Reigniting passion.
Building kinder workplaces.
Illuminating potential.
Before he studied workplaces, Dr. David Shar ran them. A Baltimore ice cream shop operator turned behavioral scientist and professor of organizational psychology, he studies why people fall out of love with their work. His signature keynotes and leadership training combine original research, humor, storytelling, and his KINDER™ framework to give audiences the knowledge and motivation to make work work better for everyone.
Kindness
Passion
Authenticity
The expertise of a graduate school professor. The energy of a motivational speaker.
David combines original behavioral science research with stories, humor, and conversations that get people thinking. Three values shape both what he teaches and how he delivers it.
Kindness
Being kind sometimes means saying the thing nobody wants to hear. David challenges audiences because he cares about helping them grow. His KINDER™ framework shows how honesty, empathy, and accountability belong together at work.
Passion
David is driven by his passion for this work and for helping your participants make a real difference in theirs. His research and teaching focus on healthy, sustainable passion: caring deeply about your work without letting it take over your life.
Authenticity
You’ve seen the overly polished keynote where every word and movement feels choreographed. David brings a different experience. In an age of AI, when real human connection matters, he’s relatable, accessible, quick-witted, and fully himself. He asks questions, listens to the answers, and lets the people in the room help shape the conversation. His signature keynotes bring real research, real stories, and real solutions to your participants’ real challenges.
David’s authenticity and expertise are his trademarks
His passion is not just palpable, but also infectious, infusing every keynote with energy and a fierce commitment to driving change.
STORYTELLING + ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
His talks blend captivating stories with thought-provoking insights, bringing the latest psychological research and best practices to life in a way that’s accessible and inspiring, and keeps you laughing throughout the journey.
What they’re saying
NICOLE ROHLOFF
National Institutes of Health
David’s energy is infectious and his informal and real-life approach is a gift; I easily identified with him and his talk really left a lasting impression.
CASEY SPIGEL
Forever Wireless
David has the ability to connect with anyone on a basic level. David had led a few training sessions with my retail team and I was very impressed not only with his feedback but most importantly what my team was able to gain from his workshop and interaction in our stores.
Andy Diamond
, Diamond Medical Laboratories
David is clearly an expert in HR. Even more important: he spoke our language! Minimizing the jargon, David shared recommendations that were clear, user friendly, and practical…
Ignite your event with the authentic passion and expert insights
It's Not You, It's Me: Why Passionate Employees Fall Out of Love With Work... and What We Can Do About It
Every organization is talking about burnout. But behavioral scientist and work passion researcher David Shar argues that burnout is the symptom… and passion decline is the disease.
Building a Kinder Kind of Workplace: From Any Seat on the Bus
Translating the latest psychological and organizational research into actionable strategies, David combines personal anecdotes and eye-opening interactivity as he challenges the audience to expand their roles in fostering a supportive and inclusive work culture.
Debunking Leadership Mythconceptions: Rethinking Common Beliefs to Boost Talent & Culture
Strap in for a rollercoaster ride that’s bound to shake up conventional wisdom! In this talk, we’re taking aim at some of the biggest mythconceptions around leadership and revealing research-backed truths.
I don’t think we’ve ever had a keynote presenter who did more ‘onsite research’ to help understand the audience.
Howie Ferguson
Executive Director
Construction Owners Association of America
Construction Owners Association of America
SCHEDULE A KEYNOTE
Get ready for a personalized journey crafted to drive change in your organization
Get in touch today and let’s create a memorable experience for your audience!
TRAINING
Create bottom-line improvement within your unique work environment
Get in touch today and let’s create a memorable experience for your audience!