Keynote Speaking
Most of David’s speaking engagements are delivered as sixty-minute keynotes. They can be extended for more interactive seminars.
These are the key themes David focuses on.
Leadership
For over twenty years, David has been speaking to audiences around the globe about the importance of good leadership. From corporates to nonprofits to educators, his keynotes draw on his experience as a coach, board advisor, and business owner.
Using a combination of leadership research, client experiences, storytelling, and humour, David takes his audience on practical journeys on the good and bad of leadership development.
THE BRAVE LEADER.
David's signature speech on inclusive leadership and how organisations can implement and measure it.
LEAD FROM THE CENTRE
Using the metaphor of an orchestra, this keynote demonstrates that leadership is systemic and not about a hero singular figure
THE MAGIC OF MENTORING
The role of mentoring and sponsorship are key pillars for developing a leadership pipeline. This keynote explores how to build and maintain those pillars.
Culture
There is nothing simple about culture or culture change; you should run a mile away (or more) from anyone who tells you differently.
Over the years, David has learned a few lessons about how organisations can effectively leverage their leaders, "influencers", and other key players to develop plans to make cultures work for them. To appreciate that workplace cultures are never static and never perfect.
The keynotes in this series focus heavily on practical approaches to cultural growth and development. Here are some previous topics.
A GOOD PLACE TO WORK
This speech explores traditions, totems and taboos and what role they play in shaping the culture(s) in the workplace.
SUCCESS IS A TEAM SPORT
This speech focuses on how organisations can encourage both candour and compassion in their workforce when building resilient and anti-fragile environments. Rather than being a badge of honour for the individual, success is about how we build systems and cultures together.
Presentations
There is an art and a science to delivering a good speech or presentation. It is not accidental that people remember good presentations.
Whether a board meeting, pitch, conference presentation, TED talk or all hands, developing the necessary skills and presentation muscle to deliver consistently is a prerequisite for most professionals today. Not to fear, there are tools to help - whether you are an introvert or extrovert or delivering live, virtually or a hybrid of the two.
Here is a flavour of some of the keynotes available from David.
STAGE PRESENCE
This keynote explores the key ingredients you will need to master any stage you are called to present on.
A WELL-TOLD STORY
Humans have always thrived on good storytelling and narrative. This keynote explores the different types and how they can be used as part of your speaking and presentation toolkit.
Business
As a founder, mentor and advisor to several businesses, David has amassed years of valuable experience understanding what works and doesn't work when trying to grow a business.
These keynotes are targeted more at small to medium-sized businesses, but the principles apply to larger organisations' teams and divisions.
Here are some of the more popular ones delivered.
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS
So much of what makes for successful businesses is the mindset of the people building and driving them. In this keynote, David focuses on the mindset needed to run a business, the methods (systems and processes), and the models to sustain the organisation.
WORKING PROGRESS
David and his wife, Madeline, share how they have blended building a business as a married couple while navigating differences, parenting and all the advice that says married people should never work together.