Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to David Livermore. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
David , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I wasn’t the smartest kid, the most athletic, or the most talented musician–but I learned that my resilience was my secret weapon that would get me ahead.
My parents were incredibly hard workers–perhaps to a fault. But they persevered through whatever challenges faced them. Some of this was rooted in their faith but I also think it was hard wired into who they are. So I learned early on about the value of hard work and perseverance. I practiced my trumpet out in the garage at 6 am before going to school because it was the only time I could do it. I had a job right after school, following which I went straight into evening activities like youth group or sporting events, and then I had to come home and do my homework. That trait carried me through college, grad school, several leadership positions, and eventually becoming an entrepreneur.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My professional world is an interesting mix of being an academic and entrepreneur. I’ve spent the last 25 years researching, writing, and speaking about cultural intelligence and global leadership and I’ve built a company focused on developing cultural intelligence in others (the Cultural Intelligence Center). Cultural intelligence, or CQ as we call it, is the ability to work and relate with people from different backgrounds. It’s something that can help all of us given our increasingly diverse, divided world.
Now days, I’m a Professor at Boston University where I continue to research and write about cultural intelligence. I’m writing the third edition of my best-selling book, LEADING WITH CULTURAL INTELLIGENCE, and I’m leading a community called the Cultural Intelligence Fellows—a year long program for 20 thought leaders around the world who are working with me to advance cultural intelligence. I also spend a lot of time speaking at conferences and working with a few organizations who are committed to building their cultural intelligence.
Ironically, I never left the continent until college. But even as a kid, I was fascinated by people, places, and cultures. Once I started traveling internationally, I was hooked. I still get a rush from landing in a new place and discovering life there. I’ve had the ideal career for someone with as much wanderlust as me
My work has taken me to more than 100 countries, giving me the chance to learn from executives at places like Google, Alibaba, Qatar Airways, BMW, and the list keeps going. I’ve dragged my family with me whenever I can. There’s nothing like seeing the world through your kids’ eyes.
My hope is to help all of us be better humans. Whether I’m working on a new book, preparing for a speaking engagement, or consulting with an organization, I want to ensure that I’m helping us finding unity in our diverse ways of being human.
Together, we can all strive to be better humans, and make the world a better place for all. That’s the essence of my work as a professor at Boston University, as an author and keynote speaker, and as an advisor to many executives and organizations around the world.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
People Skills; Follow through; and Communication Skills.
While I’ve devoted myself to becoming an expert in a particular area (cultural intelligence, international business, and global leadership), the above areas are what have had the most impact on the work I’ve been able to do.
My interest and curiosity in people propels not only my research and writing but also the ways I engage in conversation. I’m fascinated by people and who they are and what makes them tick.
As I said earlier, my follow through on the goals I set and the commitments I make has been one of the things that has allowed me to have impact well beyond what I ever imagined.
Learning how to communicate verbally and in writing was something I prioritized early on and has helped me as a leader and as someone who wants to translate scholarly research for practitioners.
What is the number one obstacle or challenge you are currently facing and what are you doing to try to resolve or overcome this challenge?
I would say the “distraction” and pull of far more opportunities to respond to than I can possibly do. In one way–this sounds like a really privileged opportunity and it is. But while I pride myself on being disciplined and focus, I’m also a visionary…so I see the opportunities of many of the things that come my way and I’m feeling pulled in so many directions. I also don’t want to turn down the chance to work with really smart, visionaries. So figuring out how to do work that is meaningful, have an impact, while ensuring a quality of life is all very important to me and something I’m currently trying to address.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://davidlivermore.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidlivermore/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidalivermore/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/DavidLivermore/
