David Weaver

Business leader, Concerned citizen, Consultant, Global soul, Idea generator, Marketer, Startup, World traveler

David Weaver is an ad agency veteran, a relentless self-experimenter, a provocateur, long-time TEDster, and...according to many, "a darn nice guy." A native Iowan, David is a 20-year advertising and marketing veteran. He has conceived and implemented marketing programs and advertising campaigns that have done more than win gold EFFIEs for effectiveness and a Cannes Gold Lion for creativity, but also differentiated companies in ways that drastically built brands and sales. With over twenty years of experience directing strategy for some of the most respected and innovative companies in the world, Dave's worked with a wide variety of clients, from technology (Samsung, HP, T-Mobile), automobiles (Nissan, Infiniti), sports (the Los Angeles Dodgers, Fox Sports Network), travel and tourism (American Airlines, Washington State Department of Tourism), and traditional packaged goods (Nestle, Hot Pockets). David has spoken on the TED Mainstage in 2010, TEDActive in 2011, TEDxPhoenix and TEDxOmaha in 2011, and TEDxSMU in 2010. Dave is honored to be a part of the TED community.

Communicating My yearly TED trips

"Social networking" isn't working. The American public is retreating into comfortable, existing beliefs and communities rather than provoking their own thinking by connecting with real people in real ways - and learning all along the way. This is not only a potential root cause of many of our domestic problems - but it threatens to further isolate the American public from the global community. The result of our great wealth may in fact be further loneliness and isolation from others. Our wealth may be distracting us from true connection and happiness. This, I believe, is a problem all of us need to sign up to help solve.

Advertising, Creative thinking, Marketing + Communications, Research

Winking my nose