Martha Davis

Brainstormer, Change agent, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Explorer, Idea generator, Life mentor, Parent, Single, Student

I've had three themes in my career: national corporate client recruitment and account management in the oil and gas and banking industries; corporate outplacement working with executives who had been terminated from their jobs often because of organizational "fit" issues; and now I work as a leadership development consultant in healthcare. I always say I started my career helping people get with companies, the middle of my career was helping them leave, and now the last fifteen years have been about helping people stay in their companies (if they so choose) by becoming more proficient in the intangible aspects of their career. I now focus mostly in healthcare and non-profit environments, and I am passionate about helping organizations improve employee engagement, physician engagement (or other key stakeholder) as well as the customer experience. I am unafraid of being held accountable--even as an outside consultant--for improving and sustaining organizational outcomes. I probably work too much, but I love what I do and I am not an empty nester who can accommodate this significant investment of time. I've chosen self-employment for the last eighteen years and am still surprised that I've been able to do this for this long! I think it is because my work has transitioned into new endeavors across that time, so I'd like to think that I'm not a one-trick pony! I am the third of eight children, and my parents--though of very modest means--raised all of us to expect we'd get a college degree. My undergraduate is in business administration and I have a masters in management that I earned in 2007. I thought I'd get it to build my credentials, but it truly exploded my world view. I'm in a new phase of life where I'm moving from an analytical focus into more creative endeavors, and Ted inspires me weekly with the beautiful ideas and sentiments expressed by its contributors. I feel that I opening up new vistas that will enable more reinvention. I have two great daughters and four wonderful granddaughters in my life who force me into some level of work-life balance. I have the most wonderful friends and love to plan fun, offbeat travel with them. If the trip involves some fine red wine, all the better. I am looking forward to being at Ted Active because it doesn't involve consulting...it doesn't involve healthcare...and I know I'll meet some really interesting people from all ages, all walks of life, and all kinds of reasons they are traveling this road for new inspiration and creativity!

Helping others figure out what they're good at, and how to go find it...helping companies develop learning cultures...being with my family...travel, reading and drinking red wine!

Much has been discussed and written about company brands, but I'd love to see more focus on personal branding--if everyone could see themselves as a product that has special features and benefits that appeal to specific target markets, there would be fewer people spending unproductive, stressful, and soul-sucking time in the wrong job. If we work 40 hours per week, 50 weeks per year, for 45 years--an average for most--that's 90,000 hours of our life that we work! What if we don't spend it wisely?! If we know what we have to offer and what gives us joy, is there anything better than that! Personal branding enables us to accelerate how we find and achieve our life purpose. And if we aretruly fulfilled at work...how does that translate into how we are with our families, our communities, and the other important aspects of our life!

Career Development Coaching, Crucial Conversations, Governance resctructuring, leadership development, Performance Improvement, Physician Leadership Development, Succession planning, Talent differentiation, Talent Selection

After seeing Ben Zander, Joe Pine, Louie Schwartzberg, and several other talks, I was permanently hooked. I feel 2013 is a year for change, thought I'm not sure what form it will take. I'm not afraid, I'm intrigued, and I know that Ted will help me think this through!

Singing, child development (I wasn't really that good at parenting but I'm really confident of being a grandparent!). Decorating...especially using color. Cleaning. Power Point.