Today, I learned that my #TedX Toronto talk has officially made the site. This is the talk I did about #Change, #Leadership, and #Agile in relation to growing up with a #disability. Please recommend my video on the Ted site.

Balancing a career while managing disability care is like working two full-time jobs. Beyond the daily hustle, it builds invaluable leadership skills—adaptability, crisis management, negotiation, and resilience. Shifting meeting schedules, coordinating personal support workers, and problem-solving on the fly aren’t just challenges—they’re opportunities to lead with empathy and agility. This article dives into the hidden strengths developed through these experiences and why they matter in the workplace. #Leadership #Inclusion #Resilience #CareerGrowth #DisabilityAwareness via @LinkedIn

Strategy is only as strong as the structure that supports it. Too many leaders craft brilliant strategies—only to watch them stall because their organizational design gets in the way. Slow decision-making, rigid hierarchies, and siloed teams can kill execution before it even starts. If you want agility, innovation, and engagement, you need to design for it. ✅ Does your structure enable or block progress? ✅ Are decisions happening at the right levels? ✅ Are teams set up to collaborate or compete? Great organizations don’t happen by accident—they’re built with intention. I break it down in my latest article. Let’s talk about it. ⬇ #Leadership #OrganizationalDesign #Agility #Innovation via @LinkedIn

Forever is an illusion—nothing extends beyond a lifetime. Life isn’t measured by time but by how you choose to live. So live fully, live boldly. #TheJourneyContinues

You can't lead your organization to tomorrow with yesterday's leadership skills. The world is evolving at an unprecedented pace—AI, product-making, and shifting workforce expectations are rewriting the rules of business. Yet, too many leaders are relying on the same playbook that worked decades ago. ✅ Yesterday’s leadership was about control. Tomorrow’s leadership is about empowerment. ✅ Yesterday’s leadership focused on efficiency. Tomorrow’s leadership thrives on adaptability. ✅ Yesterday’s leadership relied on hierarchy. Tomorrow’s leadership embraces collaboration. Leaders who fail to evolve risk becoming roadblocks instead of enablers. To build the products of tomorrow, we must continuously develop new skills, embrace uncertainty, and create environments where teams can innovate and thrive. #Leadership #FutureOfWork #Agile #Product

Leadership is Creating an Organization That Embraces Change

Thank you. My journey continues. #Grateful

✨ From “Handicapped” to Unapologetically Dave—54 Years Strong! 🎳💪🎉 Tomorrow, I turn 54 years old. And looking at this newspaper clipping from my childhood, I can’t help but reflect on how far I’ve come—not just personally, but in how society sees people like me. At six years old, I was part of a recreational therapy program for kids with disabilities. Back then, I was labeled “crippled” and “handicapped.” That was the language used to define kids like me—words that focused more on what we couldn’t do rather than what we could. But even then, I was determined to push past the limits others placed on me. This photo captures a small but powerful moment—a strike at a bowling alley, a moment of joy, play, and triumph. But my life wasn’t just about knocking down pins; it’s been about knocking down barriers. Now, at almost 54, I am no longer just a "disabled person"—I’m a person with a disability. More importantly, I’m unapologetically Dave. I’ve spent my life proving that disability is not a weakness. It’s a part of who I am, but it doesn’t define me. I’ve built a career, led change, and worked to make spaces more inclusive—not because I had to “overcome” my disability, but because I embraced it. This newspaper reminds me of how much has changed. The language has evolved, opportunities have expanded, and people with disabilities are taking up space in ways we never could before. We’re not here to be pitied or underestimated. We’re here to lead, to thrive, and to live fully. So here’s to 54 years of breaking barriers. And here’s to every person out there owning their story and showing the world what’s possible. Be unapologetically YOU. 💙♿ #UnapologeticallyDave #Turning54 #FromHandicappedToEmpowered #DisabilityIsNotALimitation #BreakingBarriers

Why do I celebrate new accessibility products that Google, Amazon, and Apple release given that I work at Microsoft? It's awesome that companies are competing for our business. I have Cerebral Palsy, but my money doesn't. If you want my money build products I can use and will choose!

Culture isn’t what we say—it’s what we reward and tolerate. We can put inspiring values on the wall, but the real test of an organization's culture is found in everyday actions: ✅ What gets rewarded—Are we celebrating innovation, collaboration, and accountability? Or just short-term wins and individual success? ⚠️ What gets tolerated—Do we let toxic behavior, mediocrity, or a lack of inclusion slide because it’s uncomfortable to address? The strongest cultures are built intentionally. Leaders shape them not through words, but through what they encourage and what they refuse to accept. #Leadership #OrganizationalCulture #WorkplaceMindset #AgileTransformation

If you believe opportunities are rare... take your blinders off. Early in my career, I thought opportunities were few and far between. I believed that if I didn’t land the perfect role or project, I’d be stuck waiting for the next big break. But over time, I realized that opportunities aren’t scarce—our ability to see them is what’s limited. Living with a disability, I’ve had to navigate challenges that many don’t even consider. At first, I saw my limitations as roadblocks to opportunity. But once I shifted my perspective, I realized that those very challenges gave me unique insights—into accessibility, leadership, and resilience. Instead of waiting for doors to open, I started creating my own. The same applies to organizations going through change. Many leaders believe agility, innovation, or transformation are difficult because opportunities for growth seem rare. But often, it’s not the lack of opportunity—it’s the blinders of old mindsets, rigid structures, and outdated beliefs that keep them from seeing what’s possible. The moment you take off those blinders, you’ll realize that opportunities are everywhere. They may not always look the way you expect, but they’re there. You just have to be open enough to see them. #Leadership #GrowthMindset #Opportunities #Innovation #Resilience #ChangeManagement #Accessibility #CareerGrowth #MindsetShift

A Strong Growth Culture = A Safe and Supportive Environment Living with a disability has taught me that asking for help isn’t a weakness—it’s a necessity. But more than that, it has shown me that true strength lies in creating a culture where asking for help is not just accepted, but encouraged. A strong growth culture isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about building an environment where: ✅ Every person feels safe enough to ask for help. ✅ Every person is eager to provide help to those who ask. Early in my career, I hesitated to ask for help, fearing it might make me seem less capable. But I quickly learned that growth happens when we lean on each other. The best teams I’ve been part of were the ones where people felt comfortable saying, "I don’t know," and others responded with, "Let’s figure it out together." #Leadership #GrowthCulture #PsychologicalSafety #HelpingEachOther As leaders, we set the tone. When we openly ask for help, we show that vulnerability is not a weakness—it’s a gateway to learning, innovation, and trust. Because when help flows freely, so does growth.

🚫 You can’t create an innovative culture with micromanagement practices. 🚫 Innovation doesn’t thrive under strict control. It requires freedom—freedom to experiment, to fail, to learn, and to pivot. True innovation emerges when individuals and teams have the autonomy to sense and respond to challenges, uncovering new value opportunities through exploration and creativity. Micromanagement, on the other hand, stifles curiosity and discourages risk-taking—the very behaviors needed to push boundaries and discover breakthroughs. As leaders, our role isn’t to dictate every move but to create an environment where people feel safe to experiment and empowered to grow. 💡 Ask yourself: Are you fostering an environment where innovation can flourish, or are you unintentionally stifling it? Let’s stop managing tasks and start cultivating cultures of curiosity, adaptability, and trust. That’s where the magic happens. #Leadership #Innovation #Culture #Agile #Experimentation

I struggle so I can grow and find new struggles to grow from. I hope to never quit struggling, complacency would be too painful to endure

When the ceiling stands between you and moving forward, push through and make that ceiling your new floor. We all face barriers—whether they’re personal, professional, or systemic. Sometimes it feels like we’re boxed in, unable to grow beyond our current circumstances. But what if we shift our perspective? Instead of seeing the ceiling as a limitation, see it as a challenge waiting to be conquered. Push through it, break past it, and transform it into a solid foundation for your next level. I’ve faced my share of ceilings—whether it was adapting to new challenges in my career, advocating for accessibility, or navigating the complexities of organizational change. Each time, the lesson was the same: progress happens when we refuse to accept limits and instead reimagine possibilities. Breaking through isn't easy. It takes resilience, support, and a mindset focused on growth. But once you do, what once seemed impossible becomes your new normal—and a stepping stone for even greater heights. What’s a “ceiling” you’ve faced recently, and how did you turn it into an opportunity? #Change #Resilience #Growth #Leadership #Mindset

Check out my latest article: Great Leaders Know When to Follow via @LinkedIn

Hi folks, Andrew does not slow down when it comes to championing for causes to support people with disabilities. Please consider donating.

Inspiration Without Action is Just a Feeling—Not an Outcome. We’ve all been in those meetings where an idea sparks excitement, energy fills the room, and it feels like change is just around the corner. But what happens next? Too often, inspiration fizzles out without meaningful action. True leadership isn't just about inspiring others—it's about translating that inspiration into tangible steps that drive outcomes. In my experience with organizational change, I've seen how easy it is to fall in love with ideas but struggle with execution. Organizations can’t afford to stay in the “feel-good” zone; they must cultivate a culture where inspiration is a starting point, not the end goal. As leaders, we need to ask ourselves: 🔹 Are we creating environments that foster follow-through? 🔹 Are we empowering teams to take action on ideas? 🔹 Are we measuring progress, not just passion? Inspiration gets us moving, but action keeps us going. Let’s not let great ideas fade into the background. Instead, let's turn them into meaningful change. How do you ensure that inspiration leads to action in your leadership journey? #Leadership #Execution #MakeItHappen #ActionOverWords

Defining Moments: Pushing Beyond Perceived Limits

Check out my latest article: Living with Intention: Making Every Moment Count via @LinkedIn

Life is indeed short, leaving us with a limited time to pursue our desires. It's crucial to be intentional in our choices to maximize our experiences and opportunities. #Purpose