DAVID SAVAGE
LEADERSHIP & COLLABORATION SPECIALIST
I train and coach leaders to understand the influence they have and use it for outcomes that are positive for people and places. Leadership operates in a landscape of change and has the power to drive change for good.
“David’s deep understanding and respect for the human spirit creates real and powerful coaching experiences!”
Leadership and adversity
My interest in the power of leadership and its potential for positive impact developed over 25 years ago when I worked as a photographer documenting life around the world – from the townships of South Africa and the slums of Bangkok, to the Australian outback and riots in London.
This hard look at life showed me how people survive and persevere in realities very different to our own. I also witnessed how leadership can make a difference in the face of great adversity.
Leadership and the brain
Our brains are complex so you shouldn’t trust just anyone with it. Many leadership approaches and change programmes fail because they only scratch the surface of why people behave the way they do.
I’ve worked and trained extensively with the internationally renowned Neuroleadership Group which brings a science based approach to achieving organisational change that resonates and lasts. Why? Because it takes into account the tricky nature of our brains and our innate responses to leadership approaches.
Over 20 years of experience
I’ve worked with more than eighty organisations of all types and sizes facing a range of challenges and opportunities. This includes working directly with small and medium sized businesses, through to large scale multi-agency initiatives such as the $2.4bn infrastructure post-earthquake rebuild of Christchurch.
The tools and strategies I use with clients come from working in these high-performance collaborative environments where leadership is key.
NGO/NFP support
Recognising that NGOs and Not-for-profits have the same leadership needs as any other business – but not the same budgets – I’ve made it my mission to work in the sector consistently over the last decade, supporting the likes of WWF NZ, Kaibosh, The Red Cross, Forest & Bird, The Sustainability Network and Predator Free New Zealand.
“Long distance bike packing is how I challenge myself. It’s definitely type two fun!”
Taking on a personal challenge creates stretch and as we adapt to meet that stretch, we develop who we are and our personal leadership.
Bike packing is how I challenge myself. It’s definitely type two fun – fun afterwards, not necesarily at the time!
I’ve ridden the Tour Aotearoa (Cape Reinga to Bluff, 3000kms in 31 days), the Sounds to Sounds (Marlborough Sounds to Milford Sounds, 1600km in 16 days) and the Kopiko (Gisborne Lighthouse to Taranaki Lighthouse, 1000kms in 10 days).
Bike packing is fast enough to get somewhere and slow enough to take a place in – it’s a great way to get to know a country.
On a personal level, this kind of challenge pushes back on limitations, improves physical and mental health and underlines what’s important in life.
Feedback | What people say
David is a fantastic coach! He is fully committed to you and provides a great support as a coach. He inspired me, challenged me and most importantly believed in me. If I am where I am now, it is thanks to David!
David is a top quality coach. After every session I felt like my brain had been scrubbed and I was inspired each step of the way. David drew out the knowledge I had, and gave excellent input at the right times.
Every so often you meet someone who is truly remarkable – that is someone who is so incisive and insightful that you can’t help but remark about them to others. David is truly remarkable.
David is an excellent leadership facilitator, with the ability to be flexible in his approach, yet meeting the objectives of the programme. He is able to seemingly get into the minds of the participants and work with them in highly positive, inspiring and encouraging manner. David seems to have an ability to make people believe in themselves – an essential quality for any leadership facilitator.