Keynote Speaker & Leadership Guide
From Guru Culture to Guide-First Leadership
The Sherpa are an indigenous people of Nepal with a history, language, and spiritual tradition that extends far beyond mountaineering. In these speaking topics, I use Sherpa as a metaphor — a symbol of service, resilience, humility, and community.
These presentations honor the spirit of guidance that Sherpas embody while respecting their full identity and heritage beyond the narrow Western understanding of "guide."
David brings over a decade of leadership transformation experience to audiences worldwide, combining practical frameworks with compelling storytelling from his work with 45+ organizations.
Why the future belongs to guides, not gurus. Learn how Sherpa principles are transforming modern leadership in the age of AI and information overload.
Transform your struggles into strength for others. Discover how vulnerability and authenticity create the most powerful leadership impact.
Bridge the gap between big dreams and daily reality. Learn the systems and stories framework that turns purpose into profit.
Navigate organizational change with confidence. Practical tools for leading teams through uncertainty while maintaining culture and performance.
Future-proof your career and organization. Understand what makes human leaders more valuable, not less, in an AI-augmented world.
See the business case for guide-first leadership. Real data from organizations that reduced turnover by 52% and increased revenue by 28%.
Flexible formats designed to meet your audience's needs and create lasting impact
45-60 minutes
High-energy, story-driven presentations that inspire and challenge audiences to rethink leadership
2-4 hours
Interactive sessions with practical tools, frameworks, and hands-on application for immediate use
Half or Full Day
Deep-dive training combining theory, practice, and personalized coaching for leadership teams
30-45 minutes
Thought leadership conversations on the future of work, leadership, and organizational culture
20-30 minutes
Intimate conversations sharing real stories, lessons learned, and practical wisdom
Flexible
Engaging online presentations designed specifically for virtual audiences and remote teams
"David's keynote completely shifted how we think about leadership. Our engagement scores increased 34% in six months following his presentation."
Senior Manager, Microsoft
"The most practical and inspiring speaker we've had. His Sherpa framework gave our entire leadership team a new language for success."
Executive Director, Haven House Services
"David doesn't just inspire—he equips. Our team left with actual tools they could use immediately. Rare combination of vision and practicality."
CEO, TechForward Solutions
"His storytelling ability is unmatched. David made complex leadership concepts accessible and memorable for our entire organization."
VP of People Operations, Salesforce
"We've had many speakers, but David's message about guide-first leadership has fundamentally changed how we operate. Highly recommend."
President, Leadership Institute
"David's vulnerability and authenticity created a safe space for our leaders to be real about their challenges. Transformational experience."
Chief People Officer, Growth Ventures
Ready to transform your organization with guide-first leadership? Let's discuss how David can serve your audience.