Scale it. Fund it. Lead it well.
Supporting founders and CEOs through scaling, capital raises and the years after.
I'm the second chair: an independent adviser who sits beside you on the decisions that are hardest to undo. Close enough to be useful. Independent enough to be honest. You make the call.
Advice for you. Rooms for founders. Talks for your audience.
01 · Advisory
For you and your team
A Decision Review on one decision, Retained Advisory through the raise and after it, and Executive Facilitation for your leadership team or board.
AdvisoryWith founders like you
Free investor-readiness roundtables, The Pitch Room with real investors, and The Mastermind: six months in one confidential room.
Founder roomsOn your stage
Three keynotes for founder, investor and leadership audiences, podcast conversations, and coaching for the pitch that matters.
SpeakingThree challenges most founders face.
Scaling
People, structure, and leading a bigger business than the one you started.
Read on scalingStewardship
Leading after the raise. Investors, the board, and where the money goes.
Read on stewardshipRaising social or impact investment? The same three questions apply.
What are you really deciding?
Six questions on the decision taking up the most space in your head. Two minutes. No email needed to see your reading.
You'll find out whether it's deferred, crowded, misframed or solitary, and what usually helps.
Where does this decision sit?
Recent essays from The Quiet Work.
The CEO Charter
Your team is already decoding how you work. Write it down, and stop charging them the guessing tax.
Read on The Quiet Work Raising capital · For subscribersThe Complete Growth Capital Playbook
Ask what capital you need, not what you can get. And what it will cost you in money, control and time.
Read on The Quiet Work Stewardship · EssayThe Long Game
Why short-term thinking costs leaders, companies and countries, and what stewardship asks of us instead.
Read on The Quiet Work
The BRAVE Leader
More courage. Less fear. Better decisions for inclusive leadership.
Many leaders are so afraid of getting it wrong that they do nothing. The book argues that isn't an option, and sets out the BRAVE Model: five disciplines for making better, braver decisions that stick. Bold, Resilient, Agile, Visionary and Ethical.
Practical Inspiration Publishing · 2024 · Paperback, hardback and ebook
"I had the most experienced leadership team in the room. What I did not have was anyone willing to name the decision we were all avoiding. David named it in the first session."
"It was refreshing to work with David on the bigger picture of funding for a non-profit."