David Anderson is a purpose-driven executive, global board leader, and serial entrepreneur who has spent over three decades guiding organizations toward strategic growth, operational excellence, and cultural transformation. His career is a rich narrative of resilience, innovation, and service—beginning in the corridors of political power and evolving into the boardrooms of dynamic enterprises worldwide. David’s professional journey has been defined by a clear mission: to create environments where both people and companies can thrive. With a career spanning public service, business leadership, and international governance, he brings an extraordinary blend of real-world experience, global perspective, and executive wisdom to every boardroom table he joins.
David’s leadership path began in the Executive Office of the President of the United States, where he served under two administrations. His early roles also included staff positions with two U.S. Presidential Commissions and tenure on Capitol Hill as a Congressional staffer. These foundational experiences in federal government equipped him with a deep understanding of policy, diplomacy, and stakeholder management—skills that would later become critical in his board and business leadership roles. Working alongside national and international leaders in highly sensitive environments shaped his ability to navigate complex issues with clarity, discretion, and a sense of purpose.
Transitioning from government to entrepreneurship, David co-founded Off Madison Ave, an integrated marketing firm that has grown into a $20M+ enterprise over the last 25 years. Under his leadership as CEO, the company flourished through numerous economic cycles, achieving consistent double-digit growth and completing four strategic acquisitions. David led the firm through pivotal campaigns such as Arizona’s “Rediscover AZ” tourism initiative and high-impact work for Leslie’s Pool Supplies, demonstrating his mastery in consumer behavior, digital transformation, and brand revitalization. His ability to steer the company through adversity—including the 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic—exemplifies his unshakable resilience and fiscal discipline.
In 2016, David launched LighthousePE, a cutting-edge mobile marketing platform, where he served first as CEO and now as Advisory Board Chair. His vision to “create customers for life” through proximity-based marketing solutions enabled LighthousePE to reach enterprise revenue within just 18 months of inception. David’s commitment to advisory governance has been instrumental in shaping the company’s growth strategies, board effectiveness, and leadership team development. His influence extended far beyond operational execution—he cultivated an advisory culture that prized innovation, collaboration, and results-driven decision-making.
David’s governance expertise was most prominently showcased during his term as Global Board Chair of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), a nonprofit with over 17,000 members in 60+ countries. In this prestigious role, he led the board’s composition, fiduciary oversight, and policy development, while spearheading a 10-year organizational vision. Under his leadership, EO introduced a noble purpose, expanded its DE&I initiatives, and delivered over $10 million in financial support to member organizations worldwide. His ability to create psychological safety, elevate ethical standards, and align global stakeholders under a unified strategy was transformative for the organization and its members.
Parallel to his business and board work, David serves as a Professor of Leadership at Justice College, where he mentors the next generation of leaders in ethics, decision-making, and practical application of leadership theory. His academic role reflects his deep belief in investing in future leadership, and his classes are as much about transformation as they are about instruction. Whether coaching C-suite executives or guiding undergraduate students, David has a gift for helping others see their potential and rise to meet it.
David is also a published author, with his book Leader is Not a Title serving as a practical guide to redefining leadership from positional authority to relational impact. Drawing from his own life experiences—ranging from international diplomacy to business ownership—David’s writing challenges readers to rethink leadership as an attitude, not a role. His thought leadership has further been featured on podcasts, speaking panels, and executive coaching forums around the world, where he shares insights on team dynamics, visionary strategy, and board governance.
His impact has not gone unnoticed. David has been honored as a finalist for the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, named Advertising Person of the Year in Phoenix, and led a company recognized among the fastest-growing and most respected in Arizona. These accolades reflect not just success but significance—a career devoted to creating value that is both sustainable and scalable.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, David’s values are deeply rooted in personal integrity, family, and global citizenship. He has been married for over 25 years and is a proud father of two sons. With travel to over 60 countries, David brings a uniquely global lens to leadership, shaped by cultural empathy and international engagement. His work with multinational boards, CEOs, and nonprofit leaders underscores his ability to operate with fluency across borders, both geographic and ideological.
Today, David is focused on contributing his extensive experience to boards seeking not just governance, but growth. He excels in helping companies build high-performing teams, execute long-term strategy, and navigate mergers, acquisitions, and transformative change. Whether in a boardroom, classroom, or executive coaching session, David Anderson is unwavering in his commitment to helping people and organizations succeed.
Character:
David exemplifies humility and authenticity in every leadership encounter. His consistent dedication to ethical decision-making and personal mentorship reflects a deep-seated commitment to doing what is right, even when it’s not easy.
Knowledge:
With a background spanning government, entrepreneurship, global governance, and academia, David brings comprehensive knowledge of strategic growth, finance, M&A, and leadership. His lifelong learning journey—through hands-on experience and elite executive education—makes him a trusted advisor in any board setting.
Strategic:
David’s strategic foresight is evident in the way he scales organizations, steers them through crisis, and aligns them with long-term value creation. Whether launching companies or leading global nonprofits, he turns vision into actionable strategy with clarity and conviction.
Communication:
A gifted communicator, David is equally effective in keynote addresses, board presentations, and one-on-one coaching. He builds trust through transparency, invites diverse perspectives, and facilitates the kind of open dialogue that leads to breakthrough ideas and lasting change.
https://www.dwaleadership.com/
https://www.offmadisonave.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Leader-Not-Title-David-Anderson/dp/1733339906
