Dave Duarte helps people grow through times of change by stepping out of fear-driven narratives and into stories of opportunity, connection, and courageous action.

A World Economic Forum Young Global Leader, he has given talks on the ground in 25 countries, including on stages at Davos, TEDx, and the United Nations. His core message: change needs a story.

As founder and CEO of Treeshake, Dave runs public service announcement campaigns that have reached over a billion people around the world.

Passionate about learning that leads to action, Dave chairs the Reach Trust which develops mobile apps used by millions to improve literacy and employability. He also founded and led the Ogilvy Digital Marketing Academy, shaping the digital transformation of one of the world’s largest ad agency groups.

He the youngest-ever Programme Director at UCT’s Graduate School of Business, where he developed and ran highly popular courses on Social Media and Digital Age Leadership. He also serves of the academy of the Global Teacher Prize.

A pioneer in digital influence, Dave co-founded South Africa’s first social media agency, led Creative Commons South Africa, and served on the board of the Mail & Guardian. He has co-authored 5 books, including best-sellers like “The Book Every Leader Needs to Read”.

His work is about helping people and organisations connect strategically, act courageously, and do the kind of work that truly matters.