
David Stillman
Generational Expert, GenZ Guru, and Best-Selling Author
As an early Gen X voice in a business world dominated by Baby Boomers, David Stillman became one of the youngest, most outspoken, and popular keynoters to hit the national circuit. His unique blend of humor, fairness, and frankness won over audiences of all generations and made him a go-to speaker for organizations that ranged…
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Full Bio
As an early Gen X voice in a business world dominated by Baby Boomers, David Stillman became one of the youngest, most outspoken, and popular keynoters to hit the national circuit. His unique blend of humor, fairness, and frankness won over audiences of all generations and made him a go-to speaker for organizations that ranged from the IRS to MTV.
David’s keynote speeches and workshops on bridging the generation gaps in the workplace and marketplace continue to receive rave reviews from corporations and associations nationwide.
In addition to speaking, David co-authored the lively, entertaining and savvy best-seller When Generations Collide: Who They Are. Why They Clash. How to Solve the Generational Puzzle at Work (HarperBusiness). His latest book, The M-Factor: How the Millennial Generation Is Rocking the Workplace (HarperCollins) has become a business favorite. As a cultural commentator, David has appeared nationally on CNN, CNBC, and the Today show and has been featured in such prestigious publications as TIME magazine, Entrepreneur, The New York Times, and USA Today.
As part of his mission to connect the generations using humor, David wrote and produced TimesFour, a one-man show that is breaking new ground in the corporate entertainment market as a comedy about how the generations click, collide and cope in the world of work. David’s creative communication projects have earned him numerous accolades including gold medals at the NY Film Festival, and the much coveted CLIO Award. He was named to the prestigious list of “Forty Under 40” movers and shakers by The Business Journal, as well as one of 200 Leaders to Watch.
Prior to launching BridgeWorks, David worked for ABC television in New York City as an intern for PrimeTime Live. Later with CBS radio, he embarked on a round-the-world trip covering such topics as the end of apartheid in South Africa and the fall of the former Soviet Union. Upon his return to the United States, David was employed as creative director for a multimedia company where he worked with clients such as 3M, American Express, and Wells Fargo. There he concluded that communication strategies that hit the hot buttons of one generation often miss the mark with another. This resulted in the creation of BridgeWorks with business partner Lynne Lancaster.
David is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin at Madison with B.A. degrees in Communications and Sociology. He was selected as a fellow for the Michigan State University Mass Media in Britain program and studied in London with the BBC. Most recently, David received a certificate in non-profit management through the University of St. Thomas.
David is a happily married father of three who recently took on a major role with the nonprofit organization, Free the Children, with the goal of bringing the concept of giving and volunteering to schoolchildren globally.
Testimonials
Ernie was perfect for our Elders Conference at Little River Casino Resort in Manistee, Michigan. We will definitely be using PDA again!

LITTLE RIVER BAND OF OTTAWA INDIANS
Our speaker was great and the crowd enjoyed her! She was very engaging. Thank you again PDA for the great list of suggestions!

MEDTRONIC
Everything went great! and our speaker was wonderful! Thank you so much for all your help PDA! Looking forward to the next one.

UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI – KANSAS CITY
I hope that this message finds you well. We had a phenomenal time with Atsuko this past Thursday. We wanted to just let you know how amazing she was. All those that were in attendance thoroughly enjoyed her and had nothing but amazing things to say about her. Thank you for working with us to make sure this happened!

BAYLOR UNIVERSITY CAMPUS
We had a fantastic day with Inge! She was very engaging with all those that attended. Her personal stories about the holocaust were very special and we were moved that she was willing to share them with everyone. Thank you again, PDA for all your hard work and dedication to make this program such a success!

SALT LAKE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Dear PDA Group, Thank you so much for your hard work in scheduling our speaker! From the moment we reached out to you the first time, you worked with us on all details and logistics and kept us up-to-date on the progress. Thank you for all your hard work on making our event such a success! We couldn't have done it without you and your team!

SAP COMPANY
Thank you again, Dr. Kimbrough, for a great presentation, our attendees are still talking about it!

CAMPUS LABS
Dr. Henry Lee's presentation was entertaining, insightful and wise. I, and everyone at Pfizer, especially appreciate the remarks you directed about following your passion and preparing yourself to excel. Thank you, everyone, at PDA for helping to make this happen!

PFIZER
The event was successful! I received many messages expressing how awesome, outstanding and inspiring Ms. Webb-Christburg's speech was."

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. MEMORIAL BREAKFAST, BOSTON, MLK SPEAKER
Everything went well. Atsuko was very easy to work with and the students enjoyed her performance! Thank you again for your recommendation and I hope to work with you again in the future!

CENTRAL MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Dr. Novello left this morning after a very successful event on our campus! Thank you PDA Group for your help from the first phone to the last you were with us every step of the way.

GRAND VALLEY STATE UNIVERSITY
Jordan Carlos was very very entertaining! A majority of students who answered the event survey indicated they really enjoyed Jordan and definitely will bring him back!

WESTERN CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
On behalf of myself and my organization Entertainment Unlimited the Campus Programming Board of Ferris State University, we thank you PDA and Dan for a successful event!! Dan was magnificent! Students really enjoyed the presentation. I know I did. Can't wait to bring in more programs with PDA Group.

FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
It was a great pleasure to work with PDA Group! The communication was always prompt, friendly and helpful. We loved the speakers and events we booked through Mr. Peter Walker (PDA Group).

WESTERN MICHIGAN UNIVERSITY
Thank you, Peter, for all your help, you'll be happy to know that the event went incredibly well! Aneesa Ferreira was by far one of the best speakers we've ever had!

FURMAN UNIVERSITY
Topics
Rocking the Workplace: Managing and Leading Four Generations.
If you think you’ve heard the generations topic before, guess again. The team that brought you the best-selling book, When Generations Collide, uses cutting-edge research, multimedia, stats and case studies to highlight what it’s going to take to attract and retain the best and brightest talent of every age. Find out…
What makes the generations so different—and so perplexing?
How will demographic shifts drastically change the ways we recruit, retain and manage in the next decade?
How do you engage one generation without alienating another?
What can leaders do now to plan for succession and win the war for talent?
The M-Factor: Seven Ways the Millennial Generation Is Shaking Things Up at Work.
Eighty million Millennials are flooding into the workplace and clashing with the generations already there. Learn the seven surprising trends that shaped this influential generation and the best tips and techniques for managing them. Based on the brand new best seller, The M-Factor (HarperBusiness 2010). Learn…
How you can win the war for young talent and become the place Millennials want to work
The keys for bridging communication gaps between texters, tweeters, and traditional communicators
How to handle entitlement?
What it takes to engage Millennials without alienating the other generations.
Selling and Marketing to the Generations.
Markets are becoming increasingly segmented and one size no longer fits all clients and customers. This presentation reveals the hot buttons and preferences of Traditionalists, Boomers, Xers, and Millennials that marketers and sales people need to know to connect. This isn’t about inventing a new selling system—it’s about adding a generational lens to your already successful approach. Learn…
What should sales people do to customize their message to each generation they sell to?
What should managers know to coach all the generations on their sales team?
How can marketers target campaigns to one generation without turning off another?
How can you put a generational lens on your company’s selling system to make it even more impactful?
Leadership: Bringing Out the Best in Every Generation
Leading today is more complicated than ever. Besides greater employee diversity, factors such as rapidly changing technology, an uncertain economy, mergers, closings, and layoffs have made today’s workplace more challenging than in the past. Leadership is not necessarily determined by one’s position on an organization chart or by what’s on a resume. With roles constantly changing, being a leader can simply mean being reliable and responsible, regardless of age or rung on the corporate ladder.
From attitudes about loyalty to staying on the cutting edge, each generation brings unique leadership traits to work. While some try to figure out which generation’s way of leading is best, the reality is that no generation is better or worse than another. “Leadership: Bringing Out the Best in Every Generation” will help you identify the obstacles and opportunities for leadership within each generation and understand the potential impact everyone can make as a leader.
Make Way for Millennials
American business is in the early stages of being rocked by the arrival of a new and powerful generation. Who are these kids? Millennials (born 1982 to 2000), the first generation to rival Baby Boomers in population size, are showing up at work with their own set of attitudes, expectations, and values. Techno savvy, demanding, and ambitious, they’re bringing with them an entirely new way of doing business. How prepared will Gen X-ers, Baby Boomers, and Traditionalists be to manage them?
“Make Way for Millennials” offers strategies for recruiting, retaining, and motivating this influential new workforce. Companies that are forewarned and forearmed will reap the rewards of the millennial generation’s talents and creative and pragmatic approach to the world of work.
Getting to Give
Foundations and other nonprofit organizations suffer the same frustrations and face the same workplace problems as profit-making companies. To be effective, nonprofits need good leadership, strong management systems, marketing savvy, and an ongoing commitment to excellence. They also need to understand what motivates four generations of staff, volunteers, and donors to give their time and their money.
Awareness of generational differences is crucial to organizations that must compete for well-qualified and loyal workers when resources are limited. What messages will attract skilled workers to the nonprofit world? What does it take to make connections with Traditionalists, Boomers, Gen X-ers, and Millennials so that they not only donate but also keep giving? How does acknowledging donors of each generation differ? Board members, staff, and hands-on service providers will learn to reach across generation gaps and build lasting bridges.
Attracting & Retaining Four Generations of Association Members
Associations exist primarily to serve their members. But serving is tougher today as key resources are shrinking and the government has taken a diminished role in funding programs. In addition to these challenges, today’s associations are made up of four diverse and outspoken generations. While Traditionalists and Baby Boomers have been loyal attendees for a long time, Gen X-ers and now Millennials are proving tougher to attract and retain. Putting on a great conference or convention is no longer enough.
The key is figuring out the right scale and combination of services needed to satisfy each generation. How do the expectations of each generation differ on working relationships, time commitments, and returns they should expect from association membership? The ability to capitalize on each generation’s energy, expertise, and leadership potential has never been more critical.
Customer Service & the Generations
The best customer service providers understand what “service” means to each generation. Whether on the phone, online, or face to face, attitudes and biases can be reflected in what you say and how you say it, as common courtesies often are interpreted differently by different generations. An organization’s strategies must reflect the changing face of a multigenerational customer base.
Gain a distinct competitive edge by teaching your customer service reps who the four generations of customers are and how to communicate more effectively with each one. Learn through humorous sketches and real-life examples how to avoid patronizing behaviors and capitalize on emotional connections to make every customer’s experience a positive one.
Videos
David Stillman - The M-Factor
David Stillman Speaker - PDA Speakers
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