What if a single year abroad could reset your life’s trajectory? We sit down with David to trace a remarkable arc: from a Rotary fellowship that placed him in apartheid-era Johannesburg to a career guiding CEOs and boards on strategy, talent, and the human side of change. He takes us inside the day-to-day realities of a rules-based system, reflects on the contrast with the protest-filled United States of the 1960s, and shares how field research in townships—and the subsequent loss of his visa—sparked a four-month overland trek to London that became a masterclass in teamwork under pressure.
The story moves from personal awakening to practical leadership. David explains how immersion in another culture reframed his worldview and why the core values of family, dignity, and connection resonate across borders. We talk about returning to South Africa in the 1980s to advise on corporate divestment, witnessing the country’s “unfreezing,” and the pivotal role Nelson Mandela’s forgiveness played in steering a peaceful transition. Along the way, we examine Rotary’s global footprint—from mentors who open doors to the organization’s enduring ties to the United Nations—and why service is, at its best, a living education in ethics and systems thinking.
For anyone “too busy” to serve, David offers a counterintuitive truth: Rotary gives energy. Hosting youth exchange students, speaking at local clubs, and working on boards build confidence and decision-making skills you cannot get from a slide deck. We highlight the visible growth in exchange students month by month, and we make a concrete ask to support youth exchange through hosting and club sponsorships. If you care about leadership development, purpose-driven work, and the kind of global mindset that outlasts trends and technology, this conversation is a blueprint. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a spark, and leave a review to help others find the show.
