David at Harvard Bookstore

The Delmar Group

We consult with companies, philanthropic institutions, and mission-centered organizations in the midst of change. We believe the strongest strategies are those that have been tested in the field. They come from those of us who’ve done it, failed first, learned, pivoted, figured it out, pulled it off, and scaled it. I’m a social entrepreneur. I founded and scaled Resilient Coders, an award-winning, first-of-its kind social enterprise that trains people of color for careers as software engineers and connects them with jobs as such, tripling the salary of our average graduate. I’ve written a book about economic liberation, and speak extensively at gatherings of other justice-minded people.

Here's where we're most helpful:

Leading your organization through a major inflection point requires several distinct categories of work.

1 You might want a sounding board; an advisor with ample experience in the field, with whom you can explore bold ideas. Whether you're revisiting your mission and vision at a time of transition or growth, leading your team through a critical moment, or galvanizing your community around an audacious goal, you may find yourself wanting to talk to a seasoned founder and Executive Director who's been there too.

2 You also might want to engage an executive coach, to be a partner in your introspection. You probably already have all the answers, sitting behind a door that needs unlocking.

3 If you're exploring a new or expanded strategic direction for your organization, and developing a narrative around which to coalesce support for it, you’ll want a strategic development consultant.

4 Fractional leadership. I can be engaged as an ad interim CEO or COO in a moment of transition or rapid growth. I can be hired to lead a nascent program or venture, validating an opportunity ahead of a more robust investment, building launch-ready operational systems and the team to scale it.

Specifically within workforce development and education:

1 Develop exceptional technical training initiatives and learn-to-earn programs that put people into good, high-growth careers. You might be a business, or league of businesses, looking to build your own talent farming solution. Or a coalition of organizations that have received Federal funding under the Regional TechHubs opportunity, or the Digital Equity Programs (within the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). Instruction is based on a dialogical, student-centric Freirian model, applied to an employer-sourced skills matrix. We build educational experiences that are both equitable and effective.

2 Work with other workforce development practitioners, joining them in strengthening and expanding what they already do well. This includes scaling to new markets, exploring new programmatic opportunities, and revisiting theories of change. We like getting to know our partners and the context within which they work. The terrain might be new to us, but the journey is familiar.

3 Facilitate exploration within education nonprofits regarding the impact of artificial intelligence on pedagogy. It's increasingly important for them to have an informed position on how and why they're leveraging AI in the classroom, or consciously avoiding it.

"David is unique – he’s sincere, straightforward, and relentlessly passionate about improving the world through equity and technology. He champions other leaders and knows when and how to make room for necessary growth and change."

Rachael Drew. Lead, Economic Prosperity, Global Programs. MIT Solve

"David has a genuine approach and deep understanding of building successful organizations. His authenticity and connection to community will help any group thrive!"

Dan Noyes. CEO, Tech Goes Home

Contact me at david@delmarsenties.com.