Leaders with Ambition · 2026-06-08 · 51 min
With over 25 years of experience spanning in-house leadership roles and consultancy, Dave shares a candid perspective on navigating non-linear careers, leading global teams, and building influence within partnership-led organisations. From his early career in economic development during the tech boom to senior leadership roles at firms including Morrison & Foerster, Orrick, and Baker Botts, Dave reflects on the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership journey. The conversation explores the realities of scaling teams, managing change, and the growing pressures facing CMOs today - alongside practical insights on networking, resilience, and protecting against burnout in high-performance environments.A standout theme throughout is the power of community. Dave shares how his global CMO roundtables have created trusted peer networks that enable leaders to step back, think strategically, and navigate complexity together.
Ep.96 Rhys Calcott - “The career is in your hands; every choice you make has an impact.”51 / 100Ep. 94 Julie Chodos- “Feedback is a gift - if people think you can take it, they’ll tell you more.”Ep. 93 Allyson Stewart-Allen- “If you don’t try it, you’ll never know what it could have been.”Ep. 92 Kerri Vermeylen - ''Careers are built through experiences, not perfectly mapped plans.”Ep. 91 Kathleen Ford - ''Networking is a skill that improves with practice.''