of my life saying yes to opportunity, responsibility, and the next big idea. That drive has built meaningful work and community, but it has also stretched me thin at times.
With a clear horizon, I would be far more protective of my time and energy. I would stop doing things out of obligation, optics, or momentum. I would choose depth over breadth…fewer projects, fewer meetings, fewer “shoulds.”
I would invest even more intentionally in my family, close friendships, and the work that has the clearest human impact. I wouldn’t stop building, that’s part of who I am, but I would build with sharper focus and less noise.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.will-luera.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wluera
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wluera/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/wluera
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/will.luera.improv
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/wluera
Image Credits
Florida Studio Theatre
