Built, Not Bought Keynotethe spark
- Story-driven talk on why culture beats perks
- The live index-card exercise
- Every attendee gets the Motivation Map
Best for conferences, associations and all-hands meetings
Leadership speaker · Team building & culture
Culture is built, not bought.
Most leaders motivate people the way they want to be motivated, and half the team shrugs. Dave shows your leaders why, and how to build a team people actually want to show up for.
25+ years in media & marketing leadershipMBATeaches at the college level
Why culture is everything
Your managers are holding the biggest lever. Most of them are running on empty.
70%
of the variance in team engagement comes from the manager. Not the CEO. Not the perks.
22%
of managers worldwide were engaged in 2025, down from 31% in 2022. You can't give away a fire you don't have.
79%
of managers are engaged at best-practice organizations. Nearly four times the average. It's fixable.
Source: Gallup, State of the American Manager and State of the Global Workplace 2026.
Real rooms. Real leaders. Real Monday mornings.
Bring Dave to your teamThe Monday Morning Question
"What makes you want to run through a wall at work?"
Ask one person. Then listen.
Most leaders can't answer this for the person next to them.
In every session, Dave hands out index cards. Everyone writes their answer, then their partner guesses it. Most guess wrong, and the room goes quiet.
That moment is where culture starts. Everything after it is about building the habits that keep it going.
The Team Motivation Map
Six motivators. Every person leads with one.
Built from Daniel Pink's research on what drives people, plus three motivators leaders see every day. Your team takes the Map before the session, and Dave shows you the whole picture.
AutonomyThe Pilot
Does best work when trusted to own the how.
MasteryThe Craftsperson
Lights up when getting better at something that matters.
PurposeThe Compass
Needs to know why the work matters and who it helps.
RecognitionThe Standout
Wants effort seen, named and remembered.
SecurityThe Foundation
Thrives when expectations are clear and the ground is steady.
ConnectionThe Huddle
Gives their best on a team that has their back.
Find your motivator, free
15 quick choices · about 3 minutes
Ways to book Dave
From one great hour to a whole new management habit.
In person or virtual. Every session is tailored to your team, your industry, and what you need people doing on Monday.
Team Motivation Workshopthe picture
- Your team takes the Map in advance
- Dave reveals your team's motivation grid
- Each manager leaves with a Monday-morning plan
Best for leadership teams and departments
Culture Builders Cohortthe habit
- One leadership practice a week, used on the job
- Small group of new and mid-level managers
- A 1:1 check-in for every manager
Best for organizations growing their manager bench
What your people leave with
Not a pep talk. Things they use on Monday.
Their own profile
Every person knows their top motivator and has one sentence to say to their leader about it.
One question
Managers leave with the Monday Morning Question and a plan to ask it of every direct report.
Three habits
Small daily behaviors that build culture without a budget, a retreat or a ping-pong table.
About Dave
He was 26, holding the wrong carrot.
Dave Groves ran his first team at 26 and learned the hard way that what fired him up didn't fire up anyone else. He spent the next 25+ years in media and marketing, including executive leadership roles, figuring out what does.
Today he teaches at the college level and helps leaders build teams that trust each other and actually want to show up. He's not a hype act. You get clear ideas, real stories, and something your team can use on Monday.
MBA25+ years leading teamsCollege instructorAI Entrepreneur
Bring Dave to your team
Let's build something your people want to be part of.
Share a few details and I'll follow up personally.Dave Groves · reads every request himself
- Tell Dave about your event or team.
- Hop on a short call to shape the session.
- Your team takes the Map, and Dave brings the rest.