With his passion and expertise, David Shar transforms every keynote — whether on stage or screen — into a dynamic, interactive experience. David is a dynamic disruptor. His authentic and passionate voice will not only engage but transform the thinking and actions of your audience, sparking real business results.

Are you ready to shake up your next event with a dynamic keynote speaker who brings a fresh perspective, a healthy dose of humor, and an infectious passion to every talk? Look no further than David Shar, a skilled behavioral scientist and expert in leadership, motivation, and organizational culture. With a unique blend of captivating stories, thought provoking insights, and eye-opening interactivity, David makes the latest psychological research and best practices come to life for his audiences.

As President and Founder of Illuminate PMC, David draws from decades of hands-on leadership experience and his extensive academic background to provide keynotes, workshops, and in-depth trainings that help participants improve their leadership and culture, combat burnout, and reignite their passion for work. As a lecturer at the University of Maryland’s rigorous Industrial/Organizational Psychology Master’s Program he teaches a diverse set of courses including Talent Development, Performance Management, and Organizational Change.

You can catch David live on the popular interview series 'WaterCooler Wednesday with David Shar' and as cohost of ‘The Work Culture Debates’, a roundtable discussion all about work.

David is a SHRM-Senior Certified Professional. He holds his master's in industrial/organizational psychology and is a doctoral candidate in business psychology at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, where he is researching the interaction between meaningful work, burnout, and the changing nature of passion for work.

David's "Why"

As a young restauranteur of an ice cream franchise in the heart of Baltimore City, David thought he had business and leadership all figured out... until the day that a young frontline employee showed up to work shortly after learning that her boyfriend had been shot multiple times and left for dead.

“As soon as she told me what had happened, I insisted that she go be with her family, her friends, or anywhere but work, as she grieved. But, she refused to leave. My employee explained that she ‘needed to be here... I can only be here... this is my happy place.’ Her words were forever ingrained in me… that's where my journey began.”

While so many of David's friends and colleagues: nurses, doctors, lawyers, teachers, and HR professionals dreaded going to their objectively meaningful jobs on Monday morning, David's employees saw work as a refuge... a place where they were trusted, empowered, valued, and where they could have a positive impact on the world…

They found meaning in scooping ice cream.

“Ever since that day I've been on a journey to learn as much as I can about employee motivation, passion, meaningful work, and burnout prevention. A journey to learn and to share the art and science... the psychology behind healthy work cultures, with leaders across industries. Because, when leaders can build strong passionate work cultures, everyone wins.”