CEO of New Zealand Story, Best-Selling Author, and Business Resilience Strategist
David Downs is not your typical technology executive. As the CEO of New Zealand Story and a former senior leader at Microsoft and NZTE, David has spent decades shaping the global innovation and startup ecosystem. Yet, it is his background as a corporate stand-up comedian that makes his delivery so uniquely captivating. For audiences in the startup space, David provides a masterclass in high-impact regional branding and strategic marketing, offering vital blueprints for founders looking to scale and capitalize on major economic milestones like the upcoming 2032 Olympic Games.
While his business acumen is undeniable, it is David’s profound personal journey that leaves the most lasting impact on his audiences. Diagnosed with terminal cancer, David faced an impossible battle. Thanks to cutting-edge CAR-T cell therapy, he beat the odds, a journey he documented with remarkable humor, vulnerability, and wit in his acclaimed book, A Mild Touch of the Cancer. Emerging as a self-proclaimed genetically modified optimist, David seamlessly maps the parallels between fighting for your life and driving true corporate survival in a volatile market.
When David takes the stage, he fundamentally reframes how entrepreneurial leaders view high-stakes uncertainty. He doesn’t just deliver theory; he blends the sharp timing of a seasoned comedian with deep public and private sector expertise. David equips the startup ecosystem with the exact toolkits needed to re-energize legacy business models, embrace radical optimism, and leverage international branding frameworks. His sessions offer the perfect collision of dark comedy, undeniable resilience, and elite economic strategy, ensuring audiences leave empowered and armed for exponential growth.
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