“Live full and die empty, take all the opportunities you can to make the most of life, and leave nothing behind.”
#178: What brave leadership really looks like with David McQueen
When is a “brave” decision really just avoiding humanity? David McQueen, leadership consultant, speaker, and author joins me for a provocative and honest conversation about change, leadership, and the myth of bravery at work.
We discuss the doors that open when you seize terrifying opportunities like leaping into national TV late in life and why fame isn’t always what it seems. David shares his passion for helping leaders make better, more human decisions, and the legacy he hopes to leave through empowering others, not being centre stage himself.
David’s Change Toolkit:
Book: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler (plus The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and On Writing by Stephen King)
Soundtrack: “Breezin” by George Benson & The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill by Lauryn Hill
About David:
David McQueen works with CEOs and founder-owners on the decisions that shape the future of their organisations. His work spans advisory, speaking, and leadership development, all grounded in a body of thinking focused on how leaders decide well when the stakes are high.
He is the author of The BRAVE Leader, a study of leadership in conditions of uncertainty: the characteristics that allow leaders to navigate complexity with clarity and the habits that quietly undermine them.
His advisory work focuses on three areas where the quality of thinking and judgement has an outsized impact on what happens next: scaling, capital, and succession. His speaking reaches senior leadership audiences across sectors and geographies through keynotes and masterclasses.
He has worked with organisations across financial services, technology, consumer, professional services, and the third sector, at every stage from early-scale to pre-exit.
Connect with David:
Website: https://davidmcqueen.co.uk/
Produced by winteraudio.co.uk
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