David W.
Organization And Leadership Development Specialist
Professional Value
David is an organisational development specialist who helps senior executives of multinational organisations design and embed future‑ready leadership programmes. Drawing on 30 years of psychology, sociology and psychiatry expertise, he co‑creates participatory interventions using Appreciative Inquiry and Process Consultation, embeds assessment checkpoints and has delivered measurable capability gains for governments, private firms and NGOs across North America, Europe and Asia.
Executive Profile
David has worked in the field of organisation and leadership development for over 30 years.
In addition to extensive experience as both an internal and external consultant, he brings a broad academic and work background to his clients. His undergraduate degree is in international relations and he has Master's degrees in both sociology and counselling. David's doctorate is in psychology and he holds a post-doctoral diploma in psychiatry, specialising in organisations. Originally from Canada, his company is based in the U.S. but he has also lived and worked in Britain and Spain and been involved in international work from China to Tajikistan.
Highly respected in his field, he is currently the Futurist on the Board of Directors of the ISF and will take on the role of Chair Elect of that Board in June, 2004. A prolific writer, he has recently completed a chapter entitled "Beyond Methods" for a book, The Facilitation Handbook, to be published by Jossey-Bass in 2004. He has also written books and articles ranging from subjects including leadership to stress management to peer helping and has taught at several prestigious universities.
David and his company bring several key values to their work. They begin with a specific pre-analysis of clients' needs and desired outcomes at no charge to ensure compatibility between what they offer and what the client is requesting. They then co-create a tailored programme based on this information for client approval. They build in assessment procedures so clients can see success. He believes that because each organisation is unique, pre-packaged tools or methods are not appropriate and work must reflect and honour the culture and personality of the stakeholders.
His individual work ranges from one or multiple day workshops and facilitated meetings to multi-year ongoing consulting. He has worked primarily with governments, private businesses and not-for-profit clients with a specialty in leadership development, strategic planning and organisational growth and change.
He is happily married, an anthropologist and founder of his long-standing company. He has grown children and enjoys travel and working in diverse cultures. He is an avid runner, cook, and canoeist.
Core Competencies
Organisational Development
David approaches Organisational Development using an adult learning model, incorporating strategic and tactical planning, education, and training.
His methods are highly participatory and individualized, based on extensive interviewing and evaluation with clients.
Assessment and evaluation are built into his processes, which include Appreciative Inquiry and Process Consultation.
Leadership
David's Leadership competencies involve creating and holding a strategic vision based on cultural awareness.
He supports this with organizational vision creation, empowerment, and crisis management, as well as developing interpersonal skills in communication, stress management, and time management.
He uses Process Consultation and customized strategies to differentiate leadership from management.
Change Management
David assists clients in Change Management by identifying the organization's development stage, examining its culture, and planning for optimal success.
His competencies, backed by over 25 years of experience as a psychologist and anthropologist, include planning, capacity building, and supporting change efforts.
He helps organizations navigate growth and development through tailored strategies.