Building Cultures That Actually Perform
While I’m the founder and current CEO of High Performing Culture, my leadership story began in the 1980’s where I cut my teeth as President of RSI, an award-winning employee benefits firm in the Philadelphia area. My team and I grew that company to be one of the largest independently-owned agencies in the country.
In addition to winning awards for leadership and customer service, we were proud to be named one of the Best Places to Work in the region seven times, and four times we were named one of the fastest growing companies. In 2006, we were the only company to win New Jersey’s highest award for quality – the Governor’s Award for Performance Excellence. Yet through it all, it was our unique culture that was the foundation for our success.
Real-World Leadership Experience
Before becoming a sought-after speaker and author, David spent 27 years as CEO of RSI, where he built and led one of the most successful independent firms in its industry.
Under his leadership, the company earned numerous awards for growth, leadership, and workplace excellence, including New Jersey’s highest honor for performance excellence.
That experience, leading real teams through real challenges, is what shapes his practical, no-nonsense approach today.
What Makes His Approach Different
David’s work focuses on a simple but often overlooked truth: culture is defined by behavior, not intention.
Rather than focusing on inspiration or abstract values, he shows leaders how to:
- Define the behaviors that matter most
- Reinforce them consistently
- Embed them into everyday operations
So culture shows up when it matters most, under pressure, during change, and across every level of the organization.
Proven Impact
David is consistently recognized as a Top Vistage Speaker, earning some of the highest ratings from CEO audiences year after year.
He is the author of the bestselling books Culture by Design and Fundamentally Different and has delivered more than 1,000 keynotes and workshops to leadership audiences around the world.
His work has been implemented across industries and has helped organizations improve accountability, strengthen alignment, and drive performance at scale.
Speaking Style
Known for his engaging, story-driven style, David’s sessions are both insightful and immediately actionable.
Leaders don’t just leave inspired, they leave with practical tools they can implement right away to improve how their teams operate.