David has been a strategic advisor to and executive in a range of enterprises, including global NGO’s, educational institutions, and venture start-ups. David has held director positions at the Aspen Institute and Naropa University, and started, managed or consulted enterprises in the hospitality and event management industries, including selling one to a publicly traded company. David was program director at a highly regarded school for dozens of neglected teens in California. David has studied Tibetan Buddhism since 1977, met Dzongzar Khyentse Rinpoche in 1998, and managed an international Tibetan Buddhist retreat center in France. He has an MA in psychology.