David Burkus

David Burkus is an associate professor at Oral Roberts University, a best-selling author, and a popular speaker who has helped thousands of professionals discover new ways to think differently about their work. His insights into the fields of creative leadership, strategy, and innovation have been featured on national TV as well as in outlets such as The New York Times, Forbes, The Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review. His authored books include The Myths of Creativity, Friend of a Friend, The New Entrepreneur’s Guide to Success, and Under New Management.

David earned a bachelor’s degree from the College of William & Mary and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business. After graduating, he went to work for the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland and later earned a Ph.D. in management from Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management. He then joined Oral Roberts University in 2013, where he has been an associate professor of management ever since.

Through his work at the university, as well as his writing, speaking engagements, and advisory work, David has become an in-demand voice offering new perspectives on how to apply theory to the complexities of managing and leading people in the modern business world. He often draws on his research into the practice of people management, drawing both on his experiences at the Federal Reserve and his own extensive research on the relationship between creativity and strategy.

David first garnered significant attention with his book The Myths of Creativity, which he wrote to debunk common misconceptions about creativity and provide unique insight into ways to foster innovation in teams and organizations. It was featured on numerous lists of best business books, received glowing reviews from experts, and was named one of Brainpickings’ “Best Business Books of the Decade.”

He is also the author of Friend of a Friend, which looks at the philosophy and strategies of networking. He believes networking is about learning, not selling, and offers an alternative to the shallow “collect-all-the-business-cards” approach. The book was also selected as one of Finance & Commerce’s Top Economics Books of the Decade, and was featured in Forbes, Fast Company, and The Globe and Mail.

David’s most recent book, Under New Management, looks at how to effectively redesign and reinvent organizations. Drawing on research in both behavioral psychology and organizational strategy, the book serves as a guide for managers who want to innovate and keep their teams engaged. It was featured in Inc. Magazine and the Harvard Business Review and was named one of the top books of the year by Strategy + Business.

When not conducting research or teaching, David engages with audiences around the globe as a keynote speaker. He has featured his work and spoken at events such as Amazon’s Re:Invent Conference, IBM’s THINK conference, and the Association for Talent Development. He also takes to the airwaves with his popular radio show, Radio Free Leader, which airs on SiriusXM.

David Burkus’ accomplishments — both academic and professional — have made him a leading voice in the realms of business leadership, innovation and management. His combination of academic insight and real-world experience provides a unique perspective on the challenges of today’s competitive business environment. He is a renowned public speaker and a prolific and ground-breaking author whose works on the topics of creativity, networking, and management have established him as a thought leader and innovator in his field.