I was broken. I rebuilt myself.
When you lead yourself well, everything changes.
This is self-leadership.
This is A Design For Life.
AS FEATURED IN
Keynote Speaking
Design For Life is a powerful keynote that shares my story and the self-leadership principles that helped me rebuild from trauma.
Inspiring, authentic, and actionable—it leaves audiences with tools to take ownership of their mindset, purpose, and resilience.
Workshops
This interactive Design For Life workshop equips teams with a framework to build purpose, resilience, and self-leadership.
Through real-life insights and guided reflection, participants create their own blueprint for meaningful growth—personally and professionally.
Coaching
Start your remarkable journey today
About Dave
had an idyllic childhood—climbing trees, building dens, racing around on bikes, and playing any sport we could get the kit for.
That changed at age 12, when I witnessed the murder of my Mum in our home. The man responsible was a colleague she was trying to help. Only luck and quick thinking saved me from the same fate.
As a family, we had no idea how to cope. After one day off school, we tried to carry on. I didn’t speak to my Dad about that night for 20 years. In the meantime, PTSD crept in and became unbearable.
I saw over 60 therapists and tried 30+ therapies. I was hospitalised multiple times, battled alcohol, and hit some dark places. From the outside, life looked successful. Inside, I was broken.
Everything began to change when I discovered self-leadership—when I realised that while I couldn’t change what had happened, I could change how I responded to it. That shift transformed my life.
Today, I live with purpose, resilience, and (mostly) a calm mind. The biggest stress in my life is following Leeds United—but I can live with that.
Now, I work with individuals and organisations to share what I’ve learned. My self-leadership programme, A Design For Life, helps people reset, rebuild, and lead themselves with courage, clarity, and meaning.
“How Dave has survived PTSD to the level he has is quite remarkable”
Prof. David Nutt, Imperial College London
“Dave is a remarkable and inspiring man.
His tenacity, compassion and determination drove forward his recovery.
I consider Dave a natural born psychotherapist.
At the core of his personality is a gentleness and kindness, combined with a steely insistence that life is good and people can be trusted.
He has so much to offer by way of sharing his experiences.
I can think of no one better to be steering the ship.”
Dr Ben Sessa
“I have never witnessed a talk where the entire audience was awestruck. I have seen many inspiring talks, many from famous people, and Dave is right at the top of that list”
Darren Mackay: International Wine Seller
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